1
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Korb A, Tajbakhsh S, Comai GE. Functional specialisation and coordination of myonuclei. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1164-1195. [PMID: 38477382 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Myofibres serve as the functional unit for locomotion, with the sarcomere as fundamental subunit. Running the entire length of this structure are hundreds of myonuclei, located at the periphery of the myofibre, juxtaposed to the plasma membrane. Myonuclear specialisation and clustering at the centre and ends of the fibre are known to be essential for muscle contraction, yet the molecular basis of this regionalisation has remained unclear. While the 'myonuclear domain hypothesis' helped explain how myonuclei can independently govern large cytoplasmic territories, novel technologies have provided granularity on the diverse transcriptional programs running simultaneously within the syncytia and added a new perspective on how myonuclei communicate. Building upon this, we explore the critical cellular and molecular sources of transcriptional and functional heterogeneity within myofibres, discussing the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on myonuclear programs. This knowledge provides new insights for understanding muscle development, repair, and disease, but also opens avenues for the development of novel and precise therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaury Korb
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3738, Stem Cells & Development Unit, 25 rue du Dr. Roux, Institut Pasteur, Paris, F-75015, France
| | - Shahragim Tajbakhsh
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3738, Stem Cells & Development Unit, 25 rue du Dr. Roux, Institut Pasteur, Paris, F-75015, France
| | - Glenda E Comai
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3738, Stem Cells & Development Unit, 25 rue du Dr. Roux, Institut Pasteur, Paris, F-75015, France
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2
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Chen L, Kong X, Johnston KG, Mortazavi A, Holmes TC, Tan Z, Yokomori K, Xu X. Single-cell spatial transcriptomics reveals a dystrophic trajectory following a developmental bifurcation of myoblast cell fates in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Genome Res 2024; 34:665-679. [PMID: 38777608 PMCID: PMC11216401 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278717.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is linked to abnormal derepression of the transcription activator DUX4. This effect is localized to a low percentage of cells, requiring single-cell analysis. However, single-cell/nucleus RNA-seq cannot fully capture the transcriptome of multinucleated large myotubes. To circumvent these issues, we use multiplexed error-robust fluorescent in situ hybridization (MERFISH) spatial transcriptomics that allows profiling of RNA transcripts at a subcellular resolution. We simultaneously examined spatial distributions of 140 genes, including 24 direct DUX4 targets, in in vitro differentiated myotubes and unfused mononuclear cells (MNCs) of control, isogenic D4Z4 contraction mutant and FSHD patient samples, as well as the individual nuclei within them. We find myocyte nuclei segregate into two clusters defined by the expression of DUX4 target genes, which is exclusively found in patient/mutant nuclei, whereas MNCs cluster based on developmental states. Patient/mutant myotubes are found in "FSHD-hi" and "FSHD-lo" states with the former signified by high DUX4 target expression and decreased muscle gene expression. Pseudotime analyses reveal a clear bifurcation of myoblast differentiation into control and FSHD-hi myotube branches, with variable numbers of DUX4 target-expressing nuclei found in multinucleated FSHD-hi myotubes. Gene coexpression modules related to extracellular matrix and stress gene ontologies are significantly altered in patient/mutant myotubes compared with the control. We also identify distinct subpathways within the DUX4 gene network that may differentially contribute to the disease transcriptomic phenotype. Taken together, our MERFISH-based study provides effective gene network profiling of multinucleated cells and identifies FSHD-induced transcriptomic alterations during myoblast differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lujia Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
- Center for Neural Circuit Mapping, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Xiangduo Kong
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Kevin G Johnston
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Ali Mortazavi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Todd C Holmes
- Center for Neural Circuit Mapping, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Zhiqun Tan
- Center for Neural Circuit Mapping, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA;
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Kyoko Yokomori
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA;
| | - Xiangmin Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA;
- Center for Neural Circuit Mapping, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
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3
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Kong X, Nguyen NV, Li Y, Sakr JS, Williams K, Sharifi S, Chau J, Bayrakci A, Mizuno S, Takahashi S, Kiyono T, Tawil R, Mortazavi A, Yokomori K. Engineered FSHD mutations results in D4Z4 heterochromatin disruption and feedforward DUX4 network activation. iScience 2024; 27:109357. [PMID: 38510139 PMCID: PMC10951985 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is linked to contraction of D4Z4 repeats on chromosome 4q with SMCHD1 mutations acting as a disease modifier. D4Z4 heterochromatin disruption and abnormal upregulation of the transcription factor DUX4, encoded in the D4Z4 repeat, are the hallmarks of FSHD. However, defining the precise effect of D4Z4 contraction has been difficult because D4Z4 repeats are primate-specific and DUX4 expression is very rare in highly heterogeneous patient myocytes. We generated isogenic mutant cell lines harboring D4Z4 and/or SMCHD1 mutations in a healthy human skeletal myoblast line. We found that the mutations affect D4Z4 heterochromatin differently, and that SMCHD1 mutation or disruption of DNA methylation stabilizes otherwise variegated DUX4 target activation in D4Z4 contraction mutant cells, demonstrating the critical role of modifiers. Our study revealed amplification of the DUX4 signal through downstream targets, H3.X/Y and LEUTX. Our results provide important insights into how rare DUX4 expression leads to FSHD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangduo Kong
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Nam Viet Nguyen
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Yumeng Li
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jasmine Shaaban Sakr
- Department of Development and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kate Williams
- Department of Development and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sheila Sharifi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Chau
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Altay Bayrakci
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Seiya Mizuno
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center in Transborder Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Satoru Takahashi
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center in Transborder Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - Tohru Kiyono
- Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Rabi Tawil
- Neuromuscular Disease Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Ali Mortazavi
- Department of Development and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kyoko Yokomori
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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Duranti E, Villa C. Influence of DUX4 Expression in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy and Possible Treatments. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119503. [PMID: 37298453 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) represents the third most common form of muscular dystrophy and is characterized by muscle weakness and atrophy. FSHD is caused by the altered expression of the transcription factor double homeobox 4 (DUX4), which is involved in several significantly altered pathways required for myogenesis and muscle regeneration. While DUX4 is normally silenced in the majority of somatic tissues in healthy individuals, its epigenetic de-repression has been linked to FSHD, resulting in DUX4 aberrant expression and cytotoxicity in skeletal muscle cells. Understanding how DUX4 is regulated and functions could provide useful information not only to further understand FSHD pathogenesis, but also to develop therapeutic approaches for this disorder. Therefore, this review discusses the role of DUX4 in FSHD by examining the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the disease as well as novel pharmacological strategies targeting DUX4 aberrant expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Duranti
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Chiara Villa
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
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Montagnese F, de Valle K, Lemmers RJLF, Mul K, Dumonceaux J, Voermans N. 268th ENMC workshop - Genetic diagnosis, clinical classification, outcome measures, and biomarkers in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD): Relevance for clinical trials. Neuromuscul Disord 2023; 33:447-462. [PMID: 37099914 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Montagnese
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Germany
| | - Katy de Valle
- Department of Neurology, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Richard J L F Lemmers
- Department Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karlien Mul
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Julie Dumonceaux
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Nicol Voermans
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Williams K, Yokomori K, Mortazavi A. Heterogeneous Skeletal Muscle Cell and Nucleus Populations Identified by Single-Cell and Single-Nucleus Resolution Transcriptome Assays. Front Genet 2022; 13:835099. [PMID: 35646075 PMCID: PMC9136090 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.835099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) has revolutionized modern genomics, but the large size of myotubes and myofibers has restricted use of scRNA-seq in skeletal muscle. For the study of muscle, single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) has emerged not only as an alternative to scRNA-seq, but as a novel method providing valuable insights into multinucleated cells such as myofibers. Nuclei within myofibers specialize at junctions with other cell types such as motor neurons. Nuclear heterogeneity plays important roles in certain diseases such as muscular dystrophies. We survey current methods of high-throughput single cell and subcellular resolution transcriptomics, including single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics, applied to satellite cells, myoblasts, myotubes and myofibers. We summarize the major myonuclei subtypes identified in homeostatic and regenerating tissue including those specific to fiber type or at junctions with other cell types. Disease-specific nucleus populations were found in two muscular dystrophies, FSHD and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, demonstrating the importance of performing transcriptome studies at the single nucleus level in muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Williams
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Kyoko Yokomori
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Ali Mortazavi
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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The evolution of DUX4 gene regulation and its implication for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2022; 1868:166367. [PMID: 35158020 PMCID: PMC9173005 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Double homeobox 4 (DUX4) is an early embryonic transcription factor whose expression in the skeletal muscle causes facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Despite decades of research, our knowledge of FSHD and DUX4 biology is incomplete, and the disease has currently no cures or targeted therapies. The unusual evolutionary origin of DUX4, its extensive epigenetic and post-transcriptional gene regulation, and various feedback regulatory loops that control its expression and function all contribute to the highly complex nature of FSHD pathogenesis. In this minireview, I synthesize the current state of knowledge in DUX4 and FSHD biology to highlight key areas where further research is needed to better understand DUX4 regulation. I also emphasize post-transcriptional regulation of and by DUX4 via changes in RNA and protein stability that might underlie key features of FSHD pathophysiology. Finally, I discuss the various feedback loops involved in DUX4 regulation and the context-specific consequences of its expression, which could be key to developing novel therapeutic approaches to combat FSHD.
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Hangul C, Tokta O, Berker Karauzum S, Akkaya B, Yıldırım H, Tayfun Kupesiz F, Akınel AN. Analysis of DUX4 Expression in Bone Marrow and Re-Discussion of DUX4 Function in the Health and Disease. Turk Patoloji Derg 2022; 38:219-226. [PMID: 34854471 PMCID: PMC10508413 DOI: 10.5146/tjpath.2021.01564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE DUX4 is an embryonic transcription factor (TF) later silenced in somatic tissues, while active in germline testis cells. Re-expression in somatic cells has been revealed to be present in pathologic conditions such as dystrophy, leukemia, and other cancer types. Embryonic cells, cancer cells and testis cells that show DUX4 expression are pluri-multipotent cells. This lead us to question "Could DUX4 be a TF that is active in certain types of potent somatic cells?" As a perfect reflection of the potent cell pool, we aimed to reveal DUX4 expression in the bone marrow. MATERIAL AND METHOD Bone marrow aspiration materials of seven healthy donors aged between 3 and 32 (2 males/5 females) were investigated with qPCR analysis after RNA isolation for the presence of DUX4 full length mRNA expression. Samples have been investigated for protein existence of DUX4 via immunohistochemistry in two donors that had sufficient aspiration material. RESULTS DUX4 mRNA expression was present in all donors, with higher expression compared to B-actin. DUX4 positive stained cells were also detected by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION With these results, novel expression for DUX4 in hematopoietic tissue is described. Further studies on the function of DUX4 in hematopoietic cells can shed light on DUX4-related pathways, and contribute to the treatment of DUX4-related diseases such as B-ALL, other cancers, and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceren Hangul
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Oznur Tokta
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Sibel Berker Karauzum
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Bahar Akkaya
- Department of Pathology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Hulya Yıldırım
- Department of Pathology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Funda Tayfun Kupesiz
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Ayse Nur Akınel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
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Mocciaro E, Runfola V, Ghezzi P, Pannese M, Gabellini D. DUX4 Role in Normal Physiology and in FSHD Muscular Dystrophy. Cells 2021; 10:3322. [PMID: 34943834 PMCID: PMC8699294 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, the sequence-specific transcription factor double homeobox 4 (DUX4) has gone from being an obscure entity to being a key factor in important physiological and pathological processes. We now know that expression of DUX4 is highly regulated and restricted to the early steps of embryonic development, where DUX4 is involved in transcriptional activation of the zygotic genome. While DUX4 is epigenetically silenced in most somatic tissues of healthy humans, its aberrant reactivation is associated with several diseases, including cancer, viral infection and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). DUX4 is also translocated, giving rise to chimeric oncogenic proteins at the basis of sarcoma and leukemia forms. Hence, understanding how DUX4 is regulated and performs its activity could provide relevant information, not only to further our knowledge of human embryonic development regulation, but also to develop therapeutic approaches for the diseases associated with DUX4. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the cellular and molecular processes regulated by DUX4 with a special emphasis on FSHD muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Davide Gabellini
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; (E.M.); (V.R.); (P.G.); (M.P.)
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Banerji CRS, Zammit PS. Pathomechanisms and biomarkers in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: roles of DUX4 and PAX7. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e13695. [PMID: 34151531 PMCID: PMC8350899 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202013695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is characterised by progressive skeletal muscle weakness and wasting. FSHD is linked to epigenetic derepression of the subtelomeric D4Z4 macrosatellite at chromosome 4q35. Epigenetic derepression permits the distal-most D4Z4 unit to transcribe DUX4, with transcripts stabilised by splicing to a poly(A) signal on permissive 4qA haplotypes. The pioneer transcription factor DUX4 activates target genes that are proposed to drive FSHD pathology. While this toxic gain-of-function model is a satisfying "bottom-up" genotype-to-phenotype link, DUX4 is rarely detectable in muscle and DUX4 target gene expression is inconsistent in patients. A reliable biomarker for FSHD is suppression of a target gene score of PAX7, a master regulator of myogenesis. However, it is unclear how this "top-down" finding links to genomic changes that characterise FSHD and to DUX4. Here, we explore the roles and interactions of DUX4 and PAX7 in FSHD pathology and how the relationship between these two transcription factors deepens understanding via the immune system and muscle regeneration. Considering how FSHD pathomechanisms are represented by "DUX4opathy" models has implications for developing therapies and current clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular BiophysicsKing's College LondonLondonUK
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Nunes AM, Ramirez M, Jones TI, Jones PL. Identification of candidate miRNA biomarkers for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy using DUX4-based mouse models. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm049016. [PMID: 34338285 PMCID: PMC8405850 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is caused by misexpression of DUX4 in skeletal myocytes. As DUX4 is the key therapeutic target in FSHD, surrogate biomarkers of DUX4 expression in skeletal muscle are critically needed for clinical trials. Although no natural animal models of FSHD exist, transgenic mice with inducible DUX4 expression in skeletal muscles rapidly develop myopathic phenotypes consistent with FSHD. Here, we established a new, more-accurate FSHD-like mouse model based on chronic DUX4 expression in a small fraction of skeletal myonuclei that develops pathology mimicking key aspects of FSHD across its lifespan. Utilizing this new aged mouse model and DUX4-inducible mouse models, we characterized the DUX4-related microRNA signatures in skeletal muscles, which represent potential biomarkers for FSHD. We found increased expression of miR-31-5p and miR-206 in muscles expressing different levels of DUX4 and displaying varying degrees of pathology. Importantly, miR-206 expression is significantly increased in serum samples from FSHD patients compared with healthy controls. Our data support miR-31-5p and miR-206 as new potential regulators of muscle pathology and miR-206 as a potential circulating biomarker for FSHD. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Takako I. Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Peter L. Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557, USA
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