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Mak G, Tarnopolsky M, Lu JQ. Secondary mitochondrial dysfunction across the spectrum of hereditary and acquired muscle disorders. Mitochondrion 2024; 78:101945. [PMID: 39134108 DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2024.101945] [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: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondria form a dynamic network within skeletal muscle. This network is not only responsible for producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation, but also responds through fission, fusion and mitophagy to various factors, such as increased energy demands, oxidative stress, inflammation, and calcium dysregulation. Mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle not only occurs in primary mitochondrial myopathies, but also other hereditary and acquired myopathies. As such, this review attempts to highlight the clinical and histopathologic aspects of mitochondrial dysfunction seen in hereditary and acquired myopathies, as well as discuss potential mechanisms leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and therapies to restore mitochondrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Mak
- University of Alberta, Department of Neurology, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mark Tarnopolsky
- McMaster University, Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jian-Qiang Lu
- McMaster University, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
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Zhen N, Zhu J, Mao S, Zhang Q, Gu S, Ma J, Zhang Y, Yin M, Li H, Huang N, Wu H, Sun F, Ying B, Zhou L, Pan Q. Alternative Splicing of lncRNAs From SNHG Family Alters snoRNA Expression and Induces Chemoresistance in Hepatoblastoma. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 16:735-755. [PMID: 37478905 PMCID: PMC10520360 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatoblastoma (HB) is a common pediatric malignant liver tumor that is characterized by a low level of genetic mutations. Alternative splicing (AS) has been shown to be closely associated with cancer progression, especially in tumors with a low mutational burden. However, the role of AS in HB remains unknown. METHODS Transcriptome sequencing was performed on 5 pairs of HB tissues and matched non-tumor tissues to delineate the AS landscape in HB. AS events were validated in 92 samples from 46 patients. RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were carried out to identify splicing factors that regulate the AS of small nucleolar RNA host genes (SNHG). Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) were established to investigate the role of the splicing factor polyadenylate-binding nuclear protein 1 (PABPN1). RESULTS This study uncovered aberrant alternative splicing in HB, including lncRNAs from SNHG family that undergo intron retention in HB. Further investigations revealed that PABPN1, a significantly upregulated RNA binding protein, interacts with splicing machinery in HB, inducing the intron retention of these SNHG RNAs and the downregulation of intronic small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs). Functionally, PABPN1 acts as an oncofetal splicing regulator in HB by promoting cell proliferation and DNA damage repair via inducing the intron retention of SNHG19. Knock-down of PABPN1 increases the cisplatin sensitivity of HB PDOs. CONCLUSIONS Our findings revealed the role of intron retention in regulating snoRNA expression in hepatoblastoma, explained detailed regulatory mechanism between PABPN1 and the intron retention of SNHG RNAs, and provided insight into the development of new HB treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Zhen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiabei Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Siwei Mao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Song Gu
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji Ma
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Central Laboratory, Clinical Medicine Scientific and Technical Innovation Park, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Minzhi Yin
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haojie Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Han Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fenyong Sun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Binwu Ying
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Lin Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qiuhui Pan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Diagnostics for Pediatrics, Shanghai, China; Sanya Women and Children's Hospital Managed by Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Hainan, China.
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CGG repeat expansion in NOTCH2NLC causes mitochondrial dysfunction and progressive neurodegeneration in Drosophila model. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2208649119. [PMID: 36191230 PMCID: PMC9565157 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208649119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a neuromuscular/neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of CGG repeats in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the NOTCH2NLC gene. These repeats can be translated into a polyglycine-containing protein, uN2CpolyG, which forms protein inclusions and is toxic in cell models, albeit through an unknown mechanism. Here, we established a transgenic Drosophila model expressing uN2CpolyG in multiple systems, which resulted in progressive neuronal cell loss, locomotor deficiency, and shortened lifespan. Interestingly, electron microscopy revealed mitochondrial swelling both in transgenic flies and in muscle biopsies of individuals with NIID. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy showed colocalization of uN2CpolyG with mitochondria in cell and patient samples, while biochemical analysis revealed that uN2CpolyG interacted with a mitochondrial RNA binding protein, LRPPRC (leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat motif-containing protein). Furthermore, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis and functional assays showed down-regulated mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in uN2CpolyG-expressing flies and NIID muscle biopsies. Finally, idebenone treatment restored mitochondrial function and alleviated neurodegenerative phenotypes in transgenic flies. Overall, these results indicate that transgenic flies expressing uN2CpolyG recapitulate key features of NIID and that reversing mitochondrial dysfunction might provide a potential therapeutic approach for this disorder.
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Nieuwenhuis S, Widomska J, Blom P, ‘t Hoen PBAC, van Engelen BGM, Glennon JC. Blood Transcriptome Profiling Links Immunity to Disease Severity in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:3081. [PMID: 35328504 PMCID: PMC8954763 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood transcriptome was examined in relation to disease severity in type I myotonic dystrophy (DM1) patients who participated in the Observational Prolonged Trial In DM1 to Improve QoL- Standards (OPTIMISTIC) study. This sought to (a) ascertain if transcriptome changes were associated with increasing disease severity, as measured by the muscle impairment rating scale (MIRS), and (b) establish if these changes in mRNA expression and associated biological pathways were also observed in the Dystrophia Myotonica Biomarker Discovery Initiative (DMBDI) microarray dataset in blood (with equivalent MIRS/DMPK repeat length). The changes in gene expression were compared using a number of complementary pathways, gene ontology and upstream regulator analyses, which suggested that symptom severity in DM1 was linked to transcriptomic alterations in innate and adaptive immunity associated with muscle-wasting. Future studies should explore the role of immunity in DM1 in more detail to assess its relevance to DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Nieuwenhuis
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics (CMBI), Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.N.); (P.-B.A.C.‘t.H.)
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Joanna Widomska
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Paul Blom
- VDL Enabling Technologies Group B.V., 5651 GH Eindhoven, The Netherlands;
| | - Peter-Bram A. C. ‘t Hoen
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics (CMBI), Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (S.N.); (P.-B.A.C.‘t.H.)
| | - Baziel G. M. van Engelen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Jeffrey C. Glennon
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
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Kroon RHMJM, Kalf JG, de Swart BJM, van der Sluijs BM, Glennon JC, Raz V, van Engelen BG, Horlings CGC. Longitudinal Assessment of Strength, Functional Capacity, Oropharyngeal Function, and Quality of Life in Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy. Neurology 2021; 97:e1475-e1483. [PMID: 34380753 PMCID: PMC8575133 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000012640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a late-onset, progressive muscle disease. Disease progression is known to be slow, but details on the natural history remain unknown. We aimed to examine the natural history of OPMD in a large nationwide cohort to determine clinical outcome measures that capture disease progression and can be used in future clinical trials. METHODS Patients invited by their treating physicians or identified from the national neuromuscular database and invited family members were examined twice 20 months apart with fixed dynamometry; Medical Research Council (MRC) grading; maximum bite force and isometric tongue strength; Motor Function Measure (MFM); 10-step stair test; maximum swallowing, chewing, and speech tasks; and quality of life assessments. RESULTS Disease progression was captured by 8 of 18 measures over 20 months in 43 patients with genetically confirmed OPMD. The largest deterioration was seen in deltoid muscle strength (-27% [range -17% to -37%]), followed by the quadriceps (-14% [range -6 to -23%]), iliopsoas (-12.2%), tongue (-9.9%), and MRC sum score (-2.5%). The 10-step stair test (-12.5%), MFM part D1 (-7.1%), and maximum repetition rate of /pa/ (-5.3%) showed a significant decrease as well (all p < 0.05). The Physical Functioning domain of the Short Form-36 Health Survey significantly deteriorated (p = 0.044). No relationship was found between disease progression and genotype or disease duration (p > 0.05). DISCUSSION Despite the slow disease progression of OPMD, this study showed that several outcome measures detected progression within 20 months. Deltoid muscle strength, measured by fixed dynamometry, showed the greatest decline. These longitudinal data provide clinical outcome measures that can be used as biomarkers in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemarie H M J M Kroon
- From the Departments of Rehabilitation (R.H.M.J.M.K., J.G.K., B.J.M.d.S.) and Neurology (B.G.v.E., C.G.C.H.), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Neurology (B.M.v.d.S.), Gelre Hospital Zutphen, the Netherlands; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research (J.C.G.), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland; Department of Human Genetics (V.R.), Leiden University Medical Centre; and Department of Neurology (C.G.C.H., Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Johanna G Kalf
- From the Departments of Rehabilitation (R.H.M.J.M.K., J.G.K., B.J.M.d.S.) and Neurology (B.G.v.E., C.G.C.H.), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Neurology (B.M.v.d.S.), Gelre Hospital Zutphen, the Netherlands; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research (J.C.G.), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland; Department of Human Genetics (V.R.), Leiden University Medical Centre; and Department of Neurology (C.G.C.H., Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Bert J M de Swart
- From the Departments of Rehabilitation (R.H.M.J.M.K., J.G.K., B.J.M.d.S.) and Neurology (B.G.v.E., C.G.C.H.), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Neurology (B.M.v.d.S.), Gelre Hospital Zutphen, the Netherlands; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research (J.C.G.), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland; Department of Human Genetics (V.R.), Leiden University Medical Centre; and Department of Neurology (C.G.C.H., Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Barbara M van der Sluijs
- From the Departments of Rehabilitation (R.H.M.J.M.K., J.G.K., B.J.M.d.S.) and Neurology (B.G.v.E., C.G.C.H.), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Neurology (B.M.v.d.S.), Gelre Hospital Zutphen, the Netherlands; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research (J.C.G.), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland; Department of Human Genetics (V.R.), Leiden University Medical Centre; and Department of Neurology (C.G.C.H., Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey C Glennon
- From the Departments of Rehabilitation (R.H.M.J.M.K., J.G.K., B.J.M.d.S.) and Neurology (B.G.v.E., C.G.C.H.), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Neurology (B.M.v.d.S.), Gelre Hospital Zutphen, the Netherlands; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research (J.C.G.), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland; Department of Human Genetics (V.R.), Leiden University Medical Centre; and Department of Neurology (C.G.C.H., Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Vered Raz
- From the Departments of Rehabilitation (R.H.M.J.M.K., J.G.K., B.J.M.d.S.) and Neurology (B.G.v.E., C.G.C.H.), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Neurology (B.M.v.d.S.), Gelre Hospital Zutphen, the Netherlands; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research (J.C.G.), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland; Department of Human Genetics (V.R.), Leiden University Medical Centre; and Department of Neurology (C.G.C.H., Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Baziel G van Engelen
- From the Departments of Rehabilitation (R.H.M.J.M.K., J.G.K., B.J.M.d.S.) and Neurology (B.G.v.E., C.G.C.H.), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Neurology (B.M.v.d.S.), Gelre Hospital Zutphen, the Netherlands; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research (J.C.G.), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland; Department of Human Genetics (V.R.), Leiden University Medical Centre; and Department of Neurology (C.G.C.H., Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Corinne G C Horlings
- From the Departments of Rehabilitation (R.H.M.J.M.K., J.G.K., B.J.M.d.S.) and Neurology (B.G.v.E., C.G.C.H.), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; Department of Neurology (B.M.v.d.S.), Gelre Hospital Zutphen, the Netherlands; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research (J.C.G.), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland; Department of Human Genetics (V.R.), Leiden University Medical Centre; and Department of Neurology (C.G.C.H., Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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Hara T, Toyoshima M, Hisano Y, Balan S, Iwayama Y, Aono H, Futamura Y, Osada H, Owada Y, Yoshikawa T. Glyoxalase I disruption and external carbonyl stress impair mitochondrial function in human induced pluripotent stem cells and derived neurons. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:275. [PMID: 33966051 PMCID: PMC8106684 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01392-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbonyl stress, a specific form of oxidative stress, is reported to be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia; however, little is known regarding the underlying mechanism. Here, we found that disruption of GLO1, the gene encoding a major catabolic enzyme scavenging the carbonyl group, increases vulnerability to external carbonyl stress, leading to abnormal phenotypes in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). The viability of GLO1 knockout (KO)-hiPSCs decreased and activity of caspase-3 was increased upon addition of methylglyoxal (MGO), a reactive carbonyl compound. In the GLO1 KO-hiPSC-derived neurons, MGO administration impaired neurite extension and cell migration. Further, accumulation of methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone (MG-H1; a derivative of MGO)-modified proteins was detected in isolated mitochondria. Mitochondrial dysfunction, including diminished membrane potential and dampened respiratory function, was observed in the GLO1 KO-hiPSCs and derived neurons after addition of MGO and hence might be the mechanism underlying the effects of carbonyl stress. The susceptibility to MGO was partially rescued by the administration of pyridoxamine, a carbonyl scavenger. Our observations can be used for designing an intervention strategy for diseases, particularly those induced by enhanced carbonyl stress or oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonori Hara
- grid.474690.8Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan ,grid.69566.3a0000 0001 2248 6943Department of Organ Anatomy, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575 Japan
| | - Manabu Toyoshima
- grid.474690.8Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan
| | - Yasuko Hisano
- grid.474690.8Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan
| | - Shabeesh Balan
- grid.474690.8Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan ,Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), Kozhikode, Kerala 673008 India
| | - Yoshimi Iwayama
- grid.474690.8Support Unit for Bio-Material Analysis, Research Division, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan
| | - Harumi Aono
- grid.509461.fChemical Biology Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan
| | - Yushi Futamura
- grid.509461.fChemical Biology Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Osada
- grid.509461.fChemical Biology Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan
| | - Yuji Owada
- grid.69566.3a0000 0001 2248 6943Department of Organ Anatomy, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575 Japan
| | - Takeo Yoshikawa
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan.
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Yamashita S. Recent Progress in Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10071375. [PMID: 33805441 PMCID: PMC8036457 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10071375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a late-onset intractable myopathy, characterized by slowly progressive ptosis, dysphagia, and proximal limb weakness. It is caused by the abnormal expansion of the alanine-encoding (GCN)n trinucleotide repeat in the exon 1 of the polyadenosine (poly[A]) binding protein nuclear 1 gene (11-18 repeats in OPMD instead of the normal 10 repeats). As the disease progresses, the patients gradually develop a feeling of suffocation, regurgitation of food, and aspiration pneumonia, although the initial symptoms and the progression patterns vary among the patients. Autologous myoblast transplantation may provide therapeutic benefits by reducing swallowing problems in these patients. Therefore, it is important to assemble information on such patients for the introduction of effective treatments in nonendemic areas. Herein, we present a concise review of recent progress in clinical and pathological studies of OPMD and introduce an idea for setting up a nation-wide OPMD disease registry in Japan. Since it is important to understand patients' unmet medical needs, realize therapeutically targetable symptoms, and identify indices of therapeutic efficacy, our attempt to establish a unique patient registry of OPMD will be a helpful tool to address these urgent issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Yamashita
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
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