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Wilson VD, Bommart S, Passerieux E, Thomas C, Pincemail J, Picot MC, Mercier J, Portet F, Arbogast S, Laoudj-Chenivesse D. Muscle strength, quantity and quality and muscle fat quantity and their association with oxidative stress in patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: Effect of antioxidant supplementation. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 219:112-126. [PMID: 38574978 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.04.001] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify causes of quadriceps muscle weakness in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). To this aim, we evaluated quadriceps muscle and fat volumes by magnetic resonance imaging and their relationships with muscle strength and oxidative stress markers in adult patients with FSHD (n = 32) and healthy controls (n = 7), and the effect of antioxidant supplementation in 20 of the 32 patients with FSHD (n = 10 supplementation and n = 10 placebo) (NCT01596803). Compared with healthy controls, the dominant quadriceps strength and quality (muscle strength per unit of muscle volume) were decreased in patients with FSHD. In addition, fat volume was increased, without changes in total muscle volume. Moreover, in patients with FSHD, the lower strength of the non-dominant quadriceps was associated with lower muscle quality compared with the dominant muscle. Antioxidant supplementation significantly changed muscle and fat volumes in the non-dominant quadriceps, and muscle quality in the dominant quadriceps. This was associated with improved muscle strength (both quadriceps) and antioxidant response. These findings suggest that quadriceps muscle strength decline may not be simply explained by atrophy and may be influenced also by the muscle intrinsic characteristics. As FSHD is associated with increased oxidative stress, supplementation might reduce oxidative stress and increase antioxidant defenses, promoting changes in muscle function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius Dias Wilson
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier, France; Centro Universitário Estácio de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Sébastien Bommart
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier, France; Department of Radiology, CHU of Montpellier, Arnaud de Villeneuve Hospital, 34090, Montpellier, France.
| | - Emilie Passerieux
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
| | - Claire Thomas
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier, France; LBEPS, Univ Evry, IRBA, University Paris Saclay, 91025, Evry, France.
| | - Joël Pincemail
- Department of CREDEC, Department of Medical Chemistry, University Hospital of Liege, Sart Tilman, Liege, Belgium.
| | - Marie Christine Picot
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University Hospital, Montpellier, France; CIC 1001-INSERM, Montpellier, France.
| | - Jacques Mercier
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier, France; Department of Clinical Physiology, CHU of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
| | - Florence Portet
- Department of Clinical Physiology, CHU of Montpellier, Montpellier, France; U1061 INSERM, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier University, France.
| | - Sandrine Arbogast
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
| | - Dalila Laoudj-Chenivesse
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier, France; Department of Clinical Physiology, CHU of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
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2
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Sharma AK, Khandelwal R, Wolfrum C. Futile cycles: Emerging utility from apparent futility. Cell Metab 2024; 36:1184-1203. [PMID: 38565147 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.03.008] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Futile cycles are biological phenomena where two opposing biochemical reactions run simultaneously, resulting in a net energy loss without appreciable productivity. Such a state was presumed to be a biological aberration and thus deemed an energy-wasting "futile" cycle. However, multiple pieces of evidence suggest that biological utilities emerge from futile cycles. A few established functions of futile cycles are to control metabolic sensitivity, modulate energy homeostasis, and drive adaptive thermogenesis. Yet, the physiological regulation, implication, and pathological relevance of most futile cycles remain poorly studied. In this review, we highlight the abundance and versatility of futile cycles and propose a classification scheme. We further discuss the energetic implications of various futile cycles and their impact on basal metabolic rate, their bona fide and tentative pathophysiological implications, and putative drug interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Kumar Sharma
- Laboratory of Translational Nutrition Biology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
| | - Radhika Khandelwal
- Laboratory of Translational Nutrition Biology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Christian Wolfrum
- Laboratory of Translational Nutrition Biology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
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3
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Kucinski JP, Calderon D, Kendall GC. Biological and therapeutic insights from animal modeling of fusion-driven pediatric soft tissue sarcomas. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050704. [PMID: 38916046 PMCID: PMC11225592 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050704] [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] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Survival for children with cancer has primarily improved over the past decades due to refinements in surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Although these general therapies are sometimes curative, the cancer often recurs, resulting in poor outcomes for patients. Fusion-driven pediatric soft tissue sarcomas are genetically defined by chromosomal translocations that create a chimeric oncogene. This distinctive, almost 'monogenic', genetic feature supports the generation of animal models to study the respective diseases in vivo. This Review focuses on a subset of fusion-driven pediatric soft tissue sarcomas that have transgenic animal tumor models, which includes fusion-positive and infantile rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, undifferentiated small round cell sarcoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma and clear cell sarcoma. Studies using the animal models of these sarcomas have highlighted that pediatric cancers require a specific cellular state or developmental stage to drive tumorigenesis, as the fusion oncogenes cause different outcomes depending on their lineage and timing of expression. Therefore, understanding these context-specific activities could identify targetable activities and mechanisms critical for tumorigenesis. Broadly, these cancers show dependencies on chromatin regulators to support oncogenic gene expression and co-opting of developmental pathways. Comparative analyses across lineages and tumor models will further provide biological and therapeutic insights to improve outcomes for these children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack P. Kucinski
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology PhD Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Delia Calderon
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology PhD Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Genevieve C. Kendall
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology PhD Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
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4
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Nguyen TH, Limpens M, Bouhmidi S, Paprzycki L, Legrand A, Declèves AE, Heher P, Belayew A, Banerji CRS, Zammit PS, Tassin A. The DUX4-HIF1α Axis in Murine and Human Muscle Cells: A Link More Complex Than Expected. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3327. [PMID: 38542301 PMCID: PMC10969790 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
FacioScapuloHumeral muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most prevalent inherited muscle disorders and is linked to the inappropriate expression of the DUX4 transcription factor in skeletal muscles. The deregulated molecular network causing FSHD muscle dysfunction and pathology is not well understood. It has been shown that the hypoxia response factor HIF1α is critically disturbed in FSHD and has a major role in DUX4-induced cell death. In this study, we further explored the relationship between DUX4 and HIF1α. We found that the DUX4 and HIF1α link differed according to the stage of myogenic differentiation and was conserved between human and mouse muscle. Furthermore, we found that HIF1α knockdown in a mouse model of DUX4 local expression exacerbated DUX4-mediated muscle fibrosis. Our data indicate that the suggested role of HIF1α in DUX4 toxicity is complex and that targeting HIF1α might be challenging in the context of FSHD therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-Hang Nguyen
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Maelle Limpens
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Sihame Bouhmidi
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Lise Paprzycki
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Legrand
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Anne-Emilie Declèves
- Department of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Philipp Heher
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Alexandra Belayew
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Christopher R. S. Banerji
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, The British Library, London NW1 2DB, UK
| | - Peter S. Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Alexandra Tassin
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
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5
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Lemmers RJLF, Butterfield R, van der Vliet PJ, de Bleecker JL, van der Pol L, Dunn DM, Erasmus CE, D'Hooghe M, Verhoeven K, Balog J, Bigot A, van Engelen B, Statland J, Bugiardini E, van der Stoep N, Evangelista T, Marini-Bettolo C, van den Bergh P, Tawil R, Voermans NC, Vissing J, Weiss RB, van der Maarel SM. Autosomal dominant in cis D4Z4 repeat array duplication alleles in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy. Brain 2024; 147:414-426. [PMID: 37703328 PMCID: PMC10834250 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) has a unique genetic aetiology resulting in partial chromatin relaxation of the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat array on 4qter. This D4Z4 chromatin relaxation facilitates inappropriate expression of the transcription factor DUX4 in skeletal muscle. DUX4 is encoded by a retrogene that is embedded within the distal region of the D4Z4 repeat array. In the European population, the D4Z4 repeat array is usually organized in a single array that ranges between 8 and 100 units. D4Z4 chromatin relaxation and DUX4 derepression in FSHD is most often caused by repeat array contraction to 1-10 units (FSHD1) or by a digenic mechanism requiring pathogenic variants in a D4Z4 chromatin repressor like SMCHD1, combined with a repeat array between 8 and 20 units (FSHD2). With a prevalence of 1.5% in the European population, in cis duplications of the D4Z4 repeat array, where two adjacent D4Z4 arrays are interrupted by a spacer sequence, are relatively common but their relationship to FSHD is not well understood. In cis duplication alleles were shown to be pathogenic in FSHD2 patients; however, there is inconsistent evidence for the necessity of an SMCHD1 mutation for disease development. To explore the pathogenic nature of these alleles we compared in cis duplication alleles in FSHD patients with or without pathogenic SMCHD1 variant. For both groups we showed duplication-allele-specific DUX4 expression. We studied these alleles in detail using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-based Southern blotting and molecular combing, emphasizing the challenges in the characterization of these rearrangements. Nanopore sequencing was instrumental to study the composition and methylation of the duplicated D4Z4 repeat arrays and to identify the breakpoints and the spacer sequence between the arrays. By comparing the composition of the D4Z4 repeat array of in cis duplication alleles in both groups, we found that specific combinations of proximal and distal repeat array sizes determine their pathogenicity. Supported by our algorithm to predict pathogenicity, diagnostic laboratories should now be furnished to accurately interpret these in cis D4Z4 repeat array duplications, alleles that can easily be missed in routine settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J L F Lemmers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Patrick J van der Vliet
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ludo van der Pol
- University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 EA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Diane M Dunn
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Corrie E Erasmus
- Neuromuscular Centre Nijmegen, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marc D'Hooghe
- Department of Neurology, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint-Jan, 8000, Brugge, Belgium
| | - Kristof Verhoeven
- Department of Neurology, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint-Jan, 8000, Brugge, Belgium
| | - Judit Balog
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Bigot
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm UMRS974, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Baziel van Engelen
- Neuromuscular Centre Nijmegen, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Enrico Bugiardini
- National Hospital For Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Nienke van der Stoep
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Teresinha Evangelista
- Unité de Morphologie Neuromusculaire, Institut de Myologie, AP-HP, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Chiara Marini-Bettolo
- The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | | | - Rabi Tawil
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY 14642, Rochester, USA
| | - Nicol C Voermans
- Neuromuscular Centre Nijmegen, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - John Vissing
- Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robert B Weiss
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Silvère M van der Maarel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
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6
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Bittel AJ, Bittel DC, Gordish-Dressman H, Chen YW. Voluntary wheel running improves molecular and functional deficits in a murine model of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. iScience 2024; 27:108632. [PMID: 38188524 PMCID: PMC10770537 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108632] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Endurance exercise training is beneficial for skeletal muscle health, but it is unclear if this type of exercise can target or correct the molecular mechanisms of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Using the FLExDUX4 murine model of FSHD characterized by chronic, low levels of pathological double homeobox protein 4 (DUX4) gene expression, we show that 6 weeks of voluntary, free wheel running improves running performance, strength, mitochondrial function, and sarcolemmal repair capacity, while slowing/reversing skeletal muscle fibrosis. These improvements are associated with restored transcriptional activity of gene networks/pathways regulating actin cytoskeletal signaling, vascular remodeling, inflammation, fibrosis, and muscle mass toward wild-type (WT) levels. However, FLExDUX4 mice exhibit blunted increases in mitochondrial content with training and persistent transcriptional overactivation of hypoxia, inflammatory, angiogenic, and cytoskeletal pathways. These results identify exercise-responsive and non-responsive molecular pathways in FSHD, while providing support for the use of endurance-type exercise as a non-invasive treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J. Bittel
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA
| | - Daniel C. Bittel
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA
| | | | - Yi-Wen Chen
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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7
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Engquist EN, Greco A, Joosten LAB, van Engelen BGM, Zammit PS, Banerji CRS. FSHD muscle shows perturbation in fibroadipogenic progenitor cells, mitochondrial function and alternative splicing independently of inflammation. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:182-197. [PMID: 37856562 PMCID: PMC10772042 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad175] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a prevalent, incurable myopathy. FSHD is highly heterogeneous, with patients following a variety of clinical trajectories, complicating clinical trials. Skeletal muscle in FSHD undergoes fibrosis and fatty replacement that can be accelerated by inflammation, adding to heterogeneity. Well controlled molecular studies are thus essential to both categorize FSHD patients into distinct subtypes and understand pathomechanisms. Here, we further analyzed RNA-sequencing data from 24 FSHD patients, each of whom donated a biopsy from both a non-inflamed (TIRM-) and inflamed (TIRM+) muscle, and 15 FSHD patients who donated peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMCs), alongside non-affected control individuals. Differential gene expression analysis identified suppression of mitochondrial biogenesis and up-regulation of fibroadipogenic progenitor (FAP) gene expression in FSHD muscle, which was particularly marked on inflamed samples. PBMCs demonstrated suppression of antigen presentation in FSHD. Gene expression deconvolution revealed FAP expansion as a consistent feature of FSHD muscle, via meta-analysis of 7 independent transcriptomic datasets. Clustering of muscle biopsies separated patients in an unbiased manner into clinically mild and severe subtypes, independently of known disease modifiers (age, sex, D4Z4 repeat length). Lastly, the first genome-wide analysis of alternative splicing in FSHD muscle revealed perturbation of autophagy, BMP2 and HMGB1 signalling. Overall, our findings reveal molecular subtypes of FSHD with clinical relevance and identify novel pathomechanisms for this highly heterogeneous condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise N Engquist
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Greco
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS) and Radboud Center of Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Leo A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS) and Radboud Center of Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Baziel G M van Engelen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher R S Banerji
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
- The Alan Turing Institute, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, United Kingdom
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8
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Nguyen TH, Paprzycki L, Legrand A, Declèves AE, Heher P, Limpens M, Belayew A, Banerji CRS, Zammit PS, Tassin A. Hypoxia enhances human myoblast differentiation: involvement of HIF1α and impact of DUX4, the FSHD causal gene. Skelet Muscle 2023; 13:21. [PMID: 38104132 PMCID: PMC10724930 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-023-00330-2] [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: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypoxia is known to modify skeletal muscle biological functions and muscle regeneration. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of hypoxia on human myoblast differentiation remain unclear. The hypoxic response pathway is of particular interest in patients with hereditary muscular dystrophies since many present respiratory impairment and muscle regeneration defects. For example, an altered hypoxia response characterizes the muscles of patients with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD). METHODS We examined the impact of hypoxia on the differentiation of human immortalized myoblasts (LHCN-M2) cultured in normoxia (PO2: 21%) or hypoxia (PO2: 1%). Cells were grown in proliferation (myoblasts) or differentiation medium for 2 (myocytes) or 4 days (myotubes). We evaluated proliferation rate by EdU incorporation, used myogenin-positive nuclei as a differentiation marker for myocytes, and determined the fusion index and myosin heavy chain-positive area in myotubes. The contribution of HIF1α was studied by gain (CoCl2) and loss (siRNAs) of function experiments. We further examined hypoxia in LHCN-M2-iDUX4 myoblasts with inducible expression of DUX4, the transcription factor underlying FSHD pathology. RESULTS We found that the hypoxic response did not impact myoblast proliferation but activated precocious myogenic differentiation and that HIF1α was critical for this process. Hypoxia also enhanced the late differentiation of human myocytes, but in an HIF1α-independent manner. Interestingly, the impact of hypoxia on muscle cell proliferation was influenced by dexamethasone. In the FSHD pathological context, DUX4 suppressed HIF1α-mediated precocious muscle differentiation. CONCLUSION Hypoxia stimulates myogenic differentiation in healthy myoblasts, with HIF1α-dependent early steps. In FSHD, DUX4-HIF1α interplay indicates a novel mechanism by which DUX4 could interfere with HIF1α function in the myogenic program and therefore with FSHD muscle performance and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-Hang Nguyen
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Lise Paprzycki
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Legrand
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Anne-Emilie Declèves
- Department of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Philipp Heher
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Maelle Limpens
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Alexandra Belayew
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Christopher R S Banerji
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, British Library, 96 Euston Rd, London, UK
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Alexandra Tassin
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium.
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9
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Guruju NM, Jump V, Lemmers R, Van Der Maarel S, Liu R, Nallamilli BR, Shenoy S, Chaubey A, Koppikar P, Rose R, Khadilkar S, Hegde M. Molecular Diagnosis of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy in Patients Clinically Suspected of FSHD Using Optical Genome Mapping. Neurol Genet 2023; 9:e200107. [PMID: 38021397 PMCID: PMC10664978 DOI: 10.1212/nxg.0000000000200107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) represents the third most common muscular dystrophy in the general population and is characterized by progressive and often asymmetric muscle weakness of the face, upper extremities, arms, lower leg, and hip girdle. In FSHD type 1, contraction of the number of D4Z4 repeats to 1-10 on the chromosome 4-permissive allele (4qA) results in abnormal epigenetic derepression of the DUX4 gene in skeletal muscle. In FSHD type 2, epigenetic derepression of the DUX4 gene on the permissive allele (4qA) with normal-sized D4Z4 repeats (mostly 8-20) is caused by heterozygous pathogenic variants in chromatin modifier genes such as SMCHD1, DNMT3B, or LRIF1. We present validation of the optical genome mapping (OGM) platform for accurate mapping of the D4Z4 repeat size, followed by diagnostic testing of 547 cases with a suspected clinical diagnosis of FSHD and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the SMCHD1 gene to identify cases with FSHD2. Methods OGM with Bionano Genomics Saphyr and EnFocus FSHD analysis software was used to identify FSHD haplotypes and D4Z4 repeat number and compared with the gold standard of Southern blot-based diagnosis. A custom Agilent SureSelect enrichment kit was used to enrich SMCHD1, followed by NGS on an Illumina system with 100-bp paired-end reads. Copy number variants were assessed using NxClinical software. Results We performed OGM for the diagnosis of FSHD in 547 patients suspected of FSHD between December 2019 and December 2022, including 301 male (55%) and 246 female patients (45%). Overall, 308 of the referred patients were positive for D4Z4 contraction on a permissive haplotype, resulting in a diagnosis of FSHD1. A total of 252 of 547 patients were referred for concurrent testing for FSHD1 and FSHD2. This resulted in the identification of FSHD2 in 9/252 (3.6%) patients. In our FSHD2 cohort, the 4qA allele size ranged from 8 to 18 repeats. Among FSHD1-positive cases, 2 patients had biallelic contraction and 4 patients had homozygous contraction and showed early onset of clinical features. Nine of the 308 patients (3%) positive for 4qA contraction had mosaic 4q alleles with contraction on at least one 4qA allele. The overall diagnostic yield in our cohort was 58%. Discussion A combination of OGM to identify the FSHD haplotype and D4Z4 repeat number and NGS to identify sequence and copy number variants in the SMCHD1 gene is a practical and cost-effective option with increased precision for accurate diagnosis of FSHD types 1 and 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naga M Guruju
- From the Revvity Omics (N.M.G., V.J., Ruby Liu, B.R.N., S.S., R.R., M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA; Leiden University Medical Centre (Richard Lemmers, S.V.D.M.), Netherlands; Bionano Genomics (A.C.), San Diego, CA; UT Dallas (P.K.), TX; Bombay Hospital (S.K.), Mumbai, India
| | - Vanessa Jump
- From the Revvity Omics (N.M.G., V.J., Ruby Liu, B.R.N., S.S., R.R., M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA; Leiden University Medical Centre (Richard Lemmers, S.V.D.M.), Netherlands; Bionano Genomics (A.C.), San Diego, CA; UT Dallas (P.K.), TX; Bombay Hospital (S.K.), Mumbai, India
| | - Richard Lemmers
- From the Revvity Omics (N.M.G., V.J., Ruby Liu, B.R.N., S.S., R.R., M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA; Leiden University Medical Centre (Richard Lemmers, S.V.D.M.), Netherlands; Bionano Genomics (A.C.), San Diego, CA; UT Dallas (P.K.), TX; Bombay Hospital (S.K.), Mumbai, India
| | - Silvere Van Der Maarel
- From the Revvity Omics (N.M.G., V.J., Ruby Liu, B.R.N., S.S., R.R., M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA; Leiden University Medical Centre (Richard Lemmers, S.V.D.M.), Netherlands; Bionano Genomics (A.C.), San Diego, CA; UT Dallas (P.K.), TX; Bombay Hospital (S.K.), Mumbai, India
| | - Ruby Liu
- From the Revvity Omics (N.M.G., V.J., Ruby Liu, B.R.N., S.S., R.R., M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA; Leiden University Medical Centre (Richard Lemmers, S.V.D.M.), Netherlands; Bionano Genomics (A.C.), San Diego, CA; UT Dallas (P.K.), TX; Bombay Hospital (S.K.), Mumbai, India
| | - Babi R Nallamilli
- From the Revvity Omics (N.M.G., V.J., Ruby Liu, B.R.N., S.S., R.R., M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA; Leiden University Medical Centre (Richard Lemmers, S.V.D.M.), Netherlands; Bionano Genomics (A.C.), San Diego, CA; UT Dallas (P.K.), TX; Bombay Hospital (S.K.), Mumbai, India
| | - Suresh Shenoy
- From the Revvity Omics (N.M.G., V.J., Ruby Liu, B.R.N., S.S., R.R., M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA; Leiden University Medical Centre (Richard Lemmers, S.V.D.M.), Netherlands; Bionano Genomics (A.C.), San Diego, CA; UT Dallas (P.K.), TX; Bombay Hospital (S.K.), Mumbai, India
| | - Alka Chaubey
- From the Revvity Omics (N.M.G., V.J., Ruby Liu, B.R.N., S.S., R.R., M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA; Leiden University Medical Centre (Richard Lemmers, S.V.D.M.), Netherlands; Bionano Genomics (A.C.), San Diego, CA; UT Dallas (P.K.), TX; Bombay Hospital (S.K.), Mumbai, India
| | - Pratik Koppikar
- From the Revvity Omics (N.M.G., V.J., Ruby Liu, B.R.N., S.S., R.R., M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA; Leiden University Medical Centre (Richard Lemmers, S.V.D.M.), Netherlands; Bionano Genomics (A.C.), San Diego, CA; UT Dallas (P.K.), TX; Bombay Hospital (S.K.), Mumbai, India
| | - Rajiv Rose
- From the Revvity Omics (N.M.G., V.J., Ruby Liu, B.R.N., S.S., R.R., M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA; Leiden University Medical Centre (Richard Lemmers, S.V.D.M.), Netherlands; Bionano Genomics (A.C.), San Diego, CA; UT Dallas (P.K.), TX; Bombay Hospital (S.K.), Mumbai, India
| | - Satish Khadilkar
- From the Revvity Omics (N.M.G., V.J., Ruby Liu, B.R.N., S.S., R.R., M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA; Leiden University Medical Centre (Richard Lemmers, S.V.D.M.), Netherlands; Bionano Genomics (A.C.), San Diego, CA; UT Dallas (P.K.), TX; Bombay Hospital (S.K.), Mumbai, India
| | - Madhuri Hegde
- From the Revvity Omics (N.M.G., V.J., Ruby Liu, B.R.N., S.S., R.R., M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA; Leiden University Medical Centre (Richard Lemmers, S.V.D.M.), Netherlands; Bionano Genomics (A.C.), San Diego, CA; UT Dallas (P.K.), TX; Bombay Hospital (S.K.), Mumbai, India
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10
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Cohen J, Huang S, Koczwara KE, Woods KT, Ho V, Woodman KG, Arbiser JL, Daman K, Lek M, Emerson CP, DeSimone AM. Flavones provide resistance to DUX4-induced toxicity via an mTor-independent mechanism. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:749. [PMID: 37973788 PMCID: PMC10654915 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06257-2] [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: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is among the most common of the muscular dystrophies, affecting nearly 1 in 8000 individuals, and is a cause of profound disability. Genetically, FSHD is linked to the contraction and/or epigenetic de-repression of the D4Z4 repeat array on chromosome 4, thereby allowing expression of the DUX4 gene in skeletal muscle. If the DUX4 transcript incorporates a stabilizing polyadenylation site the myotoxic DUX4 protein will be synthesized, resulting in muscle wasting. The mechanism of toxicity remains unclear, as many DUX4-induced cytopathologies have been described, however cell death does primarily occur through caspase 3/7-dependent apoptosis. To date, most FSHD therapeutic development has focused on molecular methods targeting DUX4 expression or the DUX4 transcript, while therapies targeting processes downstream of DUX4 activity have received less attention. Several studies have demonstrated that inhibition of multiple signal transduction pathways can ameliorate DUX4-induced toxicity, and thus compounds targeting these pathways have the potential to be developed into FSHD therapeutics. To this end, we have screened a group of small molecules curated based on their reported activity in relevant pathways and/or structural relationships with known toxicity-modulating molecules. We have identified a panel of five compounds that function downstream of DUX4 activity to inhibit DUX4-induced toxicity. Unexpectedly, this effect was mediated through an mTor-independent mechanism that preserved expression of ULK1 and correlated with an increase in a marker of active cellular autophagy. This identifies these flavones as compounds of interest for therapeutic development, and potentially identifies the autophagy pathway as a target for therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Cohen
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Shushu Huang
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | | | - Kristen T Woods
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Disease Research University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Vincent Ho
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Keryn G Woodman
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | | | - Katelyn Daman
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Disease Research University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Monkol Lek
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Charles P Emerson
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Disease Research University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Alec M DeSimone
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
- Modalis Therapeutics, Waltham, MA, USA.
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11
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Kovach AE, Wood BL. Updates on lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma classification and minimal/measurable residual disease analysis. Semin Diagn Pathol 2023; 40:457-471. [PMID: 37953192 DOI: 10.1053/j.semdp.2023.10.001] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (ALL/LBL), especially certain subtypes, continues to confer morbidity and mortality despite significant therapeutic advances. The pathologic classification of ALL/LBL, especially that of B-ALL, has recently substantially expanded with the identification of several distinct and prognostically important genetic drivers. These discoveries are reflected in both current classification systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) 5th edition and the new International Consensus Classification (ICC). In this article, novel subtypes of B-ALL are reviewed, including DUX4, MEF2D and ZNF384-rearranged B-ALL; the rare pediatric entity B-ALL with TLF3::HLF, now added to the classifications, is discussed; updates to the category of B-ALL with BCR::ABL1-like features (Ph-like B-ALL) are summarized; and emerging genetic subtypes of T-ALL are presented. The second half of the article details current approaches to minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) detection in B-ALL and T-ALL and presents anticipated challenges to current approaches in the burgeoning era of antigen-directed immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra E Kovach
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
| | - Brent L Wood
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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12
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Zhao J, Xu Y. PITX1 plays essential functions in cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1253238. [PMID: 37841446 PMCID: PMC10570508 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1253238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PITX1, also known as the pituitary homeobox 1 gene, has emerged as a key regulator in animal growth and development, attracting significant research attention. Recent investigations have revealed the implication of dysregulated PITX1 expression in tumorigenesis, highlighting its involvement in cancer development. Notably, PITX1 interacts with p53 and exerts control over crucial cellular processes including cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and chemotherapy resistance. Its influence extends to various tumors, such as esophageal, colorectal, gastric, and liver cancer, contributing to tumor progression and metastasis. Despite its significance, a comprehensive review examining PITX1's role in oncology remains lacking. This review aims to address this gap by providing a comprehensive overview of PITX1 in different cancer types, with a particular focus on its clinicopathological significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingpu Zhao
- Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Yongfeng Xu
- Abdominal Oncology Ward, Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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13
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Butterfield RJ, Dunn DM, Duval B, Moldt S, Weiss RB. Deciphering D4Z4 CpG methylation gradients in fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy using nanopore sequencing. Genome Res 2023; 33:1439-1454. [PMID: 37798116 PMCID: PMC10620044 DOI: 10.1101/gr.277871.123] [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: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is caused by a unique genetic mechanism that relies on contraction and hypomethylation of the D4Z4 macrosatellite array on the Chromosome 4q telomere allowing ectopic expression of the DUX4 gene in skeletal muscle. Genetic analysis is difficult because of the large size and repetitive nature of the array, a nearly identical array on the 10q telomere, and the presence of divergent D4Z4 arrays scattered throughout the genome. Here, we combine nanopore long-read sequencing with Cas9-targeted enrichment of 4q and 10q D4Z4 arrays for comprehensive genetic analysis including determination of the length of the 4q and 10q D4Z4 arrays with base-pair resolution. In the same assay, we differentiate 4q from 10q telomeric sequences, determine A/B haplotype, identify paralogous D4Z4 sequences elsewhere in the genome, and estimate methylation for all CpGs in the array. Asymmetric, length-dependent methylation gradients were observed in the 4q and 10q D4Z4 arrays that reach a hypermethylation point at approximately 10 D4Z4 repeat units, consistent with the known threshold of pathogenic D4Z4 contractions. High resolution analysis of individual D4Z4 repeat methylation revealed areas of low methylation near the CTCF/insulator region and areas of high methylation immediately preceding the DUX4 transcriptional start site. Within the DUX4 exons, we observed a waxing/waning methylation pattern with a 180-nucleotide periodicity, consistent with phased nucleosomes. Targeted nanopore sequencing complements recently developed molecular combing and optical mapping approaches to genetic analysis for FSHD by adding precision of the length measurement, base-pair resolution sequencing, and quantitative methylation analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell J Butterfield
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA;
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA
| | - Diane M Dunn
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Brett Duval
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Sarah Moldt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA
| | - Robert B Weiss
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
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14
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Banerji CRS, Greco A, Joosten LAB, van Engelen BGM, Zammit PS. The FSHD muscle-blood biomarker: a circulating transcriptomic biomarker for clinical severity in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad221. [PMID: 37731904 PMCID: PMC10507741 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a prevalent, incurable skeletal myopathy. Clinical trials for FSHD are hindered by heterogeneous biomarkers poorly associated with clinical severity, requiring invasive muscle biopsy. Macroscopically, FSHD presents with slow fatty replacement of muscle, rapidly accelerated by inflammation. Mis-expression of the transcription factor DUX4 is currently accepted to underlie pathogenesis, and mechanisms including PAX7 target gene repression have been proposed. Here, we performed RNA-sequencing on MRI-guided inflamed and isogenic non-inflamed muscle biopsies from the same clinically characterized FSHD patients (n = 24), alongside isogenic peripheral blood mononucleated cells from a subset of patients (n = 13) and unaffected controls (n = 11). Multivariate models were employed to evaluate the clinical associations of five published FSHD transcriptomic biomarkers. We demonstrated that PAX7 target gene repression can discriminate control, inflamed and non-inflamed FSHD muscle independently of age and sex (P < 0.013), while the discriminatory power of DUX4 target genes was limited to distinguishing FSHD muscle from control. Importantly, the level of PAX7 target gene repression in non-inflamed muscle associated with clinical assessments of FSHD severity (P = 0.04). DUX4 target gene biomarkers in FSHD muscle showed associations with lower limb fat fraction and D4Z4 array length but not clinical assessment. Lastly, PAX7 target gene repression in FSHD muscle correlated with the level in isogenic peripheral blood mononucleated cells (P = 0.002). A refined PAX7 target gene biomarker comprising 143/601 PAX7 target genes computed in peripheral blood (the FSHD muscle-blood biomarker) associated with clinical severity in FSHD patients (P < 0.036). Our new circulating biomarker validates as a classifier of clinical severity in an independent data set of 54 FSHD patient and 29 matched control blood samples, with improved power in older patients (P = 0.03). In summary, we present the minimally invasive FSHD muscle-blood biomarker of FSHD clinical severity valid in patient muscle and blood, of potential use in routine disease monitoring and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R S Banerji
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, The British Library, London NW1 2DB, UK
| | - Anna Greco
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS) and Radboud Center of Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525, The Netherlands
| | - Leo A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS) and Radboud Center of Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Baziel G M van Engelen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
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15
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Šikrová D, Testa AM, Willemsen I, van den Heuvel A, Tapscott SJ, Daxinger L, Balog J, van der Maarel SM. SMCHD1 and LRIF1 converge at the FSHD-associated D4Z4 repeat and LRIF1 promoter yet display different modes of action. Commun Biol 2023; 6:677. [PMID: 37380887 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05053-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is caused by the epigenetic derepression of the 4q-linked D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat resulting in inappropriate expression of the D4Z4 repeat-encoded DUX4 gene in skeletal muscle. In 5% of FSHD cases, D4Z4 chromatin relaxation is due to germline mutations in one of the chromatin modifiers SMCHD1, DNMT3B or LRIF1. The mechanism of SMCHD1- and LRIF1-mediated D4Z4 repression is not clear. We show that somatic loss-of-function of either SMCHD1 or LRIF1 does not result in D4Z4 chromatin changes and that SMCHD1 and LRIF1 form an auxiliary layer of D4Z4 repressive mechanisms. We uncover that SMCHD1, together with the long isoform of LRIF1, binds to the LRIF1 promoter and silences LRIF1 expression. The interdependency of SMCHD1 and LRIF1 binding differs between D4Z4 and the LRIF1 promoter, and both loci show different transcriptional responses to either early developmentally or somatically perturbed chromatin function of SMCHD1 and LRIF1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darina Šikrová
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alessandra M Testa
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35100, Padua, Italy
| | - Iris Willemsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Anita van den Heuvel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen J Tapscott
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Lucia Daxinger
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Judit Balog
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Silvère M van der Maarel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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16
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Murphy K, Zhang A, Bittel AJ, Chen YW. Molecular and Phenotypic Changes in FLExDUX4 Mice. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1040. [PMID: 37511653 PMCID: PMC10381554 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13071040] [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: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is caused by the aberrant expression of the double homeobox 4 (DUX4) gene. The FLExDUX4 mouse model carries an inverted human DUX4 transgene which has leaky DUX4 transgene expression at a very low level. No overt muscle pathology was reported before 16 weeks. The purpose of this study is to track and characterize the FLExDUX4 phenotypes for a longer period, up to one year old. In addition, transcriptomic changes in the muscles of 2-month-old mice were investigated using RNA-seq. The results showed that male FLExDUX4 mice developed more severe phenotypes and at a younger age in comparison to the female mice. These include lower body and muscle weight, and muscle weakness measured by grip strength measurements. Muscle pathological changes were observed at older ages, including fibrosis, decreased size of type IIa and IIx myofibers, and the development of aggregates containing TDP-43 in type IIb myofibers. Muscle transcriptomic data identified early molecular changes in biological pathways regulating circadian rhythm and adipogenesis. The study suggests a slow progressive change in molecular and muscle phenotypes in response to the low level of DUX4 expression in the FLExDUX4 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Murphy
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Aiping Zhang
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Adam J Bittel
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Yi-Wen Chen
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Science, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
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17
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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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18
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Erdmann H, Scharf F, Gehling S, Benet-Pagès A, Jakubiczka S, Becker K, Seipelt M, Kleefeld F, Knop KC, Prott EC, Hiebeler M, Montagnese F, Gläser D, Vorgerd M, Hagenacker T, Walter MC, Reilich P, Neuhann T, Zenker M, Holinski-Feder E, Schoser B, Abicht A. Methylation of the 4q35 D4Z4 repeat defines disease status in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Brain 2023; 146:1388-1402. [PMID: 36100962 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic diagnosis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) remains a challenge in clinical practice as it cannot be detected by standard sequencing methods despite being the third most common muscular dystrophy. The conventional diagnostic strategy addresses the known genetic parameters of FSHD: the required presence of a permissive haplotype, a size reduction of the D4Z4 repeat of chromosome 4q35 (defining FSHD1) or a pathogenic variant in an epigenetic suppressor gene (consistent with FSHD2). Incomplete penetrance and epistatic effects of the underlying genetic parameters as well as epigenetic parameters (D4Z4 methylation) pose challenges to diagnostic accuracy and hinder prediction of clinical severity. In order to circumvent the known limitations of conventional diagnostics and to complement genetic parameters with epigenetic ones, we developed and validated a multistage diagnostic workflow that consists of a haplotype analysis and a high-throughput methylation profile analysis (FSHD-MPA). FSHD-MPA determines the average global methylation level of the D4Z4 repeat array as well as the regional methylation of the most distal repeat unit by combining bisulphite conversion with next-generation sequencing and a bioinformatics pipeline and uses these as diagnostic parameters. We applied the diagnostic workflow to a cohort of 148 patients and compared the epigenetic parameters based on FSHD-MPA to genetic parameters of conventional genetic testing. In addition, we studied the correlation of repeat length and methylation level within the most distal repeat unit with age-corrected clinical severity and age at disease onset in FSHD patients. The results of our study show that FSHD-MPA is a powerful tool to accurately determine the epigenetic parameters of FSHD, allowing discrimination between FSHD patients and healthy individuals, while simultaneously distinguishing FSHD1 and FSHD2. The strong correlation between methylation level and clinical severity indicates that the methylation level determined by FSHD-MPA accounts for differences in disease severity among individuals with similar genetic parameters. Thus, our findings further confirm that epigenetic parameters rather than genetic parameters represent FSHD disease status and may serve as a valuable biomarker for disease status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Erdmann
- Medical Genetics Center (MGZ), 80335 Munich, Germany
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Department of Neurology, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Anna Benet-Pagès
- Medical Genetics Center (MGZ), 80335 Munich, Germany
- Institute of Neurogenomics, Helmholtz Center Munich, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Sibylle Jakubiczka
- Institute of Human Genetics, Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | | | - Maria Seipelt
- Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Marburg, Philipps-University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Felix Kleefeld
- Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Miriam Hiebeler
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Department of Neurology, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Federica Montagnese
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Department of Neurology, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | | | - Matthias Vorgerd
- Department of Neurology, Berufgenossenschaftliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44789 Bochum, Germany
| | - Tim Hagenacker
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Maggie C Walter
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Department of Neurology, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Reilich
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Department of Neurology, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | | | - Martin Zenker
- Institute of Human Genetics, Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Elke Holinski-Feder
- Medical Genetics Center (MGZ), 80335 Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine IV, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Benedikt Schoser
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Department of Neurology, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Angela Abicht
- Medical Genetics Center (MGZ), 80335 Munich, Germany
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Department of Neurology, Klinikum der Universität, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 Munich, Germany
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19
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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] [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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20
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Amzali S, Wilson VD, Bommart S, Picot MC, Galas S, Mercier J, Poucheret P, Cristol JP, Arbogast S, Laoudj-Chenivesse D. Nutritional Status of Patients with Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15071673. [PMID: 37049513 PMCID: PMC10096775 DOI: 10.3390/nu15071673] [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: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a rare genetic neuromuscular disease, reduced physical performance is associated with lower blood levels of vitamin C, zinc, selenium, and increased oxidative stress markers. Supplementation of vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium improves the quadriceps' physical performance. Here, we compared the nutritional status of 74 women and 85 men with FSHD. Calorie intake was lower in women with FSHD than in men. Moreover, we assessed vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, copper, and selenium intakes in diet and their concentrations in the plasma. Vitamin E, copper, and zinc intake were lower in women with FSHD than in men, whereas plasma vitamin C, copper levels, and copper/zinc ratio were higher in women with FSHD than in men. The dietary intake and plasma concentrations of the studied vitamins and minerals were not correlated in both sexes. A well-balanced and varied diet might not be enough in patients with FSHD to correct the observed vitamin/mineral deficiencies. A low energy intake is a risk factor for suboptimal intake of proteins, vitamins, and minerals that are important for protein synthesis and other metabolic pathways and that might contribute to progressive muscle mass loss. Antioxidant supplementation and higher protein intake seem necessary to confer protection against oxidative stress and skeletal muscle mass loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedda Amzali
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, CHU de Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France
| | - Vinicius Dias Wilson
- Departamento de Educação Física, Centro Universitário Estácio de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte 30411-052, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Pró-Reitoria de Assuntos Comunitários e Estudantis, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina 39100-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sébastien Bommart
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, CHU de Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France
- Service de Radiologie, Hôpital Arnaud-de-Villeneuve, CHU de Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France
| | - Marie-Christine Picot
- Clinical Research and Epidemiology Unit (Department of Medicale Information), Centre d'Investigation Clinique 1411 INSERM, CHU Montpellier, Univ Montpellier, CEDEX 5, 34295 Montpellier, France
| | - Simon Galas
- Institut des Biomolecules Max Mousseron (IBMM), Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Montpellier, ENSCM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Jacques Mercier
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, CHU de Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France
- Department of Clinical Physiology, CHU of Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France
| | - Patrick Poucheret
- Qualisud, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IRD, Avignon Université, Université de La Réunion, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Paul Cristol
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, CHU de Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France
- Department of Biochemistry, University Hospital of Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France
| | - Sandrine Arbogast
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, CHU de Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France
| | - Dalila Laoudj-Chenivesse
- PhyMedExp, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, CHU de Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France
- Department of Clinical Physiology, CHU of Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France
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21
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Claus C, Slavin M, Ansseau E, Lancelot C, Bah K, Lassche S, Fiévet M, Greco A, Tomaiuolo S, Tassin A, Dudome V, Kusters B, Declèves AE, Laoudj-Chenivesse D, van Engelen BGM, Nonclercq D, Belayew A, Kalisman N, Coppée F. The double homeodomain protein DUX4c is associated with regenerating muscle fibers and RNA-binding proteins. Skelet Muscle 2023; 13:5. [PMID: 36882853 PMCID: PMC9990282 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-022-00310-y] [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: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have previously demonstrated that double homeobox 4 centromeric (DUX4C) encoded for a functional DUX4c protein upregulated in dystrophic skeletal muscles. Based on gain- and loss-of-function studies we have proposed DUX4c involvement in muscle regeneration. Here, we provide further evidence for such a role in skeletal muscles from patients affected with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). METHODS DUX4c was studied at RNA and protein levels in FSHD muscle cell cultures and biopsies. Its protein partners were co-purified and identified by mass spectrometry. Endogenous DUX4c was detected in FSHD muscle sections with either its partners or regeneration markers using co-immunofluorescence or in situ proximity ligation assay. RESULTS We identified new alternatively spliced DUX4C transcripts and confirmed DUX4c immunodetection in rare FSHD muscle cells in primary culture. DUX4c was detected in nuclei, cytoplasm or at cell-cell contacts between myocytes and interacted sporadically with specific RNA-binding proteins involved, a.o., in muscle differentiation, repair, and mass maintenance. In FSHD muscle sections, DUX4c was found in fibers with unusual shape or central/delocalized nuclei (a regeneration feature) staining for developmental myosin heavy chain, MYOD or presenting intense desmin labeling. Some couples of myocytes/fibers locally exhibited peripheral DUX4c-positive areas that were very close to each other, but in distinct cells. MYOD or intense desmin staining at these locations suggested an imminent muscle cell fusion. We further demonstrated DUX4c interaction with its major protein partner, C1qBP, inside myocytes/myofibers that presented features of regeneration. On adjacent muscle sections, we could unexpectedly detect DUX4 (the FSHD causal protein) and its interaction with C1qBP in fusing myocytes/fibers. CONCLUSIONS DUX4c upregulation in FSHD muscles suggests it contributes not only to the pathology but also, based on its protein partners and specific markers, to attempts at muscle regeneration. The presence of both DUX4 and DUX4c in regenerating FSHD muscle cells suggests DUX4 could compete with normal DUX4c functions, thus explaining why skeletal muscle is particularly sensitive to DUX4 toxicity. Caution should be exerted with therapeutic agents aiming for DUX4 suppression because they might also repress the highly similar DUX4c and interfere with its physiological role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clothilde Claus
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Moriya Slavin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Eugénie Ansseau
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Céline Lancelot
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Karimatou Bah
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Saskia Lassche
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, the Netherlands
| | - Manon Fiévet
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Anna Greco
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sara Tomaiuolo
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Alexandra Tassin
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium.,Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Virginie Dudome
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Benno Kusters
- Department of Pathology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne-Emilie Declèves
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | | | - Baziel G M van Engelen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Denis Nonclercq
- Laboratory of Histology, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Alexandra Belayew
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Nir Kalisman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Frédérique Coppée
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium.
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22
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Tihaya MS, Mul K, Balog J, de Greef JC, Tapscott SJ, Tawil R, Statland JM, van der Maarel SM. Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: the road to targeted therapies. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:91-108. [PMID: 36627512 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-022-00762-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Advances in the molecular understanding of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) have revealed that FSHD results from epigenetic de-repression of the DUX4 gene in skeletal muscle, which encodes a transcription factor that is active in early embryonic development but is normally silenced in almost all somatic tissues. These advances also led to the identification of targets for disease-altering therapies for FSHD, as well as an improved understanding of the molecular mechanism of the disease and factors that influence its progression. Together, these developments led the FSHD research community to shift its focus towards the development of disease-modifying treatments for FSHD. This Review presents advances in the molecular and clinical understanding of FSHD, discusses the potential targeted therapies that are currently being explored, some of which are already in clinical trials, and describes progress in the development of FSHD-specific outcome measures and assessment tools for use in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara S Tihaya
- Department of 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
| | - Judit Balog
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen J Tapscott
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rabi Tawil
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Statland
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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23
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PANAGOPOULOS IOANNIS, ANDERSEN KRISTIN, GORUNOVA LUDMILA, HOGNESTAD HANNEREGINE, PEDERSEN THOMASDAHL, LOBMAIER INGVILD, MICCI FRANCESCA, HEIM SVERRE. Chromosome Translocation t(10;19)(q26;q13) in a CIC-sarcoma. In Vivo 2023; 37:57-69. [PMID: 36593014 PMCID: PMC9843759 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13054] [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: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM CIC-sarcomas are characterized by rearrangements of the capicua transcriptional repressor (CIC) gene on chromosome subband 19q13.2, generating chimeras in which CIC is the 5'-end partner. Most reported CIC-sarcomas have been detected using PCR amplifications together with Sanger sequencing, high throughput sequencing, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Only a few CIC-rearranged tumors have been characterized cytogenetically. Here, we describe the cytogenetic and molecular genetic features of a CIC-sarcoma carrying a t(10;19)(q26;q13), a chromosomal rearrangement not previously detected in such neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS A round cell sarcoma removed from the right thigh of a 57-year-old man was investigated by G-banding cytogenetics, FISH, PCR and Sanger sequencing. RESULTS The tumor cells had three cytogenetically related clones with the translocations t(9;18)(q22;q21) and t(10;19)(q26;q13) common to all of them. FISH with a BAC probe containing the CIC gene hybridized to the normal chromosome 19, to der(10)t(10;19), and to der(19)t(10;19). PCR using tumor cDNA as template together with Sanger sequencing detected two CIC::DUX4 fusion transcripts which both had a stop TAG codon immediately after the fusion point. Both transcripts are predicted to encode truncated CIC polypeptides lacking the carboxy terminal part of the native protein. This missing part is crucial for CIC's DNA binding capacity and interaction with other proteins. CONCLUSION In addition to demonstrating that CIC rearrangement in sarcomas can occur via the microscopically visible translocation t(10;19)(q26;q13), the findings in the present case provide evidence that the missing part in CIC-truncated proteins has important functions whose loss may be important in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- IOANNIS PANAGOPOULOS
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - KRISTIN ANDERSEN
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - LUDMILA GORUNOVA
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | | | - FRANCESCA MICCI
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - SVERRE HEIM
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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24
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Ganassi M, Figeac N, Reynaud M, Ortuste Quiroga HP, Zammit PS. Antagonism Between DUX4 and DUX4c Highlights a Pathomechanism Operating Through β-Catenin in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:802573. [PMID: 36158201 PMCID: PMC9490378 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.802573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of the transcription factor DUX4 from D4Z4 macrosatellite repeats on chromosome 4q35, and its transcriptome, associate with pathogenesis in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Forced DUX4 expression halts skeletal muscle cell proliferation and induces cell death. DUX4 binds DNA via two homeodomains that are identical in sequence to those of DUX4c (DUX4L9): a closely related transcriptional regulator encoded by a single, inverted, mutated D4Z4 unit located centromeric to the D4Z4 macrosatellite array on chromosome 4. However, the function and contribution of DUX4c to FSHD pathogenesis are unclear. To explore interplay between DUX4, DUX4c, and the DUX4-induced phenotype, we investigated whether DUX4c interferes with DUX4 function in human myogenesis. Constitutive expression of DUX4c rescued the DUX4-induced inhibition of proliferation and reduced cell death in human myoblasts. Functionally, DUX4 promotes nuclear translocation of β-CATENIN and increases canonical WNT signalling. Concomitant constitutive expression of DUX4c prevents β-CATENIN nuclear accumulation and the downstream transcriptional program. DUX4 reduces endogenous DUX4c levels, whereas constitutive expression of DUX4c robustly suppresses expression of DUX4 target genes, suggesting molecular antagonism. In line, DUX4 expression in FSHD myoblasts correlates with reduced DUX4c levels. Addressing the mechanism, we identified a subset of genes involved in the WNT/β-CATENIN pathway that are differentially regulated between DUX4 and DUX4c, whose expression pattern can separate muscle biopsies from severely affected FSHD patients from healthy. Finally, blockade of WNT/β-CATENIN signalling rescues viability of FSHD myoblasts. Together, our study highlights an antagonistic interplay whereby DUX4 alters cell viability via β-CATENIN signalling and DUX4c counteracts aspects of DUX4-mediated toxicity in human muscle cells, potentially acting as a gene modifier for FSHD severity. Importantly, direct DUX4 regulation of the WNT/β-CATENIN pathway informs future therapeutic interventions to ameliorate FSHD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Peter S. Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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25
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Caputo V, Megalizzi D, Fabrizio C, Termine A, Colantoni L, Caltagirone C, Giardina E, Cascella R, Strafella C. Update on the Molecular Aspects and Methods Underlying the Complex Architecture of FSHD. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172687. [PMID: 36078093 PMCID: PMC9454908 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the knowledge of the main mechanisms involved in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), the high heterogeneity and variable penetrance of the disease complicate the diagnosis, characterization and genotype–phenotype correlation of patients and families, raising the need for further research and data. Thus, the present review provides an update of the main molecular aspects underlying the complex architecture of FSHD, including the genetic factors (related to D4Z4 repeated units and FSHD-associated genes), epigenetic elements (D4Z4 methylation status, non-coding RNAs and high-order chromatin interactions) and gene expression profiles (FSHD transcriptome signatures both at bulk tissue and single-cell level). In addition, the review will also describe the methods currently available for investigating the above-mentioned features and how the resulting data may be combined with artificial-intelligence-based pipelines, with the purpose of developing a multifunctional tool tailored to enhancing the knowledge of disease pathophysiology and progression and fostering the research for novel treatment strategies, as well as clinically useful biomarkers. In conclusion, the present review highlights how FSHD should be regarded as a disease characterized by a molecular spectrum of genetic and epigenetic factors, whose alteration plays a differential role in DUX4 repression and, subsequently, contributes to determining the FSHD phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Caputo
- Genomic Medicine Laboratory-UILDM, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenica Megalizzi
- Genomic Medicine Laboratory-UILDM, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Fabrizio
- Data Science Unit, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Termine
- Data Science Unit, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Colantoni
- Genomic Medicine Laboratory-UILDM, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Caltagirone
- Department of Clinical and Behavorial Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Emiliano Giardina
- Genomic Medicine Laboratory-UILDM, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0651501550
| | - Raffaella Cascella
- Genomic Medicine Laboratory-UILDM, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Strafella
- Genomic Medicine Laboratory-UILDM, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
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26
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ANT1 overexpression models: Some similarities with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Redox Biol 2022; 56:102450. [PMID: 36030628 PMCID: PMC9434167 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness. Adenine nucleotide translocator 1 (ANT1), the only 4q35 gene involved in mitochondrial function, is strongly expressed in FSHD skeletal muscle biopsies. However, its role in FSHD is unclear. In this study, we evaluated ANT1 overexpression effects in primary myoblasts from healthy controls and during Xenopus laevis organogenesis. We also compared ANT1 overexpression effects with the phenotype of FSHD muscle cells and biopsies. Here, we report that the ANT1 overexpression-induced phenotype presents some similarities with FSHD muscle cells and biopsies. ANT1-overexpressing muscle cells showed disorganized morphology, altered cytoskeletal arrangement, enhanced mitochondrial respiration/glycolysis, ROS production, oxidative stress, mitochondrial fragmentation and ultrastructure alteration, as observed in FSHD muscle cells. ANT1 overexpression in Xenopus laevis embryos affected skeletal muscle development, impaired skeletal muscle, altered mitochondrial ultrastructure and led to oxidative stress as observed in FSHD muscle biopsies. Moreover, ANT1 overexpression in X. laevis embryos affected heart structure and mitochondrial ultrastructure leading to cardiac arrhythmia, as described in some patients with FSHD. Overall our data suggest that ANT1 could contribute to mitochondria dysfunction and oxidative stress in FSHD muscle cells by modifying their bioenergetic profile associated with ROS production. Such interplay between energy metabolism and ROS production in FSHD will be of significant interest for future prospects.
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Lu-Nguyen N, Dickson G, Malerba A, Popplewell L. Long-Term Systemic Treatment of a Mouse Model Displaying Chronic FSHD-like Pathology with Antisense Therapeutics That Inhibit DUX4 Expression. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071623. [PMID: 35884928 PMCID: PMC9313434 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Silencing the expression of the double homeobox 4 (DUX4) gene offers great potential for the treatment of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Several research groups have recently reported promising results using systemic antisense therapy in a transgenic small animal model of FSHD, the ACTA1-MCM/FLExDUX4 mouse model. However, the treatment was applied in non-DUX4-induced mice or shortly after DUX4 activation, which resulted in conditions that do not correctly represent the situation in a clinic. Here, we generated progressive FSHD-like pathology in ACTA1-MCM/FLExDUX4 mice and then treated the animals with vivoPMO-PACS4, an antisense compound that efficiently downregulates DUX4. To best mimic the translation of this treatment in clinical settings, the systemic antisense oligonucleotide administration was delayed to 3 weeks after the DUX4 activation so that the pathology was established at the time of the treatment. The chronic administration of vivoPMO-PACS4 for 8 weeks downregulated the DUX4 expression by 60%. Consequently, the treated mice showed an increase by 18% in body-wide muscle mass and 32% in muscle strength, and a reduction in both myofiber central nucleation and muscle fibrosis by up to 29% and 37%, respectively. Our results in a more suitable model of FSHD pathology confirm the efficacy of vivoPMO-PACS4 administration, and highlight the significant benefit provided by the long-term treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc Lu-Nguyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (N.L.-N.); (G.D.)
| | - George Dickson
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (N.L.-N.); (G.D.)
| | - Alberto Malerba
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (N.L.-N.); (G.D.)
- Correspondence: (A.M.); (L.P.)
| | - Linda Popplewell
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK; (N.L.-N.); (G.D.)
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington DL1 1HG, UK
- Correspondence: (A.M.); (L.P.)
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Xie SQ, Leeke BJ, Whilding C, Wagner RT, Garcia-Llagostera F, Low Y, Chammas P, Cheung NTF, Dormann D, McManus MT, Percharde M. Nucleolar-based Dux repression is essential for embryonic two-cell stage exit. Genes Dev 2022; 36:331-347. [PMID: 35273077 PMCID: PMC8973846 DOI: 10.1101/gad.349172.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Upon fertilization, the mammalian embryo must switch from dependence on maternal transcripts to transcribing its own genome, and in mice this involves the transient up-regulation of MERVL transposons and MERVL-driven genes at the two-cell stage. The mechanisms and requirement for MERVL and two-cell (2C) gene up-regulation are poorly understood. Moreover, this MERVL-driven transcriptional program must be rapidly shut off to allow two-cell exit and developmental progression. Here, we report that robust ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis and nucleolar maturation are essential for exit from the 2C state. 2C-like cells and two-cell embryos show similar immature nucleoli with altered structure and reduced rRNA output. We reveal that nucleolar disruption via blocking RNA polymerase I activity or preventing nucleolar phase separation enhances conversion to a 2C-like state in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) by detachment of the MERVL activator Dux from the nucleolar surface. In embryos, nucleolar disruption prevents proper nucleolar maturation and Dux silencing and leads to two- to four-cell arrest. Our findings reveal an intriguing link between rRNA synthesis, nucleolar maturation, and gene repression during early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Q Xie
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Bryony J Leeke
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Chad Whilding
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan T Wagner
- University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 91413, USA
| | - Ferran Garcia-Llagostera
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - YiXuan Low
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Chammas
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Nathan T-F Cheung
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Dirk Dormann
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Michael T McManus
- University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 91413, USA
| | - Michelle Percharde
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
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29
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Ashoti A, Limone F, van Kranenburg M, Alemany A, Baak M, Vivié J, Piccioni F, Dijkers PF, Creyghton M, Eggan K, Geijsen N. Considerations and practical implications of performing a phenotypic CRISPR/Cas survival screen. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263262. [PMID: 35176052 PMCID: PMC8853573 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide screens that have viability as a readout have been instrumental to identify essential genes. The development of gene knockout screens with the use of CRISPR-Cas has provided a more sensitive method to identify these genes. Here, we performed an exhaustive genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 phenotypic rescue screen to identify modulators of cytotoxicity induced by the pioneer transcription factor, DUX4. Misexpression of DUX4 due to a failure in epigenetic repressive mechanisms underlies facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FHSD), a complex muscle disorder that thus far remains untreatable. As the name implies, FSHD generally starts in the muscles of the face and shoulder girdle. Our CRISPR/Cas9 screen revealed no key effectors other than DUX4 itself that could modulate DUX4 cytotoxicity, suggesting that treatment efforts in FSHD should be directed towards direct modulation of DUX4 itself. Our screen did however reveal some rare and unexpected genomic events, that had an important impact on the interpretation of our data. Our findings may provide important considerations for planning future CRISPR/Cas9 phenotypic survival screens.
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MESH Headings
- CRISPR-Cas Systems
- Cell Survival
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Homeodomain Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/metabolism
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/pathology
- Muscle Cells/metabolism
- Muscle Cells/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/genetics
- Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/pathology
- Myoblasts/metabolism
- Myoblasts/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- Ator Ashoti
- Hubrecht Institute, Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail: (AA); (FL); (NG); (KE)
| | - Francesco Limone
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AA); (FL); (NG); (KE)
| | - Melissa van Kranenburg
- Hubrecht Institute, Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Alemany
- Hubrecht Institute, Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mirna Baak
- Hubrecht Institute, Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Judith Vivié
- Hubrecht Institute, Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Single Cell Discoveries, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Pascale F. Dijkers
- Hubrecht Institute, Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Menno Creyghton
- Hubrecht Institute, Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kevin Eggan
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AA); (FL); (NG); (KE)
| | - Niels Geijsen
- Hubrecht Institute, Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail: (AA); (FL); (NG); (KE)
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30
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Ghasemi M, Emerson CP, Hayward LJ. Outcome Measures in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Clinical Trials. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040687. [PMID: 35203336 PMCID: PMC8870318 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a debilitating muscular dystrophy with a variable age of onset, severity, and progression. While there is still no cure for this disease, progress towards FSHD therapies has accelerated since the underlying mechanism of epigenetic derepression of the double homeobox 4 (DUX4) gene leading to skeletal muscle toxicity was identified. This has facilitated the rapid development of novel therapies to target DUX4 expression and downstream dysregulation that cause muscle degeneration. These discoveries and pre-clinical translational studies have opened new avenues for therapies that await evaluation in clinical trials. As the field anticipates more FSHD trials, the need has grown for more reliable and quantifiable outcome measures of muscle function, both for early phase and phase II and III trials. Advanced tools that facilitate longitudinal clinical assessment will greatly improve the potential of trials to identify therapeutics that successfully ameliorate disease progression or permit muscle functional recovery. Here, we discuss current and emerging FSHD outcome measures and the challenges that investigators may experience in applying such measures to FSHD clinical trial design and implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Ghasemi
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (C.P.E.J.); (L.J.H.)
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
- Correspondence: ; Fax: +1-508-856-4485
| | - Charles P. Emerson
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (C.P.E.J.); (L.J.H.)
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Lawrence J. Hayward
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (C.P.E.J.); (L.J.H.)
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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31
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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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32
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Mohassel P, Chang N, Inoue K, Delaney A, Hu Y, Donkervoort S, Saade D, Billioux BJ, Meader B, Volochayev R, Konersman CG, Kaindl AM, Cho CH, Russell B, Rodriguez A, Foster KW, Foley AR, Moore SA, Jones PL, Bonnemann CG, Jones T, Shaw ND. Cross-sectional, Neuromuscular Phenotyping Study of Arhinia Patients With SMCHD1 Variants. Neurology 2022; 98:e1384-e1396. [PMID: 35121673 PMCID: PMC8967428 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000200032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 2 (FSHD2) and arhinia are two distinct disorders caused by pathogenic variants in the same gene, SMCHD1. The mechanism underlying this phenotypic divergence remains unclear. In this study, we characterize the neuromuscular phenotype of individuals with arhinia caused by SMCHD1 variants and analyze their complex genetic and epigenetic criteria to assess their risk for FSHD2. METHODS Eleven individuals with congenital nasal anomalies, including arhinia, nasal hypoplasia, or anosmia, underwent a neuromuscular exam, genetic testing, muscle ultrasound, and muscle MRI. Risk for FSHD2 was determined by combined genetic and epigenetic analysis of 4q35 haplotype, D4Z4 repeat length and methylation profile. We also compared expression levels of pathogenic DUX4 mRNA in primary myoblasts or dermal fibroblasts (upon myogenic differentiation or epigenetic transdifferentiation, respectively) in these individuals to those with confirmed FSHD2. RESULTS Among the eleven individuals with rare, pathogenic, heterozygous missense variants in exons 3-11 of SMCHD1, only a subset (n=3/11; 1 male, 2 females; age 25-51 years) met the strict genetic and epigenetic criteria for FSHD2 (D4Z4 repeat unit length <21 in cis with a 4qA haplotype, and D4Z4 methylation <30%). None of the 3 individuals had typical clinical manifestations or muscle imaging findings consistent with FSHD2. However, the arhinia patients meeting the permissive genetic and epigenetic criteria for FSHD2 displayed some DUX4 expression in dermal fibroblasts under the epigenetic de-repression by drug treatment and in the primary myoblasts undergoing myogenic differentiation. DISCUSSION In this cross-sectional study, we identified arhinia patients who meet the full genetic and epigenetic criteria for FSHD2 and display the molecular hallmark of FSHD, that is DUX4 de-repression and expression in vitro, but who do not manifest with the typical clinicopathologic phenotype of FSHD2. The distinct dichotomy between FSHD2 and arhinia phenotypes despite an otherwise poised DUX4 locus implies the presence of novel disease-modifying factors that seem to operate as a "switch", resulting in one phenotype and not the other. Identification and further understanding of these disease-modifying factors will likely provide valuable insight with therapeutic implications for both diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payam Mohassel
- Neuromuscular and Neurogenetic Disorders of Childhood Section, Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Ning Chang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Kaoru Inoue
- Pediatric Neuroendocrinology Group, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, RTP, NC
| | - Angela Delaney
- National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Ying Hu
- Neuromuscular and Neurogenetic Disorders of Childhood Section, Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Sandra Donkervoort
- Neuromuscular and Neurogenetic Disorders of Childhood Section, Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Dimah Saade
- Neuromuscular and Neurogenetic Disorders of Childhood Section, Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - B Jeanne Billioux
- International Neuroinfectious Diseases Unit, Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurovirology, National institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Brooke Meader
- National Institute of Child Health and Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Rita Volochayev
- Environmental Autoimmunity Group, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Angela M Kaindl
- Charitè-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Center for Chronically Sick Children and Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chie-Hee Cho
- Institute for diagnostic and interventional Radiology, University Clinic, Jena, Germany
| | - Bianca Russell
- Division of Pediatric Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | | | - K Wade Foster
- Florida Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centers, Winter Haven, FL
| | - A Reghan Foley
- Neuromuscular and Neurogenetic Disorders of Childhood Section, Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Steven A Moore
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Peter L Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Carsten G Bonnemann
- Neuromuscular and Neurogenetic Disorders of Childhood Section, Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Takako Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Natalie D Shaw
- Pediatric Neuroendocrinology Group, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, RTP, NC
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Lu-Nguyen N, Malerba A, Antoni Pineda M, Dickson G, Popplewell LJ. Improving molecular and histopathology in diaphragm muscle of the double transgenic ACTA1-MCM/FLExDUX4 mouse model of FSHD with systemic antisense therapy. Hum Gene Ther 2022; 33:923-935. [PMID: 35078334 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a rare muscle dystrophy causing muscle weakness initially in the face, shoulders and upper arms, and extended to lower body muscles as the disease progresses. Respiratory restriction in FSHD is increasingly reported to be more common and severe than previously thought, with the involvement of diaphragm weakness in pulmonary insufficiency being under debate. As aberrant expression of the double homeobox 4 (DUX4) gene is the prime cause of FSHD, we and others have developed numerous strategies and reported promising results on downregulating DUX4 expression in both cellular and animal models of FSHD. However, the effect of DUX4 and anti-DUX4 approaches on diaphragm muscle has not been elucidated. Here we show that toxic DUX4 expression causes pathology that affects the diaphragm of ACTA1-MCM/FLExDUX4 mouse model of FSHD at both molecular and histological levels. Of importance, a systemic antisense treatment that suppresses DUX4 and target genes expression by 50% significantly improves muscle regeneration and muscle fibrosis, and prevents modification in myofiber type composition, supporting its development as a treatment for FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc Lu-Nguyen
- Royal Holloway University of London, 3162, Department of Biological Sciences, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
| | - Alberto Malerba
- Royal Holloway University of London, 3162, Department of Biological Sciences, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
| | - Marina Antoni Pineda
- Royal Holloway University of London, 3162, Department of Biological Sciences, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
| | - George Dickson
- Royal Holloway University of London, 3162, Department of Biological Sciences, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
| | - Linda J Popplewell
- Royal Holloway University of London, 3162, Department of Biological Sciences, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
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Abstract
The zygotic genome is transcriptionally silent immediately after fertilization. In mice, initial activation of the zygotic genome occurs in the middle of the one-cell stage. At the mid-to-late two-cell stage, a burst of gene activation occurs after the second round of DNA replication, and the profile of transcribed genes changes dramatically. These two phases of gene activation are called minor and major zygotic gene activation (ZGA), respectively. As they mark the beginning of the gene expression program, it is important to elucidate gene expression regulation during these stages. This article reviews the outcomes of studies that have clarified the profiles and regulatory mechanisms of ZGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fugaku Aoki
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
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35
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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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36
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Saad NY, Al-Kharsan M, Garwick-Coppens SE, Chermahini GA, Harper MA, Palo A, Boudreau RL, Harper SQ. Human miRNA miR-675 inhibits DUX4 expression and may be exploited as a potential treatment for Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7128. [PMID: 34880230 PMCID: PMC8654987 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27430-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a potentially devastating myopathy caused by de-repression of the DUX4 gene in skeletal muscles. Effective therapies will likely involve DUX4 inhibition. RNA interference (RNAi) is one powerful approach to inhibit DUX4, and we previously described a RNAi gene therapy to achieve DUX4 silencing in FSHD cells and mice using engineered microRNAs. Here we report a strategy to direct RNAi against DUX4 using the natural microRNA miR-675, which is derived from the lncRNA H19. Human miR-675 inhibits DUX4 expression and associated outcomes in FSHD cell models. In addition, miR-675 delivery using gene therapy protects muscles from DUX4-associated death in mice. Finally, we show that three known miR-675-upregulating small molecules inhibit DUX4 and DUX4-activated FSHD biomarkers in FSHD patient-derived myotubes. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the use of small molecules to suppress a dominant disease gene using an RNAi mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nizar Y. Saad
- grid.240344.50000 0004 0392 3476Center for Gene Therapy, the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Mustafa Al-Kharsan
- grid.240344.50000 0004 0392 3476Center for Gene Therapy, the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH USA ,grid.266832.b0000 0001 2188 8502Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM USA
| | - Sara E. Garwick-Coppens
- grid.240344.50000 0004 0392 3476Center for Gene Therapy, the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Gholamhossein Amini Chermahini
- grid.240344.50000 0004 0392 3476Center for Gene Therapy, the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Madison A. Harper
- grid.240344.50000 0004 0392 3476Center for Gene Therapy, the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Andrew Palo
- grid.240344.50000 0004 0392 3476Center for Gene Therapy, the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Ryan L. Boudreau
- grid.214572.70000 0004 1936 8294Department of Internal Medicine, Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA USA
| | - Scott Q. Harper
- grid.240344.50000 0004 0392 3476Center for Gene Therapy, the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH USA ,grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH USA
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Hu S, Mahadevan A, Elysee IF, Choi J, Souchet NR, Bae GH, Taboada AK, Sanketi B, Duhamel GE, Sevier CS, Tao G, Kurpios NA. The asymmetric Pitx2 gene regulates gut muscular-lacteal development and protects against fatty liver disease. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110030. [PMID: 34818545 PMCID: PMC8650168 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal lacteals are essential lymphatic channels for absorption and transport of dietary lipids and drive the pathogenesis of debilitating metabolic diseases. However, organ-specific mechanisms linking lymphatic dysfunction to disease etiology remain largely unknown. In this study, we uncover an intestinal lymphatic program that is linked to the left-right (LR) asymmetric transcription factor Pitx2. We show that deletion of the asymmetric Pitx2 enhancer ASE alters normal lacteal development through the lacteal-associated contractile smooth muscle lineage. ASE deletion leads to abnormal muscle morphogenesis induced by oxidative stress, resulting in impaired lacteal extension and defective lymphatic system-dependent lipid transport. Surprisingly, activation of lymphatic system-independent trafficking directs dietary lipids from the gut directly to the liver, causing diet-induced fatty liver disease. Our study reveals the molecular mechanism linking gut lymphatic function to the earliest symmetry-breaking Pitx2 and highlights the important relationship between intestinal lymphangiogenesis and the gut-liver axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shing Hu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Aparna Mahadevan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Isaac F Elysee
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Joseph Choi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Nathan R Souchet
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Gloria H Bae
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Alessandra K Taboada
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Bhargav Sanketi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Gerald E Duhamel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Carolyn S Sevier
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Ge Tao
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Natasza A Kurpios
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Zhang H, Cheng N, Li Z, Bai L, Fang C, Li Y, Zhang W, Dong X, Jiang M, Liang Y, Zhang S, Mi J, Zhu J, Zhang Y, Chen SJ, Zhao Y, Weng XQ, Hu W, Chen Z, Huang J, Meng G. DNA crosslinking and recombination-activating genes 1/2 (RAG1/2) are required for oncogenic splicing in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2021; 41:1116-1136. [PMID: 34699692 PMCID: PMC8626599 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Abnormal alternative splicing is frequently associated with carcinogenesis. In B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL), double homeobox 4 fused with immunoglobulin heavy chain (DUX4/IGH) can lead to the aberrant production of E‐26 transformation‐specific family related gene abnormal transcript (ERGalt) and other splicing variants. However, the molecular mechanism underpinning this process remains elusive. Here, we aimed to know how DUX4/IGH triggers abnormal splicing in leukemia. Methods The differential intron retention analysis was conducted to identify novel DUX4/IGH‐driven splicing in B‐ALL patients. X‐ray crystallography, small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), and analytical ultracentrifugation were used to investigate how DUX4/IGH recognize double DUX4 responsive element (DRE)‐DRE sites. The ERGalt biogenesis and B‐cell differentiation assays were performed to characterize the DUX4/IGH crosslinking activity. To check whether recombination‐activating gene 1/2 (RAG1/2) was required for DUX4/IGH‐driven splicing, the proximity ligation assay, co‐immunoprecipitation, mammalian two hybrid characterizations, in vitro RAG1/2 cleavage, and shRNA knock‐down assays were performed. Results We reported previously unrecognized intron retention events in C‐type lectin domain family 12, member A abnormal transcript (CLEC12Aalt) and chromosome 6 open reading frame 89 abnormal transcript (C6orf89alt), where also harbored repetitive DRE‐DRE sites. Supportively, X‐ray crystallography and SAXS characterization revealed that DUX4 homeobox domain (HD)1‐HD2 might dimerize into a dumbbell‐shape trans configuration to crosslink two adjacent DRE sites. Impaired DUX4/IGH‐mediated crosslinking abolishes ERGalt, CLEC12Aalt, and C6orf89alt biogenesis, resulting in marked alleviation of its inhibitory effect on B‐cell differentiation. Furthermore, we also observed a rare RAG1/2‐mediated recombination signal sequence‐like DNA edition in DUX4/IGH target genes. Supportively, shRNA knock‐down of RAG1/2 in leukemic Reh cells consistently impaired the biogenesis of ERGalt, CLEC12Aalt, and C6orf89alt. Conclusions All these results suggest that DUX4/IGH‐driven DNA crosslinking is required for RAG1/2 recruitment onto the double tandem DRE‐DRE sites, catalyzing V(D)J‐like recombination and oncogenic splicing in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Nuo Cheng
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Zhihui Li
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Ling Bai
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610044, P. R. China
| | - Chengli Fang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yuwen Li
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Weina Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Xue Dong
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Minghao Jiang
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Yang Liang
- Department of Hematologic Oncology, State key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Sujiang Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Jianqing Mi
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Jiang Zhu
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Sai-Juan Chen
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Yajie Zhao
- Department of Geriatrics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China.,Medical Center on Aging of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Xiang-Qin Weng
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Weiguo Hu
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China.,Department of Geriatrics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China.,Medical Center on Aging of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Zhu Chen
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Jinyan Huang
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China.,Biomedical Big Data Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, P. R. China.,Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, P. R. China
| | - Guoyu Meng
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital, School of Medicine and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
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Bosnakovski D, Ener ET, Cooper MS, Gearhart MD, Knights KA, Xu NC, Palumbo CA, Toso EA, Marsh GP, Maple HJ, Kyba M. Inactivation of the CIC-DUX4 oncogene through P300/CBP inhibition, a therapeutic approach for CIC-DUX4 sarcoma. Oncogenesis 2021; 10:68. [PMID: 34642317 PMCID: PMC8511258 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-021-00357-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
CIC-DUX4 sarcoma (CDS) is a highly aggressive and metastatic small round type of predominantly pediatric sarcoma driven by a fusion oncoprotein comprising the transcriptional repressor Capicua (CIC) fused to the C-terminal transcriptional activation domain of DUX4. CDS rapidly develops resistance to chemotherapy, thus novel specific therapies are greatly needed. We demonstrate that CIC-DUX4 requires P300/CBP to induce histone H3 acetylation, activate its targets, and drive oncogenesis. We describe the synthetic route to a selective and highly potent P300/CBP inhibitor named iP300w and related stereoisomers, and find that iP300w efficiently suppresses CIC-DUX4 transcriptional activity and reverses CIC-DUX4 induced acetylation. iP300w is active at 100-fold lower concentrations than related stereoisomers or A-485. At low doses, iP300w shows specificity to CDS cancer cell lines, rapidly inducing cell cycle arrest and preventing growth of established CDS xenograft tumors when delivered in vivo. The effectiveness of iP300w to inactivate CIC-DUX4 highlights a promising therapeutic opportunity for CDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darko Bosnakovski
- Lillehei Heart Institute, Minneapolis, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA. .,Faculty of Medical Sciences, University Goce Delchev - Shtip, Shtip, 2000, Republic of North Macedonia.
| | - Elizabeth T Ener
- Lillehei Heart Institute, Minneapolis, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Mark S Cooper
- Bio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Atlantic Road, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK
| | - Micah D Gearhart
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Kevin A Knights
- Bio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Atlantic Road, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK
| | - Natalie C Xu
- Lillehei Heart Institute, Minneapolis, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Christian A Palumbo
- Lillehei Heart Institute, Minneapolis, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Erik A Toso
- Lillehei Heart Institute, Minneapolis, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Graham P Marsh
- Bio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Atlantic Road, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK
| | - Hannah J Maple
- Bio-Techne (Tocris), The Watkins Building, Atlantic Road, Avonmouth, Bristol, UK
| | - Michael Kyba
- Lillehei Heart Institute, Minneapolis, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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40
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The CAM Model for CIC-DUX4 Sarcoma and Its Potential Use for Precision Medicine. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102613. [PMID: 34685592 PMCID: PMC8533847 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: CIC-DUX4 sarcoma is a rare mesenchymal small round cell tumor which belongs to rare cancers that occupy a significant percentage of cancer cases as a whole, despite each being rare. Importantly, each rare cancer type has different features, and thus there is a need to develop a model that mimics the features of each of these cancers. We evaluated the idea that the chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay (CAM), a convenient and versatile animal model, can be established for the CIC-DUX4 sarcoma. (2) Methods: Patient-derived cell lines of CIC-DUX4 were applied. These cells were transplanted onto the CAM membrane and tumor formation was examined by H&E staining, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. The CAM tumor was transferred onto a fresh CAM and was also used to form organoids. Retention of the fusion gene was examined. (3) Results: H&E staining as well as molecular characterization demonstrated the formation of the CIC-DUX4 tumor on the CAM membrane. Expression of cyclin D2 and ETV4 was identified. The CAM tumor was transferred to a fresh CAM to form the second-generation CAM tumor. In addition, we were successful in forming tumor organoids using the CAM tumor. Retention of the fusion gene CIC-DUX4 in the CAM, second-generation CAM, and in the CAM-derived organoids was confirmed by RT-PCR. (4) Conclusions: The CAM assay provides a promising model for CIC-DUX4 sarcoma.
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Lemmers RJLF, Vliet PJ, Granado DSL, Stoep N, Buermans H, Schendel R, Schimmel J, Visser M, Coster R, Jeanpierre M, Laforet P, Upadhyaya M, Engelen B, Sacconi S, Tawil R, Voermans NC, Rogers M, van der Maarel SM. High resolution breakpoint junction mapping of proximally extended D4Z4 deletions in FSHD1 reveals evidence for a founder effect. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 31:748-760. [PMID: 34559225 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an inherited myopathy clinically characterized by weakness in the facial, shoulder girdle and upper arm muscles. FSHD is caused by chromatin relaxation of the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat, mostly by a repeat contraction, facilitating ectopic expression of DUX4 in skeletal muscle. Genetic diagnosis for FSHD is generally based on the sizing and haplotyping of the D4Z4 repeat on chromosome 4 by Southern blotting, molecular combing or single-molecule optical mapping, which is usually straight forward but can be complicated by atypical rearrangements of the D4Z4 repeat. One of these rearrangements is a D4Z4 proximally-extended deletion (DPED) allele, where not only the D4Z4 repeat is partially deleted, but also sequences immediately proximal to the repeat are lost, which can impede accurate diagnosis in all genetic methods. Previously, we identified several DPED alleles in FSHD and estimated the size of the proximal deletions by a complex pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Southern blot strategy. Here, using next generation sequencing, we have defined the breakpoint junctions of these DPED alleles at the base pair resolution in 12 FSHD families and 4 control individuals facilitating a PCR-based diagnosis of these DPED alleles. Our results show that half of the DPED alleles are derivates of an ancient founder allele. For some DPED alleles we found that genetic elements are deleted such as DUX4c, FRG2, DBE-T and myogenic enhancers necessitating re-evaluation of their role in FSHD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J L F Lemmers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick J Vliet
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Nienke Stoep
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Henk Buermans
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robin Schendel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Joost Schimmel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marianne Visser
- Academic Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rudy Coster
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Pascal Laforet
- Nord-Est/Ile-de-France Neuromuscular Reference Center, FHU PHENIX, Neurology Department, Raymond-Poincaré Hospital, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines - Paris Saclay University, Garches, France
| | - Meena Upadhyaya
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cardiff University, Cardif, UK
| | - Baziel Engelen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, The Netherlands
| | - Sabrina Sacconi
- Centre de référence des Maladies neuromusculaires, Nice University Hospital, Nice, France
| | - Rabi Tawil
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Nicol C Voermans
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, The Netherlands
| | - Mark Rogers
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cardiff University, Cardif, UK
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Banerji CRS, Panamarova M, Zammit PS. DUX4 expressing immortalized FSHD lymphoblastoid cells express genes elevated in FSHD muscle biopsies, correlating with the early stages of inflammation. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:2285-2299. [PMID: 32242220 PMCID: PMC7424723 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an incurable disorder linked to ectopic expression of DUX4. However, DUX4 is notoriously difficult to detect in FSHD muscle cells, while DUX4 target gene expression is an inconsistent biomarker for FSHD skeletal muscle biopsies, displaying efficacy only on pathologically inflamed samples. Immune gene misregulation occurs in FSHD muscle, with DUX4 target genes enriched for those associated with inflammatory processes. However, there lacks an assessment of the FSHD immune cell transcriptome, and its contribution to gene expression in FSHD muscle biopsies. Here, we show that EBV-immortalized FSHD lymphoblastoid cell lines express DUX4 and both early and late DUX4 target genes. Moreover, a biomarker of 237 up-regulated genes derived from FSHD lymphoblastoid cell lines is elevated in FSHD muscle biopsies compared to controls. The FSHD Lymphoblast score is unaltered between FSHD myoblasts/myotubes and their controls however, implying a non-myogenic cell source in muscle biopsies. Indeed, the FSHD Lymphoblast score correlates with the early stages of muscle inflammation identified by histological analysis on muscle biopsies, while our two late DUX4 target gene expression biomarkers associate with macroscopic inflammation detectable via MRI. Thus, FSHD lymphoblastoid cell lines express DUX4 and early and late DUX4 target genes, therefore, muscle-infiltrated immune cells may contribute the molecular landscape of FSHD muscle biopsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R S Banerji
- King's College London, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Maryna Panamarova
- King's College London, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Peter S Zammit
- King's College London, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
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Precise Epigenetic Analysis Using Targeted Bisulfite Genomic Sequencing Distinguishes FSHD1, FSHD2, and Healthy Subjects. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11081469. [PMID: 34441403 PMCID: PMC8393475 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11081469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The true prevalence of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is unknown due to difficulties with accurate clinical evaluation and the complexities of current genetic diagnostics. Interestingly, all forms of FSHD are linked to epigenetic changes in the chromosome 4q35 D4Z4 macrosatellite, suggesting that epigenetic analysis could provide an avenue for sequence-based FSHD diagnostics. However, studies assessing DNA methylation at the FSHD locus have produced conflicting results; thus, the utility of this technique as an FSHD diagnostic remains controversial. Here, we critically compared two protocols for epigenetic analysis of the FSHD region using bisulfite genomic sequencing: Jones et al., that contends to be individually diagnostic for FSHD1 and FSHD2, and Gaillard et al., that can identify some changes in DNA methylation levels between groups of clinically affected FSHD and healthy subjects, but is not individually diagnostic for any form of FSHD. We performed both sets of assays on the same genetically confirmed samples and showed that this discrepancy was due strictly to differences in amplicon specificity. We propose that the epigenetic status of the FSHD-associated D4Z4 arrays, when accurately assessed, is a diagnostic for genetic FSHD and can readily distinguish between healthy, FSHD1 and FSHD2. Thus, epigenetic diagnosis of FSHD, which can be performed on saliva DNA, will greatly increase accessibility to FSHD diagnostics for populations around the world.
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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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45
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Grow EJ, Weaver BD, Smith CM, Guo J, Stein P, Shadle SC, Hendrickson PG, Johnson NE, Butterfield RJ, Menafra R, Kloet SL, van der Maarel SM, Williams CJ, Cairns BR. p53 convergently activates Dux/DUX4 in embryonic stem cells and in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy cell models. Nat Genet 2021; 53:1207-1220. [PMID: 34267371 PMCID: PMC8513633 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00893-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In mammalian embryos, proper zygotic genome activation (ZGA) underlies totipotent development. Double homeobox (DUX)-family factors participate in ZGA, and mouse Dux is required for forming cultured two-cell (2C)-like cells. Remarkably, in mouse embryonic stem cells, Dux is activated by the tumor suppressor p53, and Dux expression promotes differentiation into expanded-fate cell types. Long-read sequencing and assembly of the mouse Dux locus reveals its complex chromatin regulation including putative positive and negative feedback loops. We show that the p53-DUX/DUX4 regulatory axis is conserved in humans. Furthermore, we demonstrate that cells derived from patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) activate human DUX4 during p53 signaling via a p53-binding site in a primate-specific subtelomeric long terminal repeat (LTR)10C element. In summary, our work shows that p53 activation convergently evolved to couple p53 to Dux/DUX4 activation in embryonic stem cells, embryos and cells from patients with FSHD, potentially uniting the developmental and disease regulation of DUX-family factors and identifying evidence-based therapeutic opportunities for FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Grow
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Bradley D Weaver
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Christina M Smith
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Jingtao Guo
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Paula Stein
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Sean C Shadle
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Peter G Hendrickson
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Nicholas E Johnson
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Russell J Butterfield
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Roberta Menafra
- Leiden Genome Technology Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Susan L Kloet
- Leiden Genome Technology Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Carmen J Williams
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Bradley R Cairns
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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46
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Lu-Nguyen N, Malerba A, Herath S, Dickson G, Popplewell L. Systemic antisense therapeutics inhibiting DUX4 expression ameliorates FSHD-like pathology in an FSHD mouse model. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:1398-1412. [PMID: 33987655 PMCID: PMC8283208 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of the double homeobox 4 (DUX4) gene in skeletal muscle causes muscle deterioration and weakness in Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Since the presence of a permissive pLAM1 polyadenylation signal is essential for stabilization of DUX4 mRNA and translation of DUX4 protein, disrupting the function of this structure can prevent expression of DUX4. We and others have shown promising results using antisense approaches to reduce DUX4 expression in vitro and in vivo following local intramuscular administration. Here we demonstrate that further development of the antisense chemistries enhances in vitro antisense efficacy. The optimal chemistry was conjugated to a cell-penetrating moiety and was systemically administered into the tamoxifen-inducible Cre-driver FLExDUX4 double-transgenic mouse model of FSHD. After four weekly treatments, mRNA quantities of DUX4 and target genes were reduced by 50% that led to 12% amelioration in muscle atrophy, 52% improvement in in situ muscle strength, 17% reduction in muscle fibrosis and prevention of shift in the myofiber type profile. Systemic DUX4 inhibition also significantly improved the locomotor activity and reduced the fatigue level by 22%. Our data demonstrate that the optimized antisense approach has potential of being further developed as a therapeutic strategy for FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc Lu-Nguyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Alberto Malerba
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Shan Herath
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
| | - George Dickson
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Linda Popplewell
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
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47
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Nguyen TH, Conotte S, Belayew A, Declèves AE, Legrand A, Tassin A. Hypoxia and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Signaling in Muscular Dystrophies: Cause and Consequences. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7220. [PMID: 34281273 PMCID: PMC8269128 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophies (MDs) are a group of inherited degenerative muscle disorders characterized by a progressive skeletal muscle wasting. Respiratory impairments and subsequent hypoxemia are encountered in a significant subgroup of patients in almost all MD forms. In response to hypoxic stress, compensatory mechanisms are activated especially through Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 α (HIF-1α). In healthy muscle, hypoxia and HIF-1α activation are known to affect oxidative stress balance and metabolism. Recent evidence has also highlighted HIF-1α as a regulator of myogenesis and satellite cell function. However, the impact of HIF-1α pathway modifications in MDs remains to be investigated. Multifactorial pathological mechanisms could lead to HIF-1α activation in patient skeletal muscles. In addition to the genetic defect per se, respiratory failure or blood vessel alterations could modify hypoxia response pathways. Here, we will discuss the current knowledge about the hypoxia response pathway alterations in MDs and address whether such changes could influence MD pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-Hang Nguyen
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium; (T.-H.N.); (S.C.); (A.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Stephanie Conotte
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium; (T.-H.N.); (S.C.); (A.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Alexandra Belayew
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium; (T.-H.N.); (S.C.); (A.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Anne-Emilie Declèves
- Department of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium;
| | - Alexandre Legrand
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium; (T.-H.N.); (S.C.); (A.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Alexandra Tassin
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium; (T.-H.N.); (S.C.); (A.B.); (A.L.)
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Lek A, Zhang Y, Woodman KG, Huang S, DeSimone AM, Cohen J, Ho V, Conner J, Mead L, Kodani A, Pakula A, Sanjana N, King OD, Jones PL, Wagner KR, Lek M, Kunkel LM. Applying genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens for therapeutic discovery in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/536/eaay0271. [PMID: 32213627 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aay0271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technologies and genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 libraries enables efficient unbiased genetic screening that can accelerate the process of therapeutic discovery for genetic disorders. Here, we demonstrate the utility of a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function library to identify therapeutic targets for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a genetically complex type of muscular dystrophy for which there is currently no treatment. In FSHD, both genetic and epigenetic changes lead to misexpression of DUX4, the FSHD causal gene that encodes the highly cytotoxic DUX4 protein. We performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen to identify genes whose loss-of-function conferred survival when DUX4 was expressed in muscle cells. Genes emerging from our screen illuminated a pathogenic link to the cellular hypoxia response, which was revealed to be the main driver of DUX4-induced cell death. Application of hypoxia signaling inhibitors resulted in increased DUX4 protein turnover and subsequent reduction of the cellular hypoxia response and cell death. In addition, these compounds proved successful in reducing FSHD disease biomarkers in patient myogenic lines, as well as improving structural and functional properties in two zebrafish models of FSHD. Our genome-wide perturbation of pathways affecting DUX4 expression has provided insight into key drivers of DUX4-induced pathogenesis and has identified existing compounds with potential therapeutic benefit for FSHD. Our experimental approach presents an accelerated paradigm toward mechanistic understanding and therapeutic discovery of a complex genetic disease, which may be translatable to other diseases with well-established phenotypic selection assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Lek
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. .,Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yuanfan Zhang
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Keryn G Woodman
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Shushu Huang
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.,First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.,Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Alec M DeSimone
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.,Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Justin Cohen
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Vincent Ho
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - James Conner
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lillian Mead
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Andrew Kodani
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anna Pakula
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Neville Sanjana
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013, USA.,Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Oliver D King
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Peter L Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Kathryn R Wagner
- Center for Genetic Muscle Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Monkol Lek
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Louis M Kunkel
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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49
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CRISPR mediated targeting of DUX4 distal regulatory element represses DUX4 target genes dysregulated in Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12598. [PMID: 34131248 PMCID: PMC8206090 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92096-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a debilitating muscle disease that currently does not have an effective cure or therapy. The abnormal reactivation of DUX4, an embryonic gene that is epigenetically silenced in somatic tissues, is causal to FSHD. Disease-specific reactivation of DUX4 has two common characteristics, the presence of a non-canonical polyadenylation sequence within exon 3 of DUX4 that stabilizes pathogenic transcripts, and the loss of repressive chromatin modifications at D4Z4, the macrosatellite repeat which encodes DUX4. We used CRISPR/Cas9 to silence DUX4 using two independent approaches. We deleted the DUX4 pathogenic polyadenylation signal, which resulted in downregulation of pathogenic DUX4-fl transcripts. In another approach, we transcriptionally repressed DUX4 by seeding heterochromatin using the dCas9-KRAB platform within exon 3. These feasibility of targeting DUX4 experiments were initially tested in a non-myogenic carcinoma cell line that we have previously characterized. Subsequently, in an immortalized patient myoblast cell line, we demonstrated that targeting DUX4 by either approach led to substantial downregulation of not only pathogenic DUX4 transcripts, but also a subset of its target genes that are known biomarkers of FSHD. These findings offer proof-of-concept of the effect of silencing the polyadenylation sequence on pathogenic DUX4 expression.
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50
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Pappalardo XG, Barra V. Losing DNA methylation at repetitive elements and breaking bad. Epigenetics Chromatin 2021; 14:25. [PMID: 34082816 PMCID: PMC8173753 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-021-00400-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background DNA methylation is an epigenetic chromatin mark that allows heterochromatin formation and gene silencing. It has a fundamental role in preserving genome stability (including chromosome stability) by controlling both gene expression and chromatin structure. Therefore, the onset of an incorrect pattern of DNA methylation is potentially dangerous for the cells. This is particularly important with respect to repetitive elements, which constitute the third of the human genome. Main body Repetitive sequences are involved in several cell processes, however, due to their intrinsic nature, they can be a source of genome instability. Thus, most repetitive elements are usually methylated to maintain a heterochromatic, repressed state. Notably, there is increasing evidence showing that repetitive elements (satellites, long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs), Alus) are frequently hypomethylated in various of human pathologies, from cancer to psychiatric disorders. Repetitive sequences’ hypomethylation correlates with chromatin relaxation and unscheduled transcription. If these alterations are directly involved in human diseases aetiology and how, is still under investigation. Conclusions Hypomethylation of different families of repetitive sequences is recurrent in many different human diseases, suggesting that the methylation status of these elements can be involved in preservation of human health. This provides a promising point of view towards the research of therapeutic strategies focused on specifically tuning DNA methylation of DNA repeats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xena Giada Pappalardo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (BIOMETEC), University of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy.,National Council of Research, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), Unit of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Viviana Barra
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
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