The oxidative phosphorylation system is important for adipocyte differentiation. Therefore, xenobiotics inhibitors of the oxidative phosphorylation system could affect adipocyte differentiation and adipokine secretion. As adipokines impact the overall health status, these xenobiotics may have wide effects on human health. Some of these xenobiotics are widely used therapeutic drugs, such as ribosomal antibiotics. Because of its similarity to the bacterial one, mitochondrial translation system is an off-target for these compounds. To study the influence of the ribosomal antibiotic linezolid on adipokine production, we analyzed its effects on adipocyte secretome. Linezolid, at therapeutic concentrations, modifies the levels of apolipoprotein E and several adipokines and proteins related with the extracellular matrix. This antibiotic also alters the global methylation status of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells and, therefore, its effects are not limited to the exposure period. Besides their consequences on other tissues, xenobiotics acting on the adipocyte oxidative phosphorylation system alter apolipoprotein E and adipokine production, secondarily contributing to their systemic effects.

Ménière's disease patients experience vestibular disability. When most of medical treatments fail, a chemical labyrinthectomy using aminoglycosides is indicated. However, this process frequently causes hearing damage. Aminoglycosides, interacting with mitochondrial rRNAs, alter mitochondrial protein synthesis and the oxidative phosphorylation system, which provide most of the energy in sensory hair cells. For this reason, we hypothesized that genetic variation in mitochondrial rRNA genes and in two nuclear genes coding for proteins that also modify the susceptibility to aminoglycosides might affect the risk of hearing loss in Ménière's disease patients suffering chemical labyrinthectomy. However, there were no differences in mitochondrial rRNA, TFB1M or MRPS12 genetic variation between those patients that experienced or did not experience hearing loss. This is only a pilot study and larger studies are required to use this therapeutic approach in a rational way and decrease the risk of hearing damage.

Background: Leigh syndrome (LS) is a serious genetic disease that can be caused by mutations in dozens of different genes. Methods: Clinical study of a deafness pedigree in which some members developed LS. Cellular, biochemical and molecular genetic analyses of patients’ tissues and cybrid cell lines were performed. Results: mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) m.1555A>G/MT-RNR1 and m.9541T>C/MT-CO3 mutations were found. The first one is a well-known pathologic mutation. However, the second one does not appear to contribute to the high hearing loss penetrance and LS phenotype observed in this family. Conclusion: The m.1555A>G pathological mutation, accompanied with an unknown nuclear DNA (nDNA) factor, could be the cause of the phenotypic manifestations in this pedigree.