CTG repeat lengths of the DMPK gene in myotonic dystrophy patients compared to healthy controls in Thailand

Analysis of CTG repeat length variation in the DMPK gene in the general population and the molecular diagnosis of myotonic dystrophy type 1 in Malaysia

OBJECTIVE

The lack of epidemiological data and molecular diagnostic services in Malaysia has hampered the setting-up of a comprehensive management plan for patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), leading to delayed diagnosis, treatment and support for patients and families. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of DM1 in the 3 major ethnic groups in Malaysia and evaluate the feasibility of a single tube triplet-primed PCR (TP-PCR) method for diagnosis of DM1 in Malaysia.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

We used PCR to determine the size of CTG repeats in 377 individuals not known to be affected by DM and 11 DM1 suspected patients, recruited from a tertiary hospital in Kuala Lumpur. TP-PCR was performed on selected samples, followed by Southern blot hybridisation of PCR amplified fragments to confirm and estimate the size of CTG expansion.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The number of individuals not known to be affected by DM with (CTG)_>18 was determined according to ethnic group and as a whole population. The χ² test was performed to compare the distribution of (CTG)_>18 with 12 other populations. Additionally, the accuracy of TP-PCR in detecting CTG expansion in 11 patients with DM1 was determined by comparing the results with that from Southern blot hybridisation.

RESULTS

Of the 754 chromosomes studied, (CTG)_>18 frequency of 3.60%, 1.57% and 4.00% in the Malay, Chinese and Indian subpopulations, respectively, was detected, showing similarities to data from Thai, Taiwanese and Kuwaiti populations. We also successfully detected CTG expansions in 9 patients using the TP-PCR method followed by the estimation of CTG expansion size via Southern blot hybridisation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show a low DM1 prevalence in Malaysia with the possibility of underdiagnosis and demonstrates the feasibility of using a clinical and TP-PCR-based approach for rapid and cost-effective DM1 diagnosis in developing countries.

Delineating the role of alterations in lipid metabolism to the pathogenesis of inherited skeletal and cardiac muscle disorders: Thematic Review Series: Genetics of Human Lipid Diseases

As the specific composition of lipids is essential for the maintenance of membrane integrity, enzyme function, ion channels, and membrane receptors, an alteration in lipid composition or metabolism may be one of the crucial changes occurring during skeletal and cardiac myopathies. Although the inheritance (autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked traits) and underlying/defining mutations causing these myopathies are known, the contribution of lipid homeostasis in the progression of these diseases needs to be established. The purpose of this review is to present the current knowledge relating to lipid changes in inherited skeletal muscle disorders, such as Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy, myotonic muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle myopathic dystrophies, desminopathies, rostrocaudal muscular dystrophy, and Dunnigan-type familial lipodystrophy. The lipid modifications in familial hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies, as well as Barth syndrome and several other cardiac disorders associated with abnormal lipid storage, are discussed. Information on lipid alterations occurring in these myopathies will aid in the design of improved methods of screening and therapy in children and young adults with or without a family history of genetic diseases.