Neuromuscular pathology and mitochondrial dysfunction in sorbitol dehydrogenase gene-related distal hereditary motor neuropathies

Biallelic variants in sorbitol dehydrogenase (SORD) have been reported to be a major cause of autosomal recessive distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN). In this study, the clinical and pathological features of 10 patients with SORD gene-related dHMN are reported. Homozygous c.757delG variant was detected in 6 patients while c.757delG, c.786 + 1G>A, c.218C>T, and a novel c.104T>A compound heterozygous variants were observed in the others. Serum sorbitol, xylitol, and D-arabinitol were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; increased sorbitol and xylitol, and decreased D-arabinitol were identified. Sural nerve biopsies showed mild loss of large, myelinated fibers, and a few thin myelinated fibers. Skeletal muscle biopsies exhibited a neurogenic pattern with vacuoles, tubular aggregates, and abnormal mitochondria. Proteomic analyses of muscle tissue were performed to explore potential mechanisms. Complex I deficiency was dominant in the proteomic analysis and the malic acid/oxaloacetic acid ratio was significantly higher in the patients than in controls. In summary, SORD gene-related dHMN is a systemic disorder of carbohydrate metabolism with subclinical myopathologic changes, including tubular aggregates and vacuoles. Mitochondrial complex I deficiency, may be a key mechanism in SORD gene-related dHMN.