1
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Padberg GW, van Engelen BGM, Voermans NC. Facioscapulohumeral Disease as a myodevelopmental disease: Applying Ockham's razor to its various features. J Neuromuscul Dis 2023; 10:411-425. [PMID: 36872787 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-221624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an exclusively human neuromuscular disease. In the last decades the cause of FSHD was identified: the loss of epigenetic repression of the D4Z4 repeat on chromosome 4q35 resulting in inappropriate transcription of DUX4. This is a consequence of a reduction of the array below 11 units (FSHD1) or of a mutation in methylating enzymes (FSHD2). Both require the presence of a 4qA allele and a specific centromeric SSLP haplotype. Muscles become involved in a rostro-caudally order with an extremely variable progression rate. Mild disease and non-penetrance in families with affected individuals is common. Furthermore, 2% of the Caucasian population carries the pathological haplotype without clinical features of FSHD.In order to explain the various features of FSHD we applied Ockham's Razor to all possible scenarios and removed unnecessary complexities. We postulate that early in embryogenesis a few cells escape epigenetic silencing of the D4Z4 repeat. Their number is assumed to be roughly inversely related to the residual D4Z4 repeat size. By asymmetric cell division, they produce a rostro-caudal and medio-lateral decreasing gradient of weakly D4Z4-repressed mesenchymal stem cells. The gradient tapers towards an end as each cell-division allows renewed epigenetic silencing. Over time, this spatial gradient translates into a temporal gradient based on a decreasing number of weakly silenced stem cells. These cells contribute to a mildly abnormal myofibrillar structure of the fetal muscles. They also form a downward tapering gradient of epigenetically weakly repressed satellite cells. When activated by mechanical trauma, these satellite cells de-differentiate and express DUX4. When fused to myofibrils they contribute to muscle cell death in various ways. Over time and dependent on how far the gradient reaches the FSHD phenotype becomes progressively manifest. We thus hypothesize FSHD to be a myodevelopmental disease with a lifelong attempt to restore DUX4 repression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G W Padberg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - B G M van Engelen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - N C Voermans
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
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.
Collapse
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
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
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.
Collapse
|
7
|
Distrofia muscolare facio-scapolo-omerale. Neurologia 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/s1634-7072(21)45785-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
|
8
|
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.
Collapse
|
9
|
Lim KRQ, Yokota T. Genetic Approaches for the Treatment of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:642858. [PMID: 33776777 PMCID: PMC7996372 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.642858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by progressive, asymmetric muscle weakness at the face, shoulders, and upper limbs, which spreads to the lower body with age. It is the third most common inherited muscular disorder worldwide. Around 20% of patients are wheelchair-bound, and some present with extramuscular manifestations. FSHD is caused by aberrant expression of the double homeobox protein 4 (DUX4) gene in muscle. DUX4 codes for a transcription factor which, in skeletal muscle, dysregulates numerous signaling activities that culminate in cytotoxicity. Potential treatments for FSHD therefore aim to reduce the expression of DUX4 or the activity of its toxic protein product. In this article, we review how genetic approaches such as those based on oligonucleotide and genome editing technologies have been developed to achieve these goals. We also outline the challenges these therapies are facing on the road to translation, and discuss possible solutions and future directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Rowel Q. Lim
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Toshifumi Yokota
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- The Friends of Garrett Cumming Research and Muscular Dystrophy Canada, HM Toupin Neurological Science Research Chair, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ahmad SF, Singchat W, Jehangir M, Suntronpong A, Panthum T, Malaivijitnond S, Srikulnath K. Dark Matter of Primate Genomes: Satellite DNA Repeats and Their Evolutionary Dynamics. Cells 2020; 9:E2714. [PMID: 33352976 PMCID: PMC7767330 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A substantial portion of the primate genome is composed of non-coding regions, so-called "dark matter", which includes an abundance of tandemly repeated sequences called satellite DNA. Collectively known as the satellitome, this genomic component offers exciting evolutionary insights into aspects of primate genome biology that raise new questions and challenge existing paradigms. A complete human reference genome was recently reported with telomere-to-telomere human X chromosome assembly that resolved hundreds of dark regions, encompassing a 3.1 Mb centromeric satellite array that had not been identified previously. With the recent exponential increase in the availability of primate genomes, and the development of modern genomic and bioinformatics tools, extensive growth in our knowledge concerning the structure, function, and evolution of satellite elements is expected. The current state of knowledge on this topic is summarized, highlighting various types of primate-specific satellite repeats to compare their proportions across diverse lineages. Inter- and intraspecific variation of satellite repeats in the primate genome are reviewed. The functional significance of these sequences is discussed by describing how the transcriptional activity of satellite repeats can affect gene expression during different cellular processes. Sex-linked satellites are outlined, together with their respective genomic organization. Mechanisms are proposed whereby satellite repeats might have emerged as novel sequences during different evolutionary phases. Finally, the main challenges that hinder the detection of satellite DNA are outlined and an overview of the latest methodologies to address technological limitations is presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Syed Farhan Ahmad
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (S.F.A.); (W.S.); (M.J.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Worapong Singchat
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (S.F.A.); (W.S.); (M.J.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Maryam Jehangir
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (S.F.A.); (W.S.); (M.J.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Bioscience at Botucatu, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo 18618-689, Brazil
| | - Aorarat Suntronpong
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (S.F.A.); (W.S.); (M.J.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Thitipong Panthum
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (S.F.A.); (W.S.); (M.J.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Suchinda Malaivijitnond
- National Primate Research Center of Thailand, Chulalongkorn University, Saraburi 18110, Thailand;
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Kornsorn Srikulnath
- Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Comparative Genomics (ACCG), Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (S.F.A.); (W.S.); (M.J.); (A.S.); (T.P.)
- Special Research Unit for Wildlife Genomics (SRUWG), Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- National Primate Research Center of Thailand, Chulalongkorn University, Saraburi 18110, Thailand;
- Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology (AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
DeSimone AM, Cohen J, Lek M, Lek A. Cellular and animal models for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:13/10/dmm046904. [PMID: 33174531 PMCID: PMC7648604 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.046904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy and presents with weakness of the facial, scapular and humeral muscles, which frequently progresses to the lower limbs and truncal areas, causing profound disability. Myopathy results from epigenetic de-repression of the D4Z4 microsatellite repeat array on chromosome 4, which allows misexpression of the developmentally regulated DUX4 gene. DUX4 is toxic when misexpressed in skeletal muscle and disrupts several cellular pathways, including myogenic differentiation and fusion, which likely underpins pathology. DUX4 and the D4Z4 array are strongly conserved only in primates, making FSHD modeling in non-primate animals difficult. Additionally, its cytotoxicity and unusual mosaic expression pattern further complicate the generation of in vitro and in vivo models of FSHD. However, the pressing need to develop systems to test therapeutic approaches has led to the creation of multiple engineered FSHD models. Owing to the complex genetic, epigenetic and molecular factors underlying FSHD, it is difficult to engineer a system that accurately recapitulates every aspect of the human disease. Nevertheless, the past several years have seen the development of many new disease models, each with their own associated strengths that emphasize different aspects of the disease. Here, we review the wide range of FSHD models, including several in vitro cellular models, and an array of transgenic and xenograft in vivo models, with particular attention to newly developed systems and how they are being used to deepen our understanding of FSHD pathology and to test the efficacy of drug candidates. Summary: Owing to its complex etiology and the toxicity of DUX4, modeling facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is uniquely challenging. Here, we review the approaches that overcame these difficulties to develop highly relevant FSHD models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alec M DeSimone
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Genetics, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Justin Cohen
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Genetics, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Monkol Lek
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Genetics, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Angela Lek
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Genetics, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Sidlauskaite E, Le Gall L, Mariot V, Dumonceaux J. DUX4 Expression in FSHD Muscles: Focus on Its mRNA Regulation. J Pers Med 2020; 10:E73. [PMID: 32731450 PMCID: PMC7564753 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10030073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is the most frequent muscular disease in adults. FSHD is characterized by a weakness and atrophy of a specific set of muscles located in the face, the shoulder, and the upper arms. FSHD patients may present different genetic defects, but they all present epigenetic alterations of the D4Z4 array located on the subtelomeric part of chromosome 4, leading to chromatin relaxation and, ultimately, to the aberrant expression of one gene called DUX4. Once expressed, DUX4 triggers a cascade of deleterious events, eventually leading to muscle dysfunction and cell death. Here, we review studies on DUX4 expression in skeletal muscle to determine the genetic/epigenetic factors and regulatory proteins governing DUX4 expression, with particular attention to the different transcripts and their very low expression in muscle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Sidlauskaite
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London WC1N 1EH, UK; (E.S.); (L.L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Laura Le Gall
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London WC1N 1EH, UK; (E.S.); (L.L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Virginie Mariot
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London WC1N 1EH, UK; (E.S.); (L.L.G.); (V.M.)
| | - Julie Dumonceaux
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London WC1N 1EH, UK; (E.S.); (L.L.G.); (V.M.)
- Northern Ireland Center for Stratified/Personalised Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Derry~Londonderry, Northern Ireland BT47 6SB, UK
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Goossens R, van den Boogaard ML, Lemmers RJLF, Balog J, van der Vliet PJ, Willemsen IM, Schouten J, Maggio I, van der Stoep N, Hoeben RC, Tapscott SJ, Geijsen N, Gonçalves MAFV, Sacconi S, Tawil R, van der Maarel SM. Intronic SMCHD1 variants in FSHD: testing the potential for CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. J Med Genet 2019; 56:828-837. [PMID: 31676591 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2019-106402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is associated with partial chromatin relaxation of the DUX4 retrogene containing D4Z4 macrosatellite repeats on chromosome 4, and transcriptional de-repression of DUX4 in skeletal muscle. The common form of FSHD, FSHD1, is caused by a D4Z4 repeat array contraction. The less common form, FSHD2, is generally caused by heterozygous variants in SMCHD1. METHODS We employed whole exome sequencing combined with Sanger sequencing to screen uncharacterised FSHD2 patients for extra-exonic SMCHD1 mutations. We also used CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to repair a pathogenic intronic SMCHD1 variant from patient myoblasts. RESULTS We identified intronic SMCHD1 variants in two FSHD families. In the first family, an intronic variant resulted in partial intron retention and inclusion of the distal 14 nucleotides of intron 13 into the transcript. In the second family, a deep intronic variant in intron 34 resulted in exonisation of 53 nucleotides of intron 34. In both families, the aberrant transcripts are predicted to be non-functional. Deleting the pseudo-exon by CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing in primary and immortalised myoblasts from the index case of the second family restored wild-type SMCHD1 expression to a level that resulted in efficient suppression of DUX4. CONCLUSIONS The estimated intronic mutation frequency of almost 2% in FSHD2, as exemplified by the two novel intronic SMCHD1 variants identified here, emphasises the importance of screening for intronic variants in SMCHD1. Furthermore, the efficient suppression of DUX4 after restoring SMCHD1 levels by genome editing of the mutant allele provides further guidance for therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Remko Goossens
- Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Judit Balog
- Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Iris M Willemsen
- Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Julie Schouten
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ignazio Maggio
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nienke van der Stoep
- Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rob C Hoeben
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen J Tapscott
- Division of Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Niels Geijsen
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Manuel A F V Gonçalves
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sabrina Sacconi
- Peripheral Nervous System, Muscle and ALS Department, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.,Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice, Faculty of Medicine, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Rabi Tawil
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a progressive myopathy that afflicts individuals of all ages, provides a powerful model of the complex interplay between genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of chromatin regulation. FSHD is caused by dysregulation of a macrosatellite repeat, either by contraction of the repeat or by mutations in silencing proteins. Both cases lead to chromatin relaxation and, in the context of a permissive allele, aberrant expression of the DUX4 gene in skeletal muscle. DUX4 is a pioneer transcription factor that activates a program of gene expression during early human development, after which its expression is silenced in most somatic cells. When misexpressed in FSHD skeletal muscle, the DUX4 program leads to accumulated muscle pathology. Epigenetic regulators of the disease locus represent particularly attractive therapeutic targets for FSHD, as many are not global modifiers of the genome, and altering their expression or activity should allow correction of the underlying defect.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- CRISPR-Cas Systems
- Chromatin/chemistry
- Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/genetics
- Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/metabolism
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/genetics
- DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/metabolism
- DNA Methylation
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Gene Editing
- Genetic Loci
- Genome, Human
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Humans
- Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/classification
- Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/genetics
- Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/pathology
- Mutation
- Severity of Illness Index
- DNA Methyltransferase 3B
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charis L Himeda
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA;
| | - Peter L Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Esnault J, Missaoui B, Bendaya S, Mane M, Eymard B, Laforet P, Stojkovic T, Behin A, Thoumie P. Isokinetic assessment of trunk muscles in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 patients. Neuromuscul Disord 2018; 28:996-1002. [PMID: 30415787 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 is the third most common inherited myopathy. Its severity is proportionate to the loss of microsatellite D4Z4 repetitions, which are below 10. Patients suffer from weakness in facial muscles, shoulder girdles and ankle dorsiflexors. Trunk impairment is reported in few studies. To assess correlation between D4Z4 number of repetitions in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 patients and trunk extensors and flexors isokinetic peak torque, 48 patients with southern Blot confirmed facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 were enrolled to perform clinical evaluation (Ricci's Clinical Severity Scoring, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Reach Test, timed up-and-go test, six-minute walk test, functional independence measure) and trunk isokinetic assessment. Trunk extensors and flexors isokinetic peak torque at 60°/sec were significantly correlated with number of D4Z4 microsatellite repetitions, sex, weight and age-independent (r = 0.391 [0.121; 0.662], p < 0.006 and r = 0.334 [0.028; 0.641], p < 0.033, respectively). Ricci's Clinical Severity Scoring was significantly correlated to trunk extensors isokinetic peak torque at 60°/sec, sex and weight-independent (r = -0.743 [-0.938; -0.548], p < 0.0001). This study demonstrates moderate correlation between pathologic compression of D4Z4 microsatellite array and trunk extensors isokinetic strength among facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type I patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Esnault
- Hôpital Rothschild, Service de Reeducation Neuro-orthopédique, 5 Rue Santerre 75012 Paris, France.
| | - Besma Missaoui
- Hôpital Rothschild, Service de Reeducation Neuro-orthopédique, 5 Rue Santerre 75012 Paris, France
| | - Samy Bendaya
- Hôpital Rothschild, Service de Reeducation Neuro-orthopédique, 5 Rue Santerre 75012 Paris, France
| | - Michele Mane
- Hôpital Rothschild, Service de Reeducation Neuro-orthopédique, 5 Rue Santerre 75012 Paris, France
| | - Bruno Eymard
- Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Institut de Myologie, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital 75013 Paris, France
| | - Pascal Laforet
- Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Institut de Myologie, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital 75013 Paris, France
| | - Tanya Stojkovic
- Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Institut de Myologie, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital 75013 Paris, France
| | - Anthony Behin
- Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Institut de Myologie, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital 75013 Paris, France
| | - Philippe Thoumie
- Hôpital Rothschild, Service de Reeducation Neuro-orthopédique, 5 Rue Santerre 75012 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Haynes P, Bomsztyk K, Miller DG. Sporadic DUX4 expression in FSHD myocytes is associated with incomplete repression by the PRC2 complex and gain of H3K9 acetylation on the contracted D4Z4 allele. Epigenetics Chromatin 2018; 11:47. [PMID: 30122154 PMCID: PMC6100714 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-018-0215-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy 1 (FSHD1) has an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance and primarily affects skeletal muscle. The genetic cause of FSHD1 is contraction of the D4Z4 macrosatellite array on chromosome 4 alleles associated with a permissive haplotype causing infrequent sporadic expression of the DUX4 gene. Epigenetically, the contracted D4Z4 array has decreased cytosine methylation and an open chromatin structure. Despite these genetic and epigenetic changes, the majority of FSHD myoblasts are able to repress DUX4 transcription. In this study we hypothesized that histone modifications distinguish DUX4 expressing and non-expressing cells from the same individuals. RESULTS FSHD myocytes containing the permissive 4qA haplotype with a long terminal D4Z4 unit were sorted into DUX4 expressing and non-expressing groups. We found similar CpG hypomethylation between the groups of FSHD-affected cells suggesting that CpG hypomethylation is not sufficient to trigger DUX4 expression. A survey of histone modifications present at the D4Z4 region during cell lineage commitment revealed that this region is bivalent in FSHD iPS cells with both H3K4me3 activating and H3K27me3 repressive marks present, making D4Z4 poised for DUX4 activation in pluripotent cells. After lineage commitment, the D4Z4 region becomes univalent with H3K27me3 in FSHD and non-FSHD control myoblasts and a concomitant increase in H3K4me3 in a small fraction of cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) for histone modifications, chromatin modifier proteins and chromatin structural proteins on sorted FSHD myocytes revealed that activating H3K9Ac modifications were ~ fourfold higher in DUX4 expressing FSHD myocytes, while the repressive H3K27me3 modification was ~ fourfold higher at the permissive allele in DUX4 non-expressing FSHD myocytes from the same cultures. Similarly, we identified EZH2, a member of the polycomb repressive complex involved in H3K27 methylation, to be present more frequently on the permissive allele in DUX4 non-expressing FSHD myocytes. CONCLUSIONS These results implicate PRC2 as the complex primarily responsible for DUX4 repression in the setting of FSHD and H3K9 acetylation along with reciprocal loss of H3K27me3 as key epigenetic events that result in DUX4 expression. Future studies focused on events that trigger H3K9Ac or augment PRC2 complex activity in a small fraction of nuclei may expose additional drug targets worthy of study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Premi Haynes
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Karol Bomsztyk
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Daniel G Miller
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. .,University of Washington, Campus Box 358056, 850 Republican Street, Room N416, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Targeting the Polyadenylation Signal of Pre-mRNA: A New Gene Silencing Approach for Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051347. [PMID: 29751519 PMCID: PMC5983732 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is characterized by the contraction of the D4Z4 array located in the sub-telomeric region of the chromosome 4, leading to the aberrant expression of the DUX4 transcription factor and the mis-regulation of hundreds of genes. Several therapeutic strategies have been proposed among which the possibility to target the polyadenylation signal to silence the causative gene of the disease. Indeed, defects in mRNA polyadenylation leads to an alteration of the transcription termination, a disruption of mRNA transport from the nucleus to the cytoplasm decreasing the mRNA stability and translation efficiency. This review discusses the polyadenylation mechanisms, why alternative polyadenylation impacts gene expression, and how targeting polyadenylation signal may be a potential therapeutic approach for FSHD.
Collapse
|
18
|
Eidahl JO, Giesige CR, Domire JS, Wallace LM, Fowler AM, Guckes SM, Garwick-Coppens SE, Labhart P, Harper SQ. Mouse Dux is myotoxic and shares partial functional homology with its human paralog DUX4. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 25:4577-4589. [PMID: 28173143 PMCID: PMC5409219 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
D4Z4 repeats are present in at least 11 different mammalian species, including humans and mice. Each repeat contains an open reading frame encoding a double homeodomain (DUX) family transcription factor. Aberrant expression of the D4Z4 ORF called DUX4 is associated with the pathogenesis of Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). DUX4 is toxic to numerous cell types of different species, and over-expression caused dysmorphism and developmental arrest in frogs and zebrafish, embryonic lethality in transgenic mice, and lesions in mouse muscle. Because DUX4 is a primate-specific gene, questions have been raised about the biological relevance of over-expressing it in non-primate models, as DUX4 toxicity could be related to non-specific cellular stress induced by over-expressing a DUX family transcription factor in organisms that did not co-evolve its regulated transcriptional networks. We assessed toxic phenotypes of DUX family genes, including DUX4, DUX1, DUX5, DUXA, DUX4-s, Dux-bl and mouse Dux. We found that DUX proteins were not universally toxic, and only the mouse Dux gene caused similar toxic phenotypes as human DUX4. Using RNA-seq, we found that 80% of genes upregulated by Dux were similarly increased in DUX4-expressing cells. Moreover, 43% of Dux-responsive genes contained ChIP-seq binding sites for both Dux and DUX4, and both proteins had similar consensus binding site sequences. These results suggested DUX4 and Dux may regulate some common pathways, and despite diverging from a common progenitor under different selective pressures for millions of years, the two genes maintain partial functional homology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn O Eidahl
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Carlee R Giesige
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jacqueline S Domire
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lindsay M Wallace
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Allison M Fowler
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Susan M Guckes
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sara E Garwick-Coppens
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Scott Q Harper
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
DeSimone AM, Pakula A, Lek A, Emerson CP. Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. Compr Physiol 2017; 7:1229-1279. [PMID: 28915324 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c160039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy is a common form of muscular dystrophy that presents clinically with progressive weakness of the facial, scapular, and humeral muscles, with later involvement of the trunk and lower extremities. While typically inherited as autosomal dominant, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) has a complex genetic and epigenetic etiology that has only recently been well described. The most prevalent form of the disease, FSHD1, is associated with the contraction of the D4Z4 microsatellite repeat array located on a permissive 4qA chromosome. D4Z4 contraction allows epigenetic derepression of the array, and possibly the surrounding 4q35 region, allowing misexpression of the toxic DUX4 transcription factor encoded within the terminal D4Z4 repeat in skeletal muscles. The less common form of the disease, FSHD2, results from haploinsufficiency of the SMCHD1 gene in individuals carrying a permissive 4qA allele, also leading to the derepression of DUX4, further supporting a central role for DUX4. How DUX4 misexpression contributes to FSHD muscle pathology is a major focus of current investigation. Misexpression of other genes at the 4q35 locus, including FRG1 and FAT1, and unlinked genes, such as SMCHD1, has also been implicated as disease modifiers, leading to several competing disease models. In this review, we describe recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology of FSHD, including the application of MRI as a research and diagnostic tool, the genetic and epigenetic disruptions associated with the disease, and the molecular basis of FSHD. We discuss how these advances are leading to the emergence of new approaches to enable development of FSHD therapeutics. © 2017 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 7:1229-1279, 2017.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alec M DeSimone
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anna Pakula
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Angela Lek
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Charles P Emerson
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bosnakovski D, Gearhart MD, Toso EA, Recht OO, Cucak A, Jain AK, Barton MC, Kyba M. p53-independent DUX4 pathology in cell and animal models of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Dis Model Mech 2017; 10:1211-1216. [PMID: 28754837 PMCID: PMC5665455 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.030064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a genetically dominant myopathy caused by mutations that disrupt repression of the normally silent DUX4 gene, which encodes a transcription factor that has been shown to interfere with myogenesis when misexpressed at very low levels in myoblasts and to cause cell death when overexpressed at high levels. A previous report using adeno-associated virus to deliver high levels of DUX4 to mouse skeletal muscle demonstrated severe pathology that was suppressed on a p53-knockout background, implying that DUX4 acted through the p53 pathway. Here, we investigate the p53 dependence of DUX4 using various in vitro and in vivo models. We find that inhibiting p53 has no effect on the cytoxicity of DUX4 on C2C12 myoblasts, and that expression of DUX4 does not lead to activation of the p53 pathway. DUX4 does lead to expression of the classic p53 target gene Cdkn1a (p21) but in a p53-independent manner. Meta-analysis of 5 publicly available data sets of DUX4 transcriptional profiles in both human and mouse cells shows no evidence of p53 activation, and further reveals that Cdkn1a is a mouse-specific target of DUX4. When the inducible DUX4 mouse model is crossed onto the p53-null background, we find no suppression of the male-specific lethality or skin phenotypes that are characteristic of the DUX4 transgene, and find that primary myoblasts from this mouse are still killed by DUX4 expression. These data challenge the notion that the p53 pathway is central to the pathogenicity of DUX4. Summary: DUX4 is thought to mediate cytopathology through p53. Here, DUX4 is shown to kill primary myoblasts and promote pathological phenotypes in the iDUX4[2.7] mouse model on the p53-null background, calling into question this notion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Darko Bosnakovski
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,University Goce Delcev - Stip, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Krste Misirkov b.b., 2000 Stip, Republic of Macedonia
| | - Micah D Gearhart
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Erik A Toso
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Olivia O Recht
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Anja Cucak
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Abhinav K Jain
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michelle C Barton
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael Kyba
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Denny AP, Heather AK. Are Antioxidants a Potential Therapy for FSHD? A Review of the Literature. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2017; 2017:7020295. [PMID: 28690764 PMCID: PMC5485364 DOI: 10.1155/2017/7020295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an inherited myopathy affecting approximately 1 in 7500 individuals worldwide. It is a progressive disease characterised by skeletal muscle weakness and wasting. A genetic mutation on the 4q35 chromosome results in the expression of the double homeobox 4 gene (DUX4) which drives oxidative stress, inflammation, toxicity, and atrophy within the skeletal muscle. FSHD is characterised by oxidative stress, and there is currently no cure and a lack of therapies for the disease. Antioxidants have been researched for many years, with investigators aiming to use antioxidants therapeutically for oxidative stress-associated diseases. This has included both natural and synthetic antioxidants. The use of antioxidants in preclinical or clinical models has been largely successful with a plethora of research reporting positive results. However, when translated to clinical trials, the use of antioxidants as a therapeutic intervention for a variety of disease has been largely unsuccessful. Moreover, specifically focusing on FSHD, limited research has been conducted on the use of antioxidants as a therapy in either preclinical or clinical models. This review summarises the current state of antioxidant use in the treatment of FSHD and discusses their potential avenue for therapeutic use for FSHD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Philip Denny
- Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Alison Kay Heather
- Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Peart N, Wagner EJ. A distal auxiliary element facilitates cleavage and polyadenylation of Dux4 mRNA in the pathogenic haplotype of FSHD. Hum Genet 2017; 136:1291-1301. [PMID: 28540412 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-017-1813-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The degenerative muscle disorder facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is thought to be caused by the inappropriate expression of the Double Homeobox 4 (Dux4) protein in muscle cells leading to apoptosis. Expression of Dux4 in the major form of FSHD is a function of two contributing molecular changes: contractions in the D4Z4 microsatellite repeat region where Dux4 is located and an SNP present within a region downstream of the D4Z4. This SNP provides a functional, yet non-consensus polyadenylation signal (PAS) is used for the Dux4 mRNA 3' end processing. Surprisingly, the sequences flanking the Dux4 PAS do not resemble a typical cleavage and polyadenylation landscape with no recognizable downstream sequence element and a suboptimal cleavage site. Here, we conducted a systematic analysis of the cis-acting elements that govern Dux4 cleavage and polyadenylation. Using a transcriptional read-through reporter, we determined that sequences downstream of the SNP located within the β-satellite region are critical for Dux4 cleavage and polyadenylation. We also demonstrate the feasibility of using antisense oligonucleotides to target these sequences as a means to reduce Dux4 expression. Our results underscore the complexity of the region immediately downstream of the D4Z4 and uncover a previously unknown function for the β-satellite region in Dux4 cleavage and polyadenylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natoya Peart
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Eric J Wagner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Jones TI, Himeda CL, Perez DP, Jones PL. Large family cohorts of lymphoblastoid cells provide a new cellular model for investigating facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Neuromuscul Disord 2017; 27:221-238. [PMID: 28161093 PMCID: PMC5815870 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2016.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is associated with aberrant epigenetic regulation of the chromosome 4q35 D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat. The resulting DNA hypomethylation and relaxation of epigenetic repression leads to increased expression of the deleterious DUX4-fl mRNA encoded within the distal D4Z4 repeat. With the typical late onset of muscle weakness, prevalence of asymptomatic individuals, and an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, FSHD is often passed on from one generation to the next and affects multiple individuals within a family. Here we have characterized unique collections of 114 lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) generated from 12 multigenerational FSHD families, including 56 LCLs from large, genetically homogeneous families in Utah. We found robust expression of DUX4-fl in most FSHD LCLs and a good correlation between DNA hypomethylation and repeat length. In addition, DUX4-fl levels can be manipulated using epigenetic drugs as in myocytes, suggesting that some epigenetic pathways regulating DUX4-fl in myocytes are maintained in LCLs. Overall, these FSHD LCLs provide an alternative cellular model in which to study many aspects of D4Z4, DUX4, and FSHD gene regulation in a background of low genetic variation. Significantly, these non-adherent immortal LCLs are amenable for high-throughput screening of potential therapeutics targeting DUX4-fl mRNA or protein expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takako I Jones
- The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Charis L Himeda
- The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Daniel P Perez
- FSH Society, 450 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA 02420, USA.
| | - Peter L Jones
- The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Influence of Repressive Histone and DNA Methylation upon D4Z4 Transcription in Non-Myogenic Cells. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160022. [PMID: 27467759 PMCID: PMC4965136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
We looked at a disease-associated macrosatellite array D4Z4 and focused on epigenetic factors influencing its chromatin state outside of the disease-context. We used the HCT116 cell line that contains the non-canonical polyadenylation (poly-A) signal required to stabilize somatic transcripts of the human double homeobox gene DUX4, encoded from D4Z4. In HCT116, D4Z4 is packaged into constitutive heterochromatin, characterized by DNA methylation and histone H3 tri-methylation at lysine 9 (H3K9me3), resulting in low basal levels of D4Z4-derived transcripts. However, a double knockout (DKO) of DNA methyltransferase genes, DNMT1 and DNMT3B, but not either alone, results in significant loss of DNA and H3K9 methylation. This is coupled with upregulation of transcript levels from the array, including DUX4 isoforms (DUX4-fl) that are abnormally expressed in somatic muscle in the disease Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) along with DUX4 protein, as indicated indirectly by upregulation of bondafide targets of DUX4 in DKO but not HCT116 cells. Results from treatment with a chemical inhibitor of histone methylation in HCT116 suggest that in the absence of DNA hypomethylation, H3K9me3 loss alone is sufficient to facilitate DUX4-fl transcription. Additionally, characterization of a cell line from a patient with Immunodeficiency, Centromeric instability and Facial anomalies syndrome 1 (ICF1) possessing a non-canonical poly-A signal and DNA hypomethylation at D4Z4 showed DUX4 target gene upregulation in the patient when compared to controls in spite of retention of H3K9me3. Taken together, these data suggest that both DNA methylation and H3K9me3 are determinants of D4Z4 silencing. Moreover, we show that in addition to testis, there is appreciable expression of spliced and polyadenylated D4Z4 derived transcripts that contain the complete DUX4 open reading frame (ORF) along with DUX4 target gene expression in the thymus, suggesting that DUX4 may provide normal function in this somatic tissue.
Collapse
|
25
|
Choi SH, Bosnakovski D, Strasser JM, Toso EA, Walters MA, Kyba M. Transcriptional Inhibitors Identified in a 160,000-Compound Small-Molecule DUX4 Viability Screen. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 21:680-8. [PMID: 27245141 DOI: 10.1177/1087057116651868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is a genetically dominant, currently untreatable muscular dystrophy. It is caused by mutations that enable expression of the normally silent DUX4 gene, which encodes a pathogenic transcription factor. A screen based on Tet-on DUX4-induced mouse myoblast death previously uncovered compounds from a 44,000-compound library that protect against DUX4 toxicity. Many of those compounds acted downstream of DUX4 in an oxidative stress pathway. Here, we extend this screen to an additional 160,000 compounds and, using greater stringency, identify a new set of DUX4-protective compounds. From 640 hits, we performed secondary screens, repurchased 46 of the most desirable, confirmed activity, and tested each for activity against other cell death-inducing insults. The majority of these compounds also protected against oxidative stress. Of the 100 repurchased compounds identified through both screens, only SHC40, 75, and 98 inhibited DUX4 target genes, but they also inhibited dox-mediated DUX4 expression. Using a target gene readout on the 640-compound hit set, we discovered three overlooked compounds, SHC351, 540, and 572, that inhibit DUX4 target gene upregulation without nonspecific effects on the Tet-on system. These novel inhibitors of DUX4 transcriptional activity may thus act on pathways or cofactors needed by DUX4 for transcriptional activation in these cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Si Ho Choi
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Research Center, Dongnam Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences (DIRAMS), Busan, South Korea
| | - Darko Bosnakovski
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA University Goce Delcˇ ev-Štip, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Krste Misirkov b.b., 2000 Štip, Republic of Macedonia
| | - Jessica M Strasser
- Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Erik A Toso
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Michael A Walters
- Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Michael Kyba
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Himeda CL, Jones TI, Jones PL. CRISPR/dCas9-mediated Transcriptional Inhibition Ameliorates the Epigenetic Dysregulation at D4Z4 and Represses DUX4-fl in FSH Muscular Dystrophy. Mol Ther 2016; 24:527-35. [PMID: 26527377 PMCID: PMC4786914 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2015.200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most prevalent myopathies, affecting males and females of all ages. Both forms of the disease are linked by epigenetic derepression of the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat array at chromosome 4q35, leading to aberrant expression of D4Z4-encoded RNAs in skeletal muscle. Production of full-length DUX4 (DUX4-fl) mRNA from the derepressed D4Z4 array results in misexpression of DUX4-FL protein and its transcriptional targets, and apoptosis, ultimately leading to accumulated muscle pathology. Returning the chromatin at the FSHD locus to its nonpathogenic, epigenetically repressed state would simultaneously affect all D4Z4 RNAs, inhibiting downstream pathogenic pathways, and is thus an attractive therapeutic strategy. Advances in CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing make it possible to target epigenetic modifiers to an endogenous disease locus, although reports to date have focused on more typical genomic regions. Here, we demonstrate that a CRISPR/dCas9 transcriptional inhibitor can be specifically targeted to the highly repetitive FSHD macrosatellite array and alter the chromatin to repress expression of DUX4-fl in primary FSHD myocytes. These results implicate the promoter and exon 1 of DUX4 as potential therapeutic targets and demonstrate the utility of CRISPR technology for correction of the epigenetic dysregulation in FSHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charis L Himeda
- The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Takako I Jones
- The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Peter L Jones
- The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- The Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
|
28
|
Molecular combing compared to Southern blot for measuring D4Z4 contractions in FSHD. Neuromuscul Disord 2015; 25:945-51. [PMID: 26420234 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2015.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We compare molecular combing to Southern blot in the analysis of the facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 locus (FSHD1) on chromosome 4q35-qter (chr 4q) in genomic DNA specimens sent to a clinical laboratory for FSHD testing. A de-identified set of 87 genomic DNA specimens determined by Southern blot as normal (n = 71), abnormal with D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat array contractions (n = 7), indeterminate (n = 6), borderline (n = 2), or mosaic (n = 1) was independently re-analyzed by molecular combing in a blinded fashion. The molecular combing results were identical to the Southern blot results in 75 (86%) of cases. All contractions (n = 7) and mosaics (n = 1) detected by Southern blot were confirmed by molecular combing. Of the 71 samples with normal Southern blot results, 67 (94%) had concordant molecular combing results. The four discrepancies were either mosaic (n = 2), rearranged (n = 1), or borderline by molecular combing (n = 1). All indeterminate Southern blot results (n = 6) were resolved by molecular combing as either normal (n = 4), borderline (n = 1), or rearranged (n = 1). The two borderline Southern blot results showed a D4Z4 contraction on the chr 4qA allele and a normal result by molecular combing. Molecular combing overcomes a number of technical limitations of Southern blot by providing direct visualization of D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat arrays on specific chr 4q and chr 10q alleles and more precise D4Z4 repeat sizing. This study suggests that molecular combing has superior analytical validity compared to Southern blot for determining D4Z4 contraction size, detecting mosaicism, and resolving borderline and indeterminate Southern blot results. Further studies are needed to establish the clinical validity and diagnostic accuracy of these findings in FSHD.
Collapse
|
29
|
Lareau-Trudel E, Le Troter A, Ghattas B, Pouget J, Attarian S, Bendahan D, Salort-Campana E. Muscle Quantitative MR Imaging and Clustering Analysis in Patients with Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Type 1. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132717. [PMID: 26181385 PMCID: PMC4504465 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 (FSHD1) is the third most common inherited muscular dystrophy. Considering the highly variable clinical expression and the slow disease progression, sensitive outcome measures would be of interest. METHODS AND FINDINGS Using muscle MRI, we assessed muscular fatty infiltration in the lower limbs of 35 FSHD1 patients and 22 healthy volunteers by two methods: a quantitative imaging (qMRI) combined with a dedicated automated segmentation method performed on both thighs and a standard T1-weighted four-point visual scale (visual score) on thighs and legs. Each patient had a clinical evaluation including manual muscular testing, Clinical Severity Score (CSS) scale and MFM scale. The intramuscular fat fraction measured using qMRI in the thighs was significantly higher in patients (21.9 ± 20.4%) than in volunteers (3.6 ± 2.8%) (p<0.001). In patients, the intramuscular fat fraction was significantly correlated with the muscular fatty infiltration in the thighs evaluated by the mean visual score (p<0.001). However, we observed a ceiling effect of the visual score for patients with a severe fatty infiltration clearly indicating the larger accuracy of the qMRI approach. Mean intramuscular fat fraction was significantly correlated with CSS scale (p ≤ 0.01) and was inversely correlated with MMT score, MFM subscore D1 (p ≤ 0.01) further illustrating the sensitivity of the qMRI approach. Overall, a clustering analysis disclosed three different imaging patterns of muscle involvement for the thighs and the legs which could be related to different stages of the disease and put forth muscles which could be of interest for a subtle investigation of the disease progression and/or the efficiency of any therapeutic strategy. CONCLUSION The qMRI provides a sensitive measurement of fat fraction which should also be of high interest to assess disease progression and any therapeutic strategy in FSHD1 patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Lareau-Trudel
- Centre de référence des maladies neuromusculaires et de la SLA, Centre hospitalier universitaire la Timone, Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Arnaud Le Troter
- Aix-Marseille Université, Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale, UMR CNRS 7339, Marseille, France
| | - Badih Ghattas
- Institut de Mathématiques de Marseille, Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Jean Pouget
- Centre de référence des maladies neuromusculaires et de la SLA, Centre hospitalier universitaire la Timone, Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Shahram Attarian
- Centre de référence des maladies neuromusculaires et de la SLA, Centre hospitalier universitaire la Timone, Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - David Bendahan
- Aix-Marseille Université, Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale, UMR CNRS 7339, Marseille, France
| | - Emmanuelle Salort-Campana
- Centre de référence des maladies neuromusculaires et de la SLA, Centre hospitalier universitaire la Timone, Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Mariot V, Roche S, Hourdé C, Portilho D, Sacconi S, Puppo F, Duguez S, Rameau P, Caruso N, Delezoide AL, Desnuelle C, Bessières B, Collardeau S, Feasson L, Maisonobe T, Magdinier F, Helmbacher F, Butler-Browne G, Mouly V, Dumonceaux J. Correlation between low FAT1 expression and early affected muscle in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Ann Neurol 2015; 78:387-400. [DOI: 10.1002/ana.24446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Mariot
- Center of Research in Myology, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Sorbonne Universities; Paris
- Mixed health research unit 974, National Institute of Health and Medical Research; Paris
- Unit undergoing review 3617, National Center for Scientific Research; Paris
- Institute of Myology; Paris
| | - Stephane Roche
- Timone Faculty of Medicine, Aix-Marseille University, Mixed health research unit 910, National Institute of Health and Medical Research; Marseille
| | - Christophe Hourdé
- Physiology and Exercise Laboratory, EA4338, Technolac Scientific Campus, University of Savoie Mont Blanc; Le Bourget-du-Lac
| | - Debora Portilho
- Center of Research in Myology, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Sorbonne Universities; Paris
- Mixed health research unit 974, National Institute of Health and Medical Research; Paris
- Unit undergoing review 3617, National Center for Scientific Research; Paris
- Institute of Myology; Paris
| | - Sabrina Sacconi
- Mixed Unit of Research 7277, National Center for Scientific Research, Nice University Hospital; Nice
- Neuromuscular Disease Reference Center, Nice University Hospital; Nice
| | - Francesca Puppo
- Timone Faculty of Medicine, Aix-Marseille University, Mixed health research unit 910, National Institute of Health and Medical Research; Marseille
| | - Stephanie Duguez
- Center of Research in Myology, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Sorbonne Universities; Paris
- Mixed health research unit 974, National Institute of Health and Medical Research; Paris
- Unit undergoing review 3617, National Center for Scientific Research; Paris
- Institute of Myology; Paris
| | - Philippe Rameau
- Imaging and Cytometry Platform, Gustave Roussy Institute; Villejuif
| | - Nathalie Caruso
- Aix-Marseille University, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille, National Center for Scientific Research Mixed Unit of Research 7288; Luminy Scientific Park Marseille
| | - Anne-Lise Delezoide
- Department of Developmental Biology; Robert Debré Hospital, U696, National Institute of Health and Medical Research; Paris
| | - Claude Desnuelle
- Mixed Unit of Research 7277, National Center for Scientific Research, Nice University Hospital; Nice
- Neuromuscular Disease Reference Center, Nice University Hospital; Nice
| | - Bettina Bessières
- U781, National Institute of Health and Medical Research and IMAGINE Foundation, Department of Genetics, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, Public Hospital Network of Paris and Paris Descartes University; Paris
| | | | - Leonard Feasson
- Physiology and Exercise Laboratory EA4338, Rare Neuromuscular Diseases Referent Center, Rhône-Alpes Bellevue Hospital, University Hospital Center of Saint-Étienne; Saint-Étienne
| | - Thierry Maisonobe
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology; Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital Group; Paris France
| | - Frederique Magdinier
- Timone Faculty of Medicine, Aix-Marseille University, Mixed health research unit 910, National Institute of Health and Medical Research; Marseille
| | - Françoise Helmbacher
- Aix-Marseille University, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille, National Center for Scientific Research Mixed Unit of Research 7288; Luminy Scientific Park Marseille
| | - Gillian Butler-Browne
- Center of Research in Myology, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Sorbonne Universities; Paris
- Mixed health research unit 974, National Institute of Health and Medical Research; Paris
- Unit undergoing review 3617, National Center for Scientific Research; Paris
- Institute of Myology; Paris
| | - Vincent Mouly
- Center of Research in Myology, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Sorbonne Universities; Paris
- Mixed health research unit 974, National Institute of Health and Medical Research; Paris
- Unit undergoing review 3617, National Center for Scientific Research; Paris
- Institute of Myology; Paris
| | - Julie Dumonceaux
- Center of Research in Myology, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Sorbonne Universities; Paris
- Mixed health research unit 974, National Institute of Health and Medical Research; Paris
- Unit undergoing review 3617, National Center for Scientific Research; Paris
- Institute of Myology; Paris
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Himeda CL, Jones TI, Jones PL. Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy as a model for epigenetic regulation and disease. Antioxid Redox Signal 2015; 22:1463-82. [PMID: 25336259 PMCID: PMC4432493 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2014.6090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Aberrant epigenetic regulation is an integral aspect of many diseases and complex disorders. Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a progressive myopathy that afflicts individuals of all ages, is caused by disrupted genetic and epigenetic regulation of a macrosatellite repeat. FSHD provides a powerful model to investigate disease-relevant epigenetic modifiers and general mechanisms of epigenetic regulation that govern gene expression. RECENT ADVANCES In the context of a genetically permissive allele, the one aspect of FSHD that is consistent across all known cases is the aberrant epigenetic state of the disease locus. In addition, certain mutations in the chromatin regulator SMCHD1 (structural maintenance of chromosomes hinge-domain protein 1) are sufficient to cause FSHD2 and enhance disease severity in FSHD1. Thus, there are multiple pathways to generate the epigenetic dysregulation required for FSHD. CRITICAL ISSUES Why do some individuals with the genetic requirements for FSHD develop disease pathology, while others remain asymptomatic? Similarly, disease progression is highly variable among individuals. What are the relative contributions of genetic background and environmental factors in determining disease manifestation, progression, and severity in FSHD? What is the interplay between epigenetic factors regulating the disease locus and which, if any, are viable therapeutic targets? FUTURE DIRECTIONS Epigenetic regulation represents a potentially powerful therapeutic target for FSHD. Determining the epigenetic signatures that are predictive of disease severity and identifying the spectrum of disease modifiers in FSHD are vital to the development of effective therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charis L Himeda
- The Wellstone Program and the Departments of Cell and Developmental Biology and Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Lemmers RJLF, van den Boogaard ML, van der Vliet PJ, Donlin-Smith CM, Nations SP, Ruivenkamp CAL, Heard P, Bakker B, Tapscott S, Cody JD, Tawil R, van der Maarel SM. Hemizygosity for SMCHD1 in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Type 2: Consequences for 18p Deletion Syndrome. Hum Mutat 2015; 36:679-83. [PMID: 25820463 DOI: 10.1002/humu.22792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is most often associated with variegated expression in somatic cells of the normally repressed DUX4 gene within the D4Z4-repeat array. The most common form, FSHD1, is caused by a D4Z4-repeat array contraction to a size of 1-10 units (normal range 10-100 units). The less common form, FSHD2, is characterized by D4Z4 CpG hypomethylation and is most often caused by loss-of-function mutations in the structural maintenance of chromosomes hinge domain 1 (SMCHD1) gene on chromosome 18p. The chromatin modifier SMCHD1 is necessary to maintain a repressed D4Z4 chromatin state. Here, we describe two FSHD2 families with a 1.2-Mb deletion encompassing the SMCHD1 gene. Numerical aberrations of chromosome 18 are relatively common and the majority of 18p deletion syndrome (18p-) cases have, such as these FSHD2 families, only one copy of SMCHD1. Our finding therefore raises the possibility that 18p- cases are at risk of developing FSHD. To address this possibility, we combined genome-wide array analysis data with D4Z4 CpG methylation and repeat array sizes in individuals with 18p- and conclude that approximately 1:8 18p- cases might be at risk of developing FSHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard J L F Lemmers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Colleen M Donlin-Smith
- Neuromuscular Disease Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - Sharon P Nations
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Claudia A L Ruivenkamp
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Patricia Heard
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Chromosome 18 Research Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Bert Bakker
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen Tapscott
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jannine D Cody
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Chromosome 18 Research Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Rabi Tawil
- Neuromuscular Disease Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Dorobek M, van der Maarel SM, Lemmers RJLF, Ryniewicz B, Kabzińska D, Frants RR, Gawel M, Walecki J, Hausmanowa-Petrusewicz I. Early-onset facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 with some atypical features. J Child Neurol 2015; 30:580-7. [PMID: 24717985 DOI: 10.1177/0883073814528281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy cases with facial weakness before the age of 5 and signs of shoulder weakness by the age of 10 are defined as early onset. Contraction of the D4Z4 repeat on chromosome 4q35 is causally related to facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1, and the residual size of the D4Z4 repeat shows a roughly inverse correlation with the severity of the disease. Contraction of the D4Z4 repeat on chromosome 4q35 is believed to induce a local change in chromatin structure and consequent transcriptional deregulation of 4qter genes. We present early-onset cases in the Polish population that amounted to 21% of our total population with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. More than 27% of them presented with severe phenotypes (wheelchair dependency). The residual D4Z4 repeat sizes ranged from 1 to 4 units. In addition, even within early-onset facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 phenotypes, some cases had uncommon features (head drop, early disabling contractures, progressive ptosis, and respiratory insufficiency and cardiomyopathy).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Dorobek
- Department of Neurology, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior, Warsaw, Poland Neuromuscular Unit, Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Silvère M van der Maarel
- Leiden University Medical Center, Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Richard J L F Lemmers
- Leiden University Medical Center, Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Barbara Ryniewicz
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dagmara Kabzińska
- Neuromuscular Unit, Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rune R Frants
- Leiden University Medical Center, Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Malgorzata Gawel
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jerzy Walecki
- Department of Radiology, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior, Warsaw, Poland
| | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Lek A, Rahimov F, Jones PL, Kunkel LM. Emerging preclinical animal models for FSHD. Trends Mol Med 2015; 21:295-306. [PMID: 25801126 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2015.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Revised: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is a unique and complex genetic disease that is not entirely solved. Recent advances in the field have led to a consensus genetic premise for the disorder, enabling researchers to now pursue the design of preclinical models. In this review we explore all available FSHD models (DUX4-dependent and -independent) for their utility in therapeutic discovery and potential to yield novel disease insights. Owing to the complex nature of FSHD, there is currently no single model that accurately recapitulates the genetic and pathophysiological spectrum of the disorder. Existing models emphasize only specific aspects of the disease, highlighting the need for more collaborative research and novel paradigms to advance the translational research space of FSHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Lek
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Wellstone Program, Departments of Neurology and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
| | - Fedik Rahimov
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Wellstone Program, Departments of Neurology and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Peter L Jones
- The Wellstone Program, Departments of Neurology and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), Worcester, MA 01655, USA; The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIHCD) Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Louis M Kunkel
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Wellstone Program, Departments of Neurology and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Ansseau E, Domire JS, Wallace LM, Eidahl JO, Guckes SM, Giesige CR, Pyne NK, Belayew A, Harper SQ. Aberrant splicing in transgenes containing introns, exons, and V5 epitopes: lessons from developing an FSHD mouse model expressing a D4Z4 repeat with flanking genomic sequences. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118813. [PMID: 25742305 PMCID: PMC4351184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2013] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The DUX4 gene, encoded within D4Z4 repeats on human chromosome 4q35, has recently emerged as a key factor in the pathogenic mechanisms underlying Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). This recognition prompted development of animal models expressing the DUX4 open reading frame (ORF) alone or embedded within D4Z4 repeats. In the first published model, we used adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) and strong viral control elements (CMV promoter, SV40 poly A) to demonstrate that the DUX4 cDNA caused dose-dependent toxicity in mouse muscles. As a follow-up, we designed a second generation of DUX4-expressing AAV vectors to more faithfully genocopy the FSHD-permissive D4Z4 repeat region located at 4q35. This new vector (called AAV.D4Z4.V5.pLAM) contained the D4Z4/DUX4 promoter region, a V5 epitope-tagged DUX4 ORF, and the natural 3' untranslated region (pLAM) harboring two small introns, DUX4 exons 2 and 3, and the non-canonical poly A signal required for stabilizing DUX4 mRNA in FSHD. AAV.D4Z4.V5.pLAM failed to recapitulate the robust pathology of our first generation vectors following delivery to mouse muscle. We found that the DUX4.V5 junction sequence created an unexpected splice donor in the pre-mRNA that was preferentially utilized to remove the V5 coding sequence and DUX4 stop codon, yielding non-functional DUX4 protein with 55 additional residues on its carboxyl-terminus. Importantly, we further found that aberrant splicing could occur in any expression construct containing a functional splice acceptor and sequences resembling minimal splice donors. Our findings represent an interesting case study with respect to AAV.D4Z4.V5.pLAM, but more broadly serve as a note of caution for designing constructs containing V5 epitope tags and/or transgenes with downstream introns and exons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eugénie Ansseau
- University of Mons, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Mons, Belgium
| | - Jacqueline S. Domire
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Lindsay M. Wallace
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Jocelyn O. Eidahl
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Susan M. Guckes
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Carlee R. Giesige
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Nettie K. Pyne
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Alexandra Belayew
- University of Mons, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Mons, Belgium
| | - Scott Q. Harper
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Salort-Campana E, Nguyen K, Bernard R, Jouve E, Solé G, Nadaj-Pakleza A, Niederhauser J, Charles E, Ollagnon E, Bouhour F, Sacconi S, Echaniz-Laguna A, Desnuelle C, Tranchant C, Vial C, Magdinier F, Bartoli M, Arne-Bes MC, Ferrer X, Kuntzer T, Levy N, Pouget J, Attarian S. Low penetrance in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 with large pathological D4Z4 alleles: a cross-sectional multicenter study. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2015; 10:2. [PMID: 25603992 PMCID: PMC4320820 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-014-0218-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1(FSHD1) is an autosomal dominant disorder associated with the contraction of D4Z4 less than 11 repeat units (RUs) on chromosome 4q35. Penetrance in the range of the largest alleles is poorly known. Our objective was to study the penetrance of FSHD1 in patients carrying alleles ranging between 6 to10 RUs and to evaluate the influence of sex, age, and several environmental factors on clinical expression of the disease. Methods A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in six French and one Swiss neuromuscular centers. 65 FSHD1 affected patients carrying a 4qA allele of 6–10 RUs were identified as index cases (IC) and their 119 at-risk relatives were included. The age of onset was recorded for IC only. Medical history, neurological examination and manual muscle testing were performed for each subject. Genetic testing determined the allele size (number of RUs) and the 4qA/4qB allelic variant. The clinical status of relatives was established blindly to their genetic testing results. The main outcome was the penetrance defined as the ratio between the number of clinically affected carriers and the total number of carriers. Results Among the relatives, 59 carried the D4Z4 contraction. At the clinical level, 34 relatives carriers were clinically affected and 25 unaffected. Therefore, the calculated penetrance was 57% in the range of 6–10 RUs. Penetrance was estimated at 62% in the range of 6–8 RUs, and at 47% in the range of 9–10 RUs. Moreover, penetrance was lower in women than men. There was no effect of drugs, anesthesia, surgery or traumatisms on the penetrance. Conclusions Penetrance of FSHD1 is low for largest alleles in the range of 9–10 RUs, and lower in women than men. This is of crucial importance for genetic counseling and clinical management of patients and families.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle Salort-Campana
- AP-HM, Reference Center of Neuromuscular Disorders and ALS, Timone University Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, Marseille, Cedex 05, 13385, France. .,Aix Marseille Université - Inserm UMR_S 910 Medical Genetics and Functional Genomics, Marseille, France. .,AP-HM, Department of Medical Genetics, Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France.
| | - Karine Nguyen
- Aix Marseille Université - Inserm UMR_S 910 Medical Genetics and Functional Genomics, Marseille, France. .,AP-HM, Department of Medical Genetics, Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France.
| | - Rafaelle Bernard
- Aix Marseille Université - Inserm UMR_S 910 Medical Genetics and Functional Genomics, Marseille, France. .,AP-HM, Department of Medical Genetics, Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France.
| | - Elisabeth Jouve
- CIC-UPCET, Timone University Hospital, AP-HM, UMR CNRS Aix-Marseille University 6193, Marseille, France.
| | - Guilhem Solé
- Reference Center of Neuromuscular Disorders, CHU of Bordeaux, Pessac, France.
| | - Aleksandra Nadaj-Pakleza
- Centre de Référence des Maladies Neuromusculaires Nantes-Angers, Service de Neurologie, CHU d'Angers, Angers, France.
| | - Julien Niederhauser
- Nerve-Muscle Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Estelle Charles
- CIC-UPCET, Timone University Hospital, AP-HM, UMR CNRS Aix-Marseille University 6193, Marseille, France.
| | | | - Françoise Bouhour
- Electroneuromyography and Neuromuscular Department, GHE Neurologic hospital, Lyon, Bron Cedex, 69677, France.
| | - Sabrina Sacconi
- Neuromuscular Disease Specialized Center, Nice University Hospital, Nice, France.
| | - Andoni Echaniz-Laguna
- Reference Center of Neuromuscular Disorders, Neurology Department, Hautepierre Hospital, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Claude Desnuelle
- Neuromuscular Disease Specialized Center, Nice University Hospital, Nice, France.
| | - Christine Tranchant
- Reference Center of Neuromuscular Disorders, Neurology Department, Hautepierre Hospital, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Christophe Vial
- Electroneuromyography and Neuromuscular Department, GHE Neurologic hospital, Lyon, Bron Cedex, 69677, France.
| | - Frederique Magdinier
- Aix Marseille Université - Inserm UMR_S 910 Medical Genetics and Functional Genomics, Marseille, France.
| | - Marc Bartoli
- Aix Marseille Université - Inserm UMR_S 910 Medical Genetics and Functional Genomics, Marseille, France.
| | | | - Xavier Ferrer
- Reference Center of Neuromuscular Disorders, CHU of Bordeaux, Pessac, France.
| | - Thierry Kuntzer
- Nerve-Muscle Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Nicolas Levy
- Aix Marseille Université - Inserm UMR_S 910 Medical Genetics and Functional Genomics, Marseille, France. .,AP-HM, Department of Medical Genetics, Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France.
| | - Jean Pouget
- AP-HM, Reference Center of Neuromuscular Disorders and ALS, Timone University Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, Marseille, Cedex 05, 13385, France. .,Aix Marseille Université - Inserm UMR_S 910 Medical Genetics and Functional Genomics, Marseille, France.
| | - Shahram Attarian
- AP-HM, Reference Center of Neuromuscular Disorders and ALS, Timone University Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, 264 rue Saint-Pierre, Marseille, Cedex 05, 13385, France.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Jones TI, Yan C, Sapp PC, McKenna-Yasek D, Kang PB, Quinn C, Salameh JS, King OD, Jones PL. Identifying diagnostic DNA methylation profiles for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy in blood and saliva using bisulfite sequencing. Clin Epigenetics 2014; 6:23. [PMID: 25400706 PMCID: PMC4232706 DOI: 10.1186/1868-7083-6-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is linked to chromatin relaxation due to epigenetic changes at the 4q35 D4Z4 macrosatellite array. Molecular diagnostic criteria for FSHD are complex and involve analysis of high molecular weight (HMW) genomic DNA isolated from lymphocytes, followed by multiple restriction digestions, pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and Southern blotting. A subject is genetically diagnosed as FSHD1 if one of the 4q alleles shows a contraction in the D4Z4 array to below 11 repeats, while maintaining at least 1 repeat, and the contraction is in cis with a disease-permissive A-type subtelomere. FSHD2 is contraction-independent and cannot be diagnosed or excluded by this common genetic diagnostic procedure. However, FSHD1 and FSHD2 are linked by epigenetic deregulation, assayed as DNA hypomethylation, of the D4Z4 array on FSHD-permissive alleles. We have developed a PCR-based assay that identifies the epigenetic signature for both types of FSHD, distinguishing FSHD1 from FSHD2, and can be performed on genomic DNA isolated from blood, saliva, or cultured cells. Results Samples were obtained from healthy controls or patients clinically diagnosed with FSHD, and include both FSHD1 and FSHD2. The genomic DNAs were subjected to bisulfite sequencing analysis for the distal 4q D4Z4 repeat with an A-type subtelomere and the DUX4 5’ promoter region. We compared genomic DNA isolated from saliva and blood from the same individuals and found similar epigenetic signatures. DNA hypomethylation was restricted to the contracted 4qA chromosome in FSHD1 patients while healthy control subjects were hypermethylated. Candidates for FSHD2 showed extreme DNA hypomethylation on the 4qA DUX4 gene body as well as all analyzed DUX4 5’ sequences. Importantly, our assay does not amplify the D4Z4 arrays with non-permissive B-type subtelomeres and accurately excludes the arrays with non-permissive A-type subtelomeres. Conclusions We have developed an assay to identify changes in DNA methylation on the pathogenic distal 4q D4Z4 repeat. We show that the DNA methylation profile of saliva reflects FSHD status. This assay can distinguish FSHD from healthy controls, differentiate FSHD1 from FSHD2, does not require HMW genomic DNA or PFGE, and can be performed on either cultured cells, tissue, blood, or saliva samples. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1868-7083-6-23) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takako I Jones
- The Wellstone Program & The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655 USA
| | - Chi Yan
- The Wellstone Program & The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655 USA ; Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 P.R. China
| | - Peter C Sapp
- The Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655 USA
| | - Diane McKenna-Yasek
- The Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655 USA
| | - Peter B Kang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32607 USA
| | - Colin Quinn
- The Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655 USA ; Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, 3 Gates, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Johnny S Salameh
- The Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655 USA
| | - Oliver D King
- The Wellstone Program & The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655 USA ; The Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655 USA ; The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655 USA
| | - Peter L Jones
- The Wellstone Program & The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655 USA ; The Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655 USA ; The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655 USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Lemmers RJLF, Goeman JJ, van der Vliet PJ, van Nieuwenhuizen MP, Balog J, Vos-Versteeg M, Camano P, Ramos Arroyo MA, Jerico I, Rogers MT, Miller DG, Upadhyaya M, Verschuuren JJGM, Lopez de Munain Arregui A, van Engelen BGM, Padberg GW, Sacconi S, Tawil R, Tapscott SJ, Bakker B, van der Maarel SM. Inter-individual differences in CpG methylation at D4Z4 correlate with clinical variability in FSHD1 and FSHD2. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:659-69. [PMID: 25256356 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD: MIM#158900) is a common myopathy with marked but largely unexplained clinical inter- and intra-familial variability. It is caused by contractions of the D4Z4 repeat array on chromosome 4 to 1-10 units (FSHD1), or by mutations in the D4Z4-binding chromatin modifier SMCHD1 (FSHD2). Both situations lead to a partial opening of the D4Z4 chromatin structure and transcription of D4Z4-encoded polyadenylated DUX4 mRNA in muscle. We measured D4Z4 CpG methylation in control, FSHD1 and FSHD2 individuals and found a significant correlation with the D4Z4 repeat array size. After correction for repeat array size, we show that the variability in clinical severity in FSHD1 and FSHD2 individuals is dependent on individual differences in susceptibility to D4Z4 hypomethylation. In FSHD1, for individuals with D4Z4 repeat arrays of 1-6 units, the clinical severity mainly depends on the size of the D4Z4 repeat. However, in individuals with arrays of 7-10 units, the clinical severity also depends on other factors that regulate D4Z4 methylation because affected individuals, but not non-penetrant mutation carriers, have a greater reduction of D4Z4 CpG methylation than can be expected based on the size of the pathogenic D4Z4 repeat array. In FSHD2, this epigenetic susceptibility depends on the nature of the SMCHD1 mutation in combination with D4Z4 repeat array size with dominant negative mutations being more deleterious than haploinsufficiency mutations. Our study thus identifies an epigenetic basis for the striking variability in onset and disease progression that is considered a clinical hallmark of FSHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Pilar Camano
- Neurosciences, BioDonostia Health Research Institute, Hospital Donostia, San Sebastián, Spain
| | | | - Ivonne Jerico
- Servicio de Neurologia, Complejo Universitario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Mark T Rogers
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Daniel G Miller
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Meena Upadhyaya
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | | | - Baziel G M van Engelen
- Department of Neurology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - George W Padberg
- Department of Neurology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Sabrina Sacconi
- Centre de Reference des Maladies Neuromusculaires, Nice, France
| | - Rabi Tawil
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA and
| | - Stephen J Tapscott
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Dandapat A, Bosnakovski D, Hartweck LM, Arpke RW, Baltgalvis KA, Vang D, Baik J, Darabi R, Perlingeiro RCR, Hamra FK, Gupta K, Lowe DA, Kyba M. Dominant lethal pathologies in male mice engineered to contain an X-linked DUX4 transgene. Cell Rep 2014; 8:1484-96. [PMID: 25176645 PMCID: PMC4188423 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.07.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an enigmatic disease associated with epigenetic alterations in the subtelomeric heterochromatin of the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat. Each repeat unit encodes DUX4, a gene that is normally silent in most tissues. Besides muscular loss, most patients suffer retinal vascular telangiectasias. To generate an animal model, we introduced a doxycycline-inducible transgene encoding DUX4 and 3' genomic DNA into a euchromatic region of the mouse X chromosome. Without induction, DUX4 RNA was expressed at low levels in many tissues and animals displayed a variety of unexpected dominant leaky phenotypes, including male-specific lethality. Remarkably, rare live-born males expressed DUX4 RNA in the retina and presented a retinal vascular telangiectasia. By using doxycycline to induce DUX4 expression in satellite cells, we observed impaired myogenesis in vitro and in vivo. This mouse model, which shows pathologies due to FSHD-related D4Z4 sequences, is likely to be useful for testing anti-DUX4 therapies in FSHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit Dandapat
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Darko Bosnakovski
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Lynn M Hartweck
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Robert W Arpke
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kristen A Baltgalvis
- Program in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Derek Vang
- Vascular Biology Center, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine MMC 480, 420 Delaware Street SE, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - June Baik
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 312 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Radbod Darabi
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 312 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Rita C R Perlingeiro
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, 312 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - F Kent Hamra
- Department of Pharmacology, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Kalpna Gupta
- Vascular Biology Center, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine MMC 480, 420 Delaware Street SE, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Dawn A Lowe
- Program in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Michael Kyba
- Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Zeng W, Chen YY, Newkirk DA, Wu B, Balog J, Kong X, Ball AR, Zanotti S, Tawil R, Hashimoto N, Mortazavi A, van der Maarel SM, Yokomori K. Genetic and epigenetic characteristics of FSHD-associated 4q and 10q D4Z4 that are distinct from non-4q/10q D4Z4 homologs. Hum Mutat 2014; 35:998-1010. [PMID: 24838473 DOI: 10.1002/humu.22593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most prevalent muscular dystrophies. The majority of FSHD cases are linked to a decreased copy number of D4Z4 macrosatellite repeats on chromosome 4q (FSHD1). Less than 5% of FSHD cases have no repeat contraction (FSHD2), most of which are associated with mutations of SMCHD1. FSHD is associated with the transcriptional derepression of DUX4 encoded within the D4Z4 repeat, and SMCHD1 contributes to its regulation. We previously found that the loss of heterochromatin mark (i.e., histone H3 lysine 9 tri-methylation (H3K9me3)) at D4Z4 is a hallmark of both FSHD1 and FSHD2. However, whether this loss contributes to DUX4 expression was unknown. Furthermore, additional D4Z4 homologs exist on multiple chromosomes, but they are largely uncharacterized and their relationship to 4q/10q D4Z4 was undetermined. We found that the suppression of H3K9me3 results in displacement of SMCHD1 at D4Z4 and increases DUX4 expression in myoblasts. The DUX4 open reading frame (ORF) is disrupted in D4Z4 homologs and their heterochromatin is unchanged in FSHD. The results indicate the significance of D4Z4 heterochromatin in DUX4 gene regulation and reveal the genetic and epigenetic distinction between 4q/10q D4Z4 and the non-4q/10q homologs, highlighting the special role of the 4q/10q D4Z4 chromatin and the DUX4 ORF in FSHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Zeng
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California; Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Tawil R, van der Maarel SM, Tapscott SJ. Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy: the path to consensus on pathophysiology. Skelet Muscle 2014; 4:12. [PMID: 24940479 PMCID: PMC4060068 DOI: 10.1186/2044-5040-4-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the pathophysiology of facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) has been controversial over the last decades, progress in recent years has led to a model that incorporates these decades of findings and is gaining general acceptance in the FSHD research community. Here we review how the contributions from many labs over many years led to an understanding of a fundamentally new mechanism of human disease. FSHD is caused by inefficient repeat-mediated epigenetic repression of the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat array on chromosome 4, resulting in the variegated expression of the DUX4 retrogene, encoding a double-homeobox transcription factor, in skeletal muscle. Normally expressed in the testis and epigenetically repressed in somatic tissues, DUX4 expression in skeletal muscle induces expression of many germline, stem cell, and other genes that might account for the pathophysiology of FSHD. Although some disagreements regarding the details of mechanisms remain in the field, the coalescing agreement on a central model of pathophysiology represents a pivot-point in FSHD research, transitioning the field from discovery-oriented studies to translational studies aimed at developing therapies based on a sound model of disease pathophysiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rabi Tawil
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Silvère M van der Maarel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Stephen J Tapscott
- Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Bosnakovski D, Choi SH, Strasser JM, Toso EA, Walters MA, Kyba M. High-throughput screening identifies inhibitors of DUX4-induced myoblast toxicity. Skelet Muscle 2014; 4:4. [PMID: 24484587 PMCID: PMC3914678 DOI: 10.1186/2044-5040-4-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is caused by epigenetic alterations at the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat locus on chromosome 4, resulting in inappropriate expression of the DUX4 protein. The DUX4 protein is therefore the primary molecular target for therapeutic intervention. Methods We have developed a high-throughput screen based on the toxicity of DUX4 when overexpressed in C2C12 myoblasts, and identified inhibitors of DUX4-induced toxicity from within a diverse set of 44,000 small, drug-like molecules. A total of 1,280 hits were then subjected to secondary screening for activity against DUX4 expressed by 3T3 fibroblasts, for absence of activity against the tet-on system used to conditionally express DUX4, and for potential effects on cellular proliferation rate. Results This allowed us to define a panel of 52 compounds to use as probes to identify essential pathways of DUX4 activity. We tested these compounds for their ability to protect wild-type cells from other types of cell death-inducing insults. Remarkably, we found that 60% of the DUX4 toxicity inhibitors that we identified also protected cells from tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide, an oxidative stress-inducing compound. Compounds did not protect against death induced by caspase activation, DNA damage, protein misfolding, or ER stress. Encouragingly, many of these compounds are also protective against DUX4 expression in human cells. Conclusion These data suggest that oxidative stress is a dominant pathway through which DUX4-provoked toxicity is mediated in this system, and we speculate that enhancing the oxidative stress response pathway might be clinically beneficial in FSHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Darko Bosnakovski
- Lillehei Heart Institute, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Nils Hasselmo Hall, 312 Church St. S.E, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,Present Address: Faculty of Medical Sciences, University Goce Delčev - Štip, Krste Misirkov b.b, 2000 Štip, R. Macedonia
| | - Si Ho Choi
- Lillehei Heart Institute, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Nils Hasselmo Hall, 312 Church St. S.E, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jessica M Strasser
- Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, 717 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Erik A Toso
- Lillehei Heart Institute, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Nils Hasselmo Hall, 312 Church St. S.E, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Michael A Walters
- Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, 717 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Michael Kyba
- Lillehei Heart Institute, 312 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Nils Hasselmo Hall, 312 Church St. S.E, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Papanikos F, Skoulatou C, Sakellariou P, Kekou K, Christopoulos TK, Kanavakis E, Traeger-Synodinos J, Ioannou PC. A simplified approach for FSHD molecular testing. Clin Chim Acta 2014; 429:96-103. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2013.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
44
|
Sacconi S, Lemmers R, Balog J, van der Vliet P, Lahaut P, van Nieuwenhuizen M, Straasheijm K, Debipersad R, Vos-Versteeg M, Salviati L, Casarin A, Pegoraro E, Tawil R, Bakker E, Tapscott S, Desnuelle C, van der Maarel S. The FSHD2 gene SMCHD1 is a modifier of disease severity in families affected by FSHD1. Am J Hum Genet 2013; 93:744-51. [PMID: 24075187 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2013.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 (FSHD1) is caused by contraction of the D4Z4 repeat array on chromosome 4 to a size of 1-10 units. The residual number of D4Z4 units inversely correlates with clinical severity, but significant clinical variability exists. Each unit contains a copy of the DUX4 retrogene. Repeat contractions are associated with changes in D4Z4 chromatin structure that increase the likelihood of DUX4 expression in skeletal muscle, but only when the repeat resides in a genetic background that contains a DUX4 polyadenylation signal. Mutations in the structural maintenance of chromosomes flexible hinge domain containing 1 (SMCHD1) gene, encoding a chromatin modifier of D4Z4, also result in the increased likelihood of DUX4 expression in individuals with a rare form of FSHD (FSHD2). Because SMCHD1 directly binds to D4Z4 and suppresses somatic expression of DUX4, we hypothesized that SMCHD1 may act as a genetic modifier in FSHD1. We describe three unrelated individuals with FSHD1 presenting an unusual high clinical severity based on their upper-sized FSHD1 repeat array of nine units. Each of these individuals also carries a mutation in the SMCHD1 gene. Familial carriers of the FSHD1 allele without the SMCHD1 mutation were only mildly affected, suggesting a modifier effect of the SMCHD1 mutation. Knocking down SMCHD1 in FSHD1 myotubes increased DUX4 expression, lending molecular support to a modifier role for SMCHD1 in FSHD1. We conclude that FSHD1 and FSHD2 share a common pathophysiological pathway in which the FSHD2 gene can act as modifier for disease severity in families affected by FSHD1.
Collapse
|
45
|
Ferreboeuf M, Mariot V, Bessières B, Vasiljevic A, Attié-Bitach T, Collardeau S, Morere J, Roche S, Magdinier F, Robin-Ducellier J, Rameau P, Whalen S, Desnuelle C, Sacconi S, Mouly V, Butler-Browne G, Dumonceaux J. DUX4 and DUX4 downstream target genes are expressed in fetal FSHD muscles. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 23:171-81. [PMID: 23966205 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most prevalent adult muscular dystrophies. The common clinical signs usually appear during the second decade of life but when the first molecular dysregulations occur is still unknown. Our aim was to determine whether molecular dysregulations can be identified during FSHD fetal muscle development. We compared muscle biopsies derived from FSHD1 fetuses and the cells derived from some of these biopsies with biopsies and cells derived from control fetuses. We mainly focus on DUX4 isoform expression because the expression of DUX4 has been confirmed in both FSHD cells and biopsies by several laboratories. We measured DUX4 isoform expression by using qRT-PCR in fetal FSHD1 myotubes treated or not with an shRNA directed against DUX4 mRNA. We also analyzed DUX4 downstream target gene expression in myotubes and fetal or adult FSHD1 and control quadriceps biopsies. We show that both DUX4-FL isoforms are already expressed in FSHD1 myotubes. Interestingly, DUX4-FL expression level is much lower in trapezius than in quadriceps myotubes, which is confirmed by the level of expression of DUX4 downstream genes. We observed that TRIM43 and MBD3L2 are already overexpressed in FSHD1 fetal quadriceps biopsies, at similar levels to those observed in adult FSHD1 quadriceps biopsies. These results indicate that molecular markers of the disease are already expressed during fetal life, thus opening a new field of investigation for mechanisms leading to FSHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Ferreboeuf
- INSERM U974, UMR 7215 CNRS, Institut de Myologie, UM 76 Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 75013, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Salort-Campana E, Nguyen K, Lévy N, Pouget J, Attarian S. Diagnostic clinique et moléculaire de la myopathie facioscapulo-humérale de type 1 (FSHD1) en 2012. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2013; 169:573-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2013.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2013] [Revised: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
|
47
|
Sacconi S, Desnuelle C. Dystrophie musculaire facio-scapulo-humérale de type 2. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2013; 169:564-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2013.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 02/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
48
|
Broucqsault N, Morere J, Gaillard MC, Dumonceaux J, Torrents J, Salort-Campana E, Maues De Paula A, Bartoli M, Fernandez C, Chesnais AL, Ferreboeuf M, Sarda L, Dufour H, Desnuelle C, Attarian S, Levy N, Nguyen K, Magdinier F, Roche S. Dysregulation of 4q35- and muscle-specific genes in fetuses with a short D4Z4 array linked to facio-scapulo-humeral dystrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 22:4206-14. [PMID: 23777630 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Facio-scapulo-humeral dystrophy (FSHD) results from deletions in the subtelomeric macrosatellite D4Z4 array on the 4q35 region. Upregulation of the DUX4 retrogene from the last D4Z4 repeated unit is thought to underlie FSHD pathophysiology. However, no one knows what triggers muscle defect and when alteration arises. To gain further insights into the molecular mechanisms of the disease, we evaluated at the molecular level, the perturbation linked to the FSHD genotype with no a priori on disease onset, severity or penetrance and prior to any infiltration by fibrotic or adipose tissue in biopsies from fetuses carrying a short pathogenic D4Z4 array (n = 6) compared with fetuses with a non-pathogenic D4Z4 array (n = 21). By measuring expression of several muscle-specific markers and 4q35 genes including the DUX4 retrogene by an RT-PCR and western blotting, we observed a global dysregulation of genes involved in myogenesis including MYOD1 in samples with <11 D4Z4. The DUX4-fl pathogenic transcript was detected in FSHD biopsies but also in controls. Importantly, in FSHD fetuses, we mainly detected the non-spliced DUX4-fl isoform. In addition, several other genes clustered at the 4q35 locus are upregulated in FSHD fetuses. Our study is the first to examine fetuses carrying an FSHD-linked genotype and reveals an extensive dysregulation of several muscle-specific and 4q35 genes at early development stage at a distance from any muscle defect. Overall, our work suggests that even if FSHD is an adult-onset muscular dystrophy, the disease might also involve early molecular defects arising during myogenesis or early differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natacha Broucqsault
- The authors wish it to be known that in their opinion the first two and the last two authors should be regarded as joint authors
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Stadler G, King OD, Robin JD, Shay JW, Wright WE. Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: Are telomeres the end of the story? Rare Dis 2013; 1:e26142. [PMID: 25003004 PMCID: PMC3927483 DOI: 10.4161/rdis.26142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2013] [Revised: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a progressive myopathy with a relatively late age of onset (usually in the late teens) compared with Duchenne and many other muscular dystrophies. The current FSHD disease model postulates that contraction of the D4Z4 array at chromosome 4q35 leads to a more open chromatin conformation in that region and allows transcription of the DUX4 gene. DUX4 mRNA is stable only when transcribed from certain haplotypes that contain a polyadenylation signal. DUX4 protein is hypothesized to cause FSHD by mediating cytotoxicity and impairing skeletal muscle differentiation. We recently showed in a cell culture model that DUX4 expression is regulated by telomere length, suggesting that telomere shortening during aging may be partially responsible for the delayed onset and progressive nature of FSHD. We here put our data in the context of other recent findings arguing that progressive telomere shortening may play a critical role in FSHD but is not the whole story and that the current disease model needs additional refinement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guido Stadler
- Department of Cell Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX USA
| | - Oliver D King
- Wellstone Program; Department of Cell & Developmental Biology; University of Massachusetts Medical School; Worcester, MA USA
| | - Jerome D Robin
- Department of Cell Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX USA
| | - Jerry W Shay
- Department of Cell Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX USA ; Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research; King Abdulaziz University; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Woodring E Wright
- Department of Cell Biology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Lemmers RJLF, Tawil R, Petek LM, Balog J, Block GJ, Santen GWE, Amell AM, van der Vliet PJ, Almomani R, Straasheijm KR, Krom YD, Klooster R, Sun Y, den Dunnen JT, Helmer Q, Donlin-Smith CM, Padberg GW, van Engelen BGM, de Greef JC, Aartsma-Rus AM, Frants RR, de Visser M, Desnuelle C, Sacconi S, Filippova GN, Bakker B, Bamshad MJ, Tapscott SJ, Miller DG, van der Maarel SM. Digenic inheritance of an SMCHD1 mutation and an FSHD-permissive D4Z4 allele causes facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 2. Nat Genet 2012; 44:1370-4. [PMID: 23143600 PMCID: PMC3671095 DOI: 10.1038/ng.2454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 437] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 10/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is characterized by chromatin relaxation of the D4Z4 macrosatellite array on chromosome 4 and expression of the D4Z4-encoded DUX4 gene in skeletal muscle. The more common form, autosomal dominant FSHD1, is caused by a contraction of the D4Z4 array, whereas the genetic determinants and inheritance of D4Z4 array contraction-independent FSHD2 are unclear. Here we show that mutations in SMCHD1 (structural maintenance of chromosomes flexible hinge domain containing 1) on chromosome 18 reduce SMCHD1 protein levels and segregate with genome-wide D4Z4 CpG hypomethylation in human kindreds. FSHD2 occurs in individuals who inherited both the SMCHD1 mutation and a normal-sized D4Z4 array on a chromosome 4 haplotype permissive for DUX4 expression. Reducing SMCHD1 levels in skeletal muscle results in contraction-independent DUX4 expression. Our study identifies SMCHD1 as an epigenetic modifier of the D4Z4 metastable epiallele and as a causal genetic determinant of FSHD2 and possibly other human diseases subject to epigenetic regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard J L F Lemmers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|