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Schätzl T, Todorow V, Kaiser L, Weinschrott H, Schoser B, Deigner HP, Meinke P, Kohl M. Meta-analysis towards FSHD reveals misregulation of neuromuscular junction, nuclear envelope, and spliceosome. Commun Biol 2024; 7:640. [PMID: 38796645 PMCID: PMC11127974 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06325-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common autosomal dominant muscle disorders, yet no cure or amelioration exists. The clinical presentation is diverse, making it difficult to identify the actual driving pathomechanism among many downstream events. To unravel this complexity, we performed a meta-analysis of 13 original omics datasets (in total 171 FSHD and 129 control samples). Our approach confirmed previous findings about the disease pathology and specified them further. We confirmed increased expression of former proposed DUX4 biomarkers, and furthermore impairment of the respiratory chain. Notably, the meta-analysis provides insights about so far not reported pathways, including misregulation of neuromuscular junction protein encoding genes, downregulation of the spliceosome, and extensive alterations of nuclear envelope protein expression. Finally, we developed a publicly available shiny app to provide a platform for researchers who want to search our analysis for genes of interest in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Schätzl
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Furtwangen University, Furtwangen, Germany
| | - Vanessa Todorow
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute at the Department of Neurology, LMU University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Lars Kaiser
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Furtwangen University, Furtwangen, Germany
| | - Helga Weinschrott
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Furtwangen University, Furtwangen, Germany
| | - Benedikt Schoser
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute at the Department of Neurology, LMU University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Deigner
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Furtwangen University, Furtwangen, Germany
- Faculty of Science, Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- EXIM Department, Fraunhofer Institute IZI (Leipzig), Rostock, Germany
| | - Peter Meinke
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute at the Department of Neurology, LMU University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Kohl
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Furtwangen University, Furtwangen, Germany.
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Nguyen TH, Limpens M, Bouhmidi S, Paprzycki L, Legrand A, Declèves AE, Heher P, Belayew A, Banerji CRS, Zammit PS, Tassin A. The DUX4-HIF1α Axis in Murine and Human Muscle Cells: A Link More Complex Than Expected. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3327. [PMID: 38542301 PMCID: PMC10969790 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
FacioScapuloHumeral muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most prevalent inherited muscle disorders and is linked to the inappropriate expression of the DUX4 transcription factor in skeletal muscles. The deregulated molecular network causing FSHD muscle dysfunction and pathology is not well understood. It has been shown that the hypoxia response factor HIF1α is critically disturbed in FSHD and has a major role in DUX4-induced cell death. In this study, we further explored the relationship between DUX4 and HIF1α. We found that the DUX4 and HIF1α link differed according to the stage of myogenic differentiation and was conserved between human and mouse muscle. Furthermore, we found that HIF1α knockdown in a mouse model of DUX4 local expression exacerbated DUX4-mediated muscle fibrosis. Our data indicate that the suggested role of HIF1α in DUX4 toxicity is complex and that targeting HIF1α might be challenging in the context of FSHD therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-Hang Nguyen
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Maelle Limpens
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Sihame Bouhmidi
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Lise Paprzycki
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Legrand
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Anne-Emilie Declèves
- Department of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Philipp Heher
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Alexandra Belayew
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Christopher R. S. Banerji
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, The British Library, London NW1 2DB, UK
| | - Peter S. Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Alexandra Tassin
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
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3
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Bittel AJ, Bittel DC, Gordish-Dressman H, Chen YW. Voluntary wheel running improves molecular and functional deficits in a murine model of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. iScience 2024; 27:108632. [PMID: 38188524 PMCID: PMC10770537 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Endurance exercise training is beneficial for skeletal muscle health, but it is unclear if this type of exercise can target or correct the molecular mechanisms of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Using the FLExDUX4 murine model of FSHD characterized by chronic, low levels of pathological double homeobox protein 4 (DUX4) gene expression, we show that 6 weeks of voluntary, free wheel running improves running performance, strength, mitochondrial function, and sarcolemmal repair capacity, while slowing/reversing skeletal muscle fibrosis. These improvements are associated with restored transcriptional activity of gene networks/pathways regulating actin cytoskeletal signaling, vascular remodeling, inflammation, fibrosis, and muscle mass toward wild-type (WT) levels. However, FLExDUX4 mice exhibit blunted increases in mitochondrial content with training and persistent transcriptional overactivation of hypoxia, inflammatory, angiogenic, and cytoskeletal pathways. These results identify exercise-responsive and non-responsive molecular pathways in FSHD, while providing support for the use of endurance-type exercise as a non-invasive treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J. Bittel
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA
| | - Daniel C. Bittel
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA
| | | | - Yi-Wen Chen
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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4
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Engquist EN, Greco A, Joosten LAB, van Engelen BGM, Zammit PS, Banerji CRS. FSHD muscle shows perturbation in fibroadipogenic progenitor cells, mitochondrial function and alternative splicing independently of inflammation. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:182-197. [PMID: 37856562 PMCID: PMC10772042 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a prevalent, incurable myopathy. FSHD is highly heterogeneous, with patients following a variety of clinical trajectories, complicating clinical trials. Skeletal muscle in FSHD undergoes fibrosis and fatty replacement that can be accelerated by inflammation, adding to heterogeneity. Well controlled molecular studies are thus essential to both categorize FSHD patients into distinct subtypes and understand pathomechanisms. Here, we further analyzed RNA-sequencing data from 24 FSHD patients, each of whom donated a biopsy from both a non-inflamed (TIRM-) and inflamed (TIRM+) muscle, and 15 FSHD patients who donated peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMCs), alongside non-affected control individuals. Differential gene expression analysis identified suppression of mitochondrial biogenesis and up-regulation of fibroadipogenic progenitor (FAP) gene expression in FSHD muscle, which was particularly marked on inflamed samples. PBMCs demonstrated suppression of antigen presentation in FSHD. Gene expression deconvolution revealed FAP expansion as a consistent feature of FSHD muscle, via meta-analysis of 7 independent transcriptomic datasets. Clustering of muscle biopsies separated patients in an unbiased manner into clinically mild and severe subtypes, independently of known disease modifiers (age, sex, D4Z4 repeat length). Lastly, the first genome-wide analysis of alternative splicing in FSHD muscle revealed perturbation of autophagy, BMP2 and HMGB1 signalling. Overall, our findings reveal molecular subtypes of FSHD with clinical relevance and identify novel pathomechanisms for this highly heterogeneous condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise N Engquist
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Greco
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS) and Radboud Center of Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Leo A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS) and Radboud Center of Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Nijmegen 6525 GA, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Baziel G M van Engelen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher R S Banerji
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
- The Alan Turing Institute, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, United Kingdom
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5
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Greco A, Mul K, Jaeger MH, Dos Santos JC, Koenen H, de Jong L, Mann R, Fütterer J, Netea MG, Pruijn GJM, van Engelen BGM, Joosten LAB. IL-6 and TNF are Potential Inflammatory Biomarkers in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. J Neuromuscul Dis 2024; 11:327-347. [PMID: 38250782 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-230063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Background FSHD is a highly prevalent inherited myopathy with a still poorly understood pathology. Objective To investigate whether proinflammatory cytokines are associated with FSHD and which specific innate immune cells are involved in its pathology. Methods First, we measured circulating cytokines in serum samples: IL-6 (FSHD, n = 150; HC, n = 98); TNF (FSHD, n = 150; HC, n = 59); IL-1α (FSHD, n = 150; HC, n = 66); IL-1β (FSHD, n = 150; HC, n = 98); MCP-1 (FSHD, n = 14; HC, n = 14); VEGF-A (FSHD, n = 14; HC, n = 14). Second, we tested trained immunity in monocytes (FSHD, n = 15; HC, n = 15) and NK cells (FSHD, n = 11; HC, n = 11). Next, we explored the cytokine production capacity of NK cells in response to different stimuli (FSHD, n = 39; HC, n = 22). Lastly, we evaluated the cytokine production of ex vivo stimulated MRI guided inflamed (TIRM+) and paired MRI guided non inflamed (TIRM-) muscle biopsies of 21 patients and of 8 HC muscle biopsies. Results We included a total of 190 FSHD patients (N = 190, 48±14 years, 49% men) and of 135 HC (N = 135, 44±15 years, 47% men). We found that FSHD patients had higher concentrations of IL-6 and TNF measured (a) in the circulation, (b) after ex-vivo stimulation of NK cells, and (c) in muscle specimens. Besides, IL-6 circulating concentrations, as well as its production by NK cells and IL-6 content of FSHD muscle specimens, showed a mild correlation with disease duration, disease severity, and muscle weakness. Conclusion These results show that IL-6 and TNF may contribute to FSHD pathology and suggest novel therapeutic targets. Additionally, the activation of NK cells in FSHD may be a novel pathway contributing to FSHD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Greco
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Karlien Mul
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Martin H Jaeger
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jéssica C Dos Santos
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Koenen
- Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Leon de Jong
- Department of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Anatomy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ritse Mann
- Department of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Anatomy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jurgen Fütterer
- Department of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Anatomy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ger J M Pruijn
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Baziel G M van Engelen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Leo A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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6
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Nguyen TH, Paprzycki L, Legrand A, Declèves AE, Heher P, Limpens M, Belayew A, Banerji CRS, Zammit PS, Tassin A. Hypoxia enhances human myoblast differentiation: involvement of HIF1α and impact of DUX4, the FSHD causal gene. Skelet Muscle 2023; 13:21. [PMID: 38104132 PMCID: PMC10724930 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-023-00330-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypoxia is known to modify skeletal muscle biological functions and muscle regeneration. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of hypoxia on human myoblast differentiation remain unclear. The hypoxic response pathway is of particular interest in patients with hereditary muscular dystrophies since many present respiratory impairment and muscle regeneration defects. For example, an altered hypoxia response characterizes the muscles of patients with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD). METHODS We examined the impact of hypoxia on the differentiation of human immortalized myoblasts (LHCN-M2) cultured in normoxia (PO2: 21%) or hypoxia (PO2: 1%). Cells were grown in proliferation (myoblasts) or differentiation medium for 2 (myocytes) or 4 days (myotubes). We evaluated proliferation rate by EdU incorporation, used myogenin-positive nuclei as a differentiation marker for myocytes, and determined the fusion index and myosin heavy chain-positive area in myotubes. The contribution of HIF1α was studied by gain (CoCl2) and loss (siRNAs) of function experiments. We further examined hypoxia in LHCN-M2-iDUX4 myoblasts with inducible expression of DUX4, the transcription factor underlying FSHD pathology. RESULTS We found that the hypoxic response did not impact myoblast proliferation but activated precocious myogenic differentiation and that HIF1α was critical for this process. Hypoxia also enhanced the late differentiation of human myocytes, but in an HIF1α-independent manner. Interestingly, the impact of hypoxia on muscle cell proliferation was influenced by dexamethasone. In the FSHD pathological context, DUX4 suppressed HIF1α-mediated precocious muscle differentiation. CONCLUSION Hypoxia stimulates myogenic differentiation in healthy myoblasts, with HIF1α-dependent early steps. In FSHD, DUX4-HIF1α interplay indicates a novel mechanism by which DUX4 could interfere with HIF1α function in the myogenic program and therefore with FSHD muscle performance and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-Hang Nguyen
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Lise Paprzycki
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Legrand
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Anne-Emilie Declèves
- Department of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Philipp Heher
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Maelle Limpens
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Alexandra Belayew
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium
| | - Christopher R S Banerji
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, British Library, 96 Euston Rd, London, UK
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Alexandra Tassin
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, 7000, Belgium.
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7
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Cohen J, Huang S, Koczwara KE, Woods KT, Ho V, Woodman KG, Arbiser JL, Daman K, Lek M, Emerson CP, DeSimone AM. Flavones provide resistance to DUX4-induced toxicity via an mTor-independent mechanism. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:749. [PMID: 37973788 PMCID: PMC10654915 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06257-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is among the most common of the muscular dystrophies, affecting nearly 1 in 8000 individuals, and is a cause of profound disability. Genetically, FSHD is linked to the contraction and/or epigenetic de-repression of the D4Z4 repeat array on chromosome 4, thereby allowing expression of the DUX4 gene in skeletal muscle. If the DUX4 transcript incorporates a stabilizing polyadenylation site the myotoxic DUX4 protein will be synthesized, resulting in muscle wasting. The mechanism of toxicity remains unclear, as many DUX4-induced cytopathologies have been described, however cell death does primarily occur through caspase 3/7-dependent apoptosis. To date, most FSHD therapeutic development has focused on molecular methods targeting DUX4 expression or the DUX4 transcript, while therapies targeting processes downstream of DUX4 activity have received less attention. Several studies have demonstrated that inhibition of multiple signal transduction pathways can ameliorate DUX4-induced toxicity, and thus compounds targeting these pathways have the potential to be developed into FSHD therapeutics. To this end, we have screened a group of small molecules curated based on their reported activity in relevant pathways and/or structural relationships with known toxicity-modulating molecules. We have identified a panel of five compounds that function downstream of DUX4 activity to inhibit DUX4-induced toxicity. Unexpectedly, this effect was mediated through an mTor-independent mechanism that preserved expression of ULK1 and correlated with an increase in a marker of active cellular autophagy. This identifies these flavones as compounds of interest for therapeutic development, and potentially identifies the autophagy pathway as a target for therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Cohen
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Shushu Huang
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | | | - Kristen T Woods
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Disease Research University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Vincent Ho
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Keryn G Woodman
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | | | - Katelyn Daman
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Disease Research University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Monkol Lek
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Charles P Emerson
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Disease Research University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Alec M DeSimone
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
- Modalis Therapeutics, Waltham, MA, USA.
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8
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Banerji CRS, Greco A, Joosten LAB, van Engelen BGM, Zammit PS. The FSHD muscle-blood biomarker: a circulating transcriptomic biomarker for clinical severity in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad221. [PMID: 37731904 PMCID: PMC10507741 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a prevalent, incurable skeletal myopathy. Clinical trials for FSHD are hindered by heterogeneous biomarkers poorly associated with clinical severity, requiring invasive muscle biopsy. Macroscopically, FSHD presents with slow fatty replacement of muscle, rapidly accelerated by inflammation. Mis-expression of the transcription factor DUX4 is currently accepted to underlie pathogenesis, and mechanisms including PAX7 target gene repression have been proposed. Here, we performed RNA-sequencing on MRI-guided inflamed and isogenic non-inflamed muscle biopsies from the same clinically characterized FSHD patients (n = 24), alongside isogenic peripheral blood mononucleated cells from a subset of patients (n = 13) and unaffected controls (n = 11). Multivariate models were employed to evaluate the clinical associations of five published FSHD transcriptomic biomarkers. We demonstrated that PAX7 target gene repression can discriminate control, inflamed and non-inflamed FSHD muscle independently of age and sex (P < 0.013), while the discriminatory power of DUX4 target genes was limited to distinguishing FSHD muscle from control. Importantly, the level of PAX7 target gene repression in non-inflamed muscle associated with clinical assessments of FSHD severity (P = 0.04). DUX4 target gene biomarkers in FSHD muscle showed associations with lower limb fat fraction and D4Z4 array length but not clinical assessment. Lastly, PAX7 target gene repression in FSHD muscle correlated with the level in isogenic peripheral blood mononucleated cells (P = 0.002). A refined PAX7 target gene biomarker comprising 143/601 PAX7 target genes computed in peripheral blood (the FSHD muscle-blood biomarker) associated with clinical severity in FSHD patients (P < 0.036). Our new circulating biomarker validates as a classifier of clinical severity in an independent data set of 54 FSHD patient and 29 matched control blood samples, with improved power in older patients (P = 0.03). In summary, we present the minimally invasive FSHD muscle-blood biomarker of FSHD clinical severity valid in patient muscle and blood, of potential use in routine disease monitoring and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R S Banerji
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, The British Library, London NW1 2DB, UK
| | - Anna Greco
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS) and Radboud Center of Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525, The Netherlands
| | - Leo A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS) and Radboud Center of Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Baziel G M van Engelen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
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9
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Nishimura Y, Bittel AJ, Stead CA, Chen YW, Burniston JG. Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy is Associated With Altered Myoblast Proteome Dynamics. Mol Cell Proteomics 2023; 22:100605. [PMID: 37353005 PMCID: PMC10392138 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100605] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteomic studies in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) could offer new insight into disease mechanisms underpinned by post-transcriptional processes. We used stable isotope (deuterium oxide; D2O) labeling and peptide mass spectrometry to investigate the abundance and turnover rates of proteins in cultured muscle cells from two individuals affected by FSHD and their unaffected siblings (UASb). We measured the abundance of 4420 proteins and the turnover rate of 2324 proteins in each (n = 4) myoblast sample. FSHD myoblasts exhibited a greater abundance but slower turnover rate of subunits of mitochondrial respiratory complexes and mitochondrial ribosomal proteins, which may indicate an accumulation of "older" less viable mitochondrial proteins in myoblasts from individuals affected by FSHD. Treatment with a 2'-O-methoxyethyl modified antisense oligonucleotide targeting exon 3 of the double homeobox 4 (DUX4) transcript tended to reverse mitochondrial protein dysregulation in FSHD myoblasts, indicating the effect on mitochondrial proteins may be a DUX4-dependent mechanism. Our results highlight the importance of post-transcriptional processes and protein turnover in FSHD pathology and provide a resource for the FSHD research community to explore this burgeoning aspect of FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Nishimura
- Research Institute for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Adam J Bittel
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Connor A Stead
- Research Institute for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Yi-Wen Chen
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
| | - Jatin G Burniston
- Research Institute for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
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10
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Claus C, Slavin M, Ansseau E, Lancelot C, Bah K, Lassche S, Fiévet M, Greco A, Tomaiuolo S, Tassin A, Dudome V, Kusters B, Declèves AE, Laoudj-Chenivesse D, van Engelen BGM, Nonclercq D, Belayew A, Kalisman N, Coppée F. The double homeodomain protein DUX4c is associated with regenerating muscle fibers and RNA-binding proteins. Skelet Muscle 2023; 13:5. [PMID: 36882853 PMCID: PMC9990282 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-022-00310-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have previously demonstrated that double homeobox 4 centromeric (DUX4C) encoded for a functional DUX4c protein upregulated in dystrophic skeletal muscles. Based on gain- and loss-of-function studies we have proposed DUX4c involvement in muscle regeneration. Here, we provide further evidence for such a role in skeletal muscles from patients affected with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). METHODS DUX4c was studied at RNA and protein levels in FSHD muscle cell cultures and biopsies. Its protein partners were co-purified and identified by mass spectrometry. Endogenous DUX4c was detected in FSHD muscle sections with either its partners or regeneration markers using co-immunofluorescence or in situ proximity ligation assay. RESULTS We identified new alternatively spliced DUX4C transcripts and confirmed DUX4c immunodetection in rare FSHD muscle cells in primary culture. DUX4c was detected in nuclei, cytoplasm or at cell-cell contacts between myocytes and interacted sporadically with specific RNA-binding proteins involved, a.o., in muscle differentiation, repair, and mass maintenance. In FSHD muscle sections, DUX4c was found in fibers with unusual shape or central/delocalized nuclei (a regeneration feature) staining for developmental myosin heavy chain, MYOD or presenting intense desmin labeling. Some couples of myocytes/fibers locally exhibited peripheral DUX4c-positive areas that were very close to each other, but in distinct cells. MYOD or intense desmin staining at these locations suggested an imminent muscle cell fusion. We further demonstrated DUX4c interaction with its major protein partner, C1qBP, inside myocytes/myofibers that presented features of regeneration. On adjacent muscle sections, we could unexpectedly detect DUX4 (the FSHD causal protein) and its interaction with C1qBP in fusing myocytes/fibers. CONCLUSIONS DUX4c upregulation in FSHD muscles suggests it contributes not only to the pathology but also, based on its protein partners and specific markers, to attempts at muscle regeneration. The presence of both DUX4 and DUX4c in regenerating FSHD muscle cells suggests DUX4 could compete with normal DUX4c functions, thus explaining why skeletal muscle is particularly sensitive to DUX4 toxicity. Caution should be exerted with therapeutic agents aiming for DUX4 suppression because they might also repress the highly similar DUX4c and interfere with its physiological role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clothilde Claus
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Moriya Slavin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Eugénie Ansseau
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Céline Lancelot
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Karimatou Bah
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Saskia Lassche
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, the Netherlands
| | - Manon Fiévet
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Anna Greco
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sara Tomaiuolo
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Alexandra Tassin
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium.,Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Virginie Dudome
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Benno Kusters
- Department of Pathology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne-Emilie Declèves
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | | | - Baziel G M van Engelen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Denis Nonclercq
- Laboratory of Histology, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Alexandra Belayew
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Nir Kalisman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Frédérique Coppée
- Laboratory of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000, Mons, Belgium.
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11
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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.
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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
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12
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Cohen J, Huang S, Koczwara K, Ho V, Woodman K, Lek A, Arbiser J, Lek M, DeSimone A. Flavones provide resistance to DUX4-induced toxicity via an mTor-independent mechanism. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2452222. [PMID: 36778471 PMCID: PMC9915774 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2452222/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is among the most common of the muscular dystrophies, affecting nearly 1 in 8000 individuals, and is a cause of profound disability. Genetically, FSHD is linked to the contraction and/or epigenetic de-repression of the D4Z4 repeat array on chromosome 4, thereby allowing expression of the DUX4 gene in skeletal muscle. If the DUX4 transcript incorporates a stabilizing polyadenylation site the myotoxic DUX4 protein will be synthesized, resulting in muscle wasting. The mechanism of toxicity remains unclear, as many DUX4-induced cytopathologies have been described, however cell death does primarily occur through caspase 3/7-dependent apoptosis. To date, most FSHD therapeutic development has focused on molecular methods targeting DUX4 expression or the DUX4 transcript, while therapies targeting processes downstream of DUX4 activity have received less attention. Several studies have demonstrated that inhibition of multiple signal transduction pathways can ameliorate DUX4-induced toxicity, and thus compounds targeting these pathways have the potential to be developed into FSHD therapeutics. To this end, we have screened a group of small molecules curated based on their reported activity in relevant pathways and/or structural relationships with known toxicity-modulating molecules. We have identified a panel of five compounds that function downstream of DUX4 activity to inhibit DUX4-induced toxicity. Unexpectedly, this effect was mediated through an mTor-independent mechanism that preserved expression of ULK1 and correlated with an increase in a marker of active cellular autophagy. This identifies these flavones as compounds of interest for therapeutic development, and potentially identifies the autophagy pathway as a target for therapeutics.
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13
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Ganassi M, Figeac N, Reynaud M, Ortuste Quiroga HP, Zammit PS. Antagonism Between DUX4 and DUX4c Highlights a Pathomechanism Operating Through β-Catenin in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:802573. [PMID: 36158201 PMCID: PMC9490378 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.802573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of the transcription factor DUX4 from D4Z4 macrosatellite repeats on chromosome 4q35, and its transcriptome, associate with pathogenesis in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Forced DUX4 expression halts skeletal muscle cell proliferation and induces cell death. DUX4 binds DNA via two homeodomains that are identical in sequence to those of DUX4c (DUX4L9): a closely related transcriptional regulator encoded by a single, inverted, mutated D4Z4 unit located centromeric to the D4Z4 macrosatellite array on chromosome 4. However, the function and contribution of DUX4c to FSHD pathogenesis are unclear. To explore interplay between DUX4, DUX4c, and the DUX4-induced phenotype, we investigated whether DUX4c interferes with DUX4 function in human myogenesis. Constitutive expression of DUX4c rescued the DUX4-induced inhibition of proliferation and reduced cell death in human myoblasts. Functionally, DUX4 promotes nuclear translocation of β-CATENIN and increases canonical WNT signalling. Concomitant constitutive expression of DUX4c prevents β-CATENIN nuclear accumulation and the downstream transcriptional program. DUX4 reduces endogenous DUX4c levels, whereas constitutive expression of DUX4c robustly suppresses expression of DUX4 target genes, suggesting molecular antagonism. In line, DUX4 expression in FSHD myoblasts correlates with reduced DUX4c levels. Addressing the mechanism, we identified a subset of genes involved in the WNT/β-CATENIN pathway that are differentially regulated between DUX4 and DUX4c, whose expression pattern can separate muscle biopsies from severely affected FSHD patients from healthy. Finally, blockade of WNT/β-CATENIN signalling rescues viability of FSHD myoblasts. Together, our study highlights an antagonistic interplay whereby DUX4 alters cell viability via β-CATENIN signalling and DUX4c counteracts aspects of DUX4-mediated toxicity in human muscle cells, potentially acting as a gene modifier for FSHD severity. Importantly, direct DUX4 regulation of the WNT/β-CATENIN pathway informs future therapeutic interventions to ameliorate FSHD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Peter S. Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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14
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ANT1 overexpression models: Some similarities with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Redox Biol 2022; 56:102450. [PMID: 36030628 PMCID: PMC9434167 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness. Adenine nucleotide translocator 1 (ANT1), the only 4q35 gene involved in mitochondrial function, is strongly expressed in FSHD skeletal muscle biopsies. However, its role in FSHD is unclear. In this study, we evaluated ANT1 overexpression effects in primary myoblasts from healthy controls and during Xenopus laevis organogenesis. We also compared ANT1 overexpression effects with the phenotype of FSHD muscle cells and biopsies. Here, we report that the ANT1 overexpression-induced phenotype presents some similarities with FSHD muscle cells and biopsies. ANT1-overexpressing muscle cells showed disorganized morphology, altered cytoskeletal arrangement, enhanced mitochondrial respiration/glycolysis, ROS production, oxidative stress, mitochondrial fragmentation and ultrastructure alteration, as observed in FSHD muscle cells. ANT1 overexpression in Xenopus laevis embryos affected skeletal muscle development, impaired skeletal muscle, altered mitochondrial ultrastructure and led to oxidative stress as observed in FSHD muscle biopsies. Moreover, ANT1 overexpression in X. laevis embryos affected heart structure and mitochondrial ultrastructure leading to cardiac arrhythmia, as described in some patients with FSHD. Overall our data suggest that ANT1 could contribute to mitochondria dysfunction and oxidative stress in FSHD muscle cells by modifying their bioenergetic profile associated with ROS production. Such interplay between energy metabolism and ROS production in FSHD will be of significant interest for future prospects.
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15
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Pruller J, Figeac N, Zammit PS. DVL1 and DVL3 require nuclear localisation to regulate proliferation in human myoblasts. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8388. [PMID: 35589804 PMCID: PMC9120025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10536-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
WNT signalling is essential for regulating a diverse range of cellular processes. In skeletal muscle, the WNT pathway plays crucial roles in maintenance of the stem cell pool and myogenic differentiation. Focus is usually directed at examining the function of central components of the WNT pathway, including β-CATENIN and the GSK3β complex and TCF/LEF transcription factors, in tissue homeostasis and cancer. Other core components of the WNT pathway though, are three dishevelled (DVL) proteins: membrane associated proteins that propagate WNT signalling from membrane to nucleus. Here we examined DVL function in human myogenesis and the muscle-related cancer alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. We demonstrate that DVL1 and DVL3 are necessary for efficient proliferation in human myoblasts and are important for timely myogenic differentiation. DVL1 and DVL3 also contribute to regulation of proliferation in rhabdomyosarcoma. DVL1 or DVL3 must be present in the nucleus to regulate proliferation, but they operate through different protein domains: DVL3 requires the DIX and PDZ domains, while DVL1 does not. Importantly, DVL1 and DVL3 activity is independent of markedly increased translocation of β-CATENIN to the nucleus, normally a hallmark of active canonical WNT signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Pruller
- King's College London, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Nicolas Figeac
- King's College London, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Peter S Zammit
- King's College London, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
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16
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Ghasemi M, Emerson CP, Hayward LJ. Outcome Measures in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Clinical Trials. Cells 2022; 11:687. [PMID: 35203336 PMCID: PMC8870318 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a debilitating muscular dystrophy with a variable age of onset, severity, and progression. While there is still no cure for this disease, progress towards FSHD therapies has accelerated since the underlying mechanism of epigenetic derepression of the double homeobox 4 (DUX4) gene leading to skeletal muscle toxicity was identified. This has facilitated the rapid development of novel therapies to target DUX4 expression and downstream dysregulation that cause muscle degeneration. These discoveries and pre-clinical translational studies have opened new avenues for therapies that await evaluation in clinical trials. As the field anticipates more FSHD trials, the need has grown for more reliable and quantifiable outcome measures of muscle function, both for early phase and phase II and III trials. Advanced tools that facilitate longitudinal clinical assessment will greatly improve the potential of trials to identify therapeutics that successfully ameliorate disease progression or permit muscle functional recovery. Here, we discuss current and emerging FSHD outcome measures and the challenges that investigators may experience in applying such measures to FSHD clinical trial design and implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Ghasemi
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (C.P.E.J.); (L.J.H.)
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Charles P. Emerson
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (C.P.E.J.); (L.J.H.)
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Lawrence J. Hayward
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (C.P.E.J.); (L.J.H.)
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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17
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Laberthonnière C, Novoa-Del-Toro EM, Delourme M, Chevalier R, Broucqsault N, Mazaleyrat K, Streichenberger N, Manel V, Bernard R, Salort Campana E, Attarian S, Nguyen K, Robin JD, Baudot A, Magdinier F. Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy weakened sarcomeric contractility is mimicked in induced pluripotent stem cells-derived innervated muscle fibres. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2022; 13:621-635. [PMID: 34859613 PMCID: PMC8818656 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is a late-onset autosomal dominant form of muscular dystrophy involving specific groups of muscles with variable weakness that precedes inflammatory response, fat infiltration, and muscle atrophy. As there is currently no cure for this disease, understanding and modelling the typical muscle weakness in FSHD remains a major milestone towards deciphering the disease pathogenesis as it will pave the way to therapeutic strategies aimed at correcting the functional muscular defect in patients. METHODS To gain further insights into the specificity of the muscle alteration in this disease, we derived induced pluripotent stem cells from patients affected with Types 1 and 2 FSHD but also from patients affected with Bosma arhinia and microphthalmia. We differentiated these cells into contractile innervated muscle fibres and analysed their transcriptome by RNA Seq in comparison with cells derived from healthy donors. To uncover biological pathways altered in the disease, we applied MOGAMUN, a multi-objective genetic algorithm that integrates multiplex complex networks of biological interactions (protein-protein interactions, co-expression, and biological pathways) and RNA Seq expression data to identify active modules. RESULTS We identified 132 differentially expressed genes that are specific to FSHD cells (false discovery rate < 0.05). In FSHD, the vast majority of active modules retrieved with MOGAMUN converges towards a decreased expression of genes encoding proteins involved in sarcomere organization (P value 2.63e-12 ), actin cytoskeleton (P value 9.4e-5 ), myofibril (P value 2.19e-12 ), actin-myosin sliding, and calcium handling (with P values ranging from 7.9e-35 to 7.9e-21 ). Combined with in vivo validations and functional investigations, our data emphasize a reduction in fibre contraction (P value < 0.0001) indicating that the muscle weakness that is typical of FSHD clinical spectrum might be associated with dysfunction of calcium release (P value < 0.0001), actin-myosin interactions, motor activity, mechano-transduction, and dysfunctional sarcomere contractility. CONCLUSIONS Identification of biomarkers of FSHD muscle remain critical for understanding the process leading to the pathology but also for the definition of readouts to be used for drug design, outcome measures, and monitoring of therapies. The different pathways identified through a system biology approach have been largely overlooked in the disease. Overall, our work opens new perspectives in the definition of biomarkers able to define the muscle alteration but also in the development of novel strategies to improve muscle function as it provides functional parameters for active molecule screening.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mégane Delourme
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, Marseille Medical Genetics, MMG, Marseille, France
| | - Raphaël Chevalier
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, Marseille Medical Genetics, MMG, Marseille, France
| | - Natacha Broucqsault
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, Marseille Medical Genetics, MMG, Marseille, France
| | - Kilian Mazaleyrat
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, Marseille Medical Genetics, MMG, Marseille, France
| | - Nathalie Streichenberger
- Neuropathology, Lyon Civil Hospices, Lyon, France.,Neuromyogène Institute, CNRS-UMR 5310, INSERM 1217, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France.,Reference Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Hospital for Woman Mother Child, Lyon, France
| | - Véronique Manel
- Department of Medical Genetics, Timone Infant Hospital, Marseille, France
| | - Rafaëlle Bernard
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, Marseille Medical Genetics, MMG, Marseille, France.,Reference Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, Timone Adult Hospital, Marseille, France
| | | | - Shahram Attarian
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, Marseille Medical Genetics, MMG, Marseille, France
| | - Karine Nguyen
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, Marseille Medical Genetics, MMG, Marseille, France.,Reference Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS, Timone Adult Hospital, Marseille, France
| | - Jérôme D Robin
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, Marseille Medical Genetics, MMG, Marseille, France
| | - Anais Baudot
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, Marseille Medical Genetics, MMG, Marseille, France
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18
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Heher P, Ganassi M, Weidinger A, Engquist EN, Pruller J, Nguyen TH, Tassin A, Declèves AE, Mamchaoui K, Grillari J, Kozlov AV, Zammit PS. Interplay between mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress and hypoxic adaptation in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: Metabolic stress as potential therapeutic target. Redox Biol 2022; 51:102251. [PMID: 35248827 PMCID: PMC8899416 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is characterised by descending skeletal muscle weakness and wasting. FSHD is caused by mis-expression of the transcription factor DUX4, which is linked to oxidative stress, a condition especially detrimental to skeletal muscle with its high metabolic activity and energy demands. Oxidative damage characterises FSHD and recent work suggests metabolic dysfunction and perturbed hypoxia signalling as novel pathomechanisms. However, redox biology of FSHD remains poorly understood, and integrating the complex dynamics of DUX4-induced metabolic changes is lacking. Here we pinpoint the kinetic involvement of altered mitochondrial ROS metabolism and impaired mitochondrial function in aetiology of oxidative stress in FSHD. Transcriptomic analysis in FSHD muscle biopsies reveals strong enrichment for pathways involved in mitochondrial complex I assembly, nitrogen metabolism, oxidative stress response and hypoxia signalling. We found elevated mitochondrial ROS (mitoROS) levels correlate with increases in steady-state mitochondrial membrane potential in FSHD myogenic cells. DUX4 triggers mitochondrial membrane polarisation prior to oxidative stress generation and apoptosis through mitoROS, and affects mitochondrial health through lipid peroxidation. We identify complex I as the primary target for DUX4-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, with strong correlation between complex I-linked respiration and cellular oxygenation/hypoxia signalling activity in environmental hypoxia. Thus, FSHD myogenesis is uniquely susceptible to hypoxia-induced oxidative stress as a consequence of metabolic mis-adaptation. Importantly, mitochondria-targeted antioxidants rescue FSHD pathology more effectively than conventional antioxidants, highlighting the central involvement of disturbed mitochondrial ROS metabolism. This work provides a pathomechanistic model by which DUX4-induced changes in oxidative metabolism impair muscle function in FSHD, amplified when metabolic adaptation to varying O2 tension is required. Transcriptomics data from FSHD muscle indicates enrichment for disturbed mitochondrial pathways. Disturbed mitochondrial ROS metabolism correlates with mitochondrial membrane polarisation and myotube hypotrophy. DUX4-induced changes in mitochondrial function precede mitoROS generation and affect hypoxia signalling via complex I. FSHD is sensitive to environmental hypoxia, which increases ROS levels in FSHD myotubes. Hypotrophy in hypoxic FSHD myotubes is efficiently rescued with mitochondria-targeted antioxidants.
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19
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Mocciaro E, Runfola V, Ghezzi P, Pannese M, Gabellini D. DUX4 Role in Normal Physiology and in FSHD Muscular Dystrophy. Cells 2021; 10:3322. [PMID: 34943834 PMCID: PMC8699294 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, the sequence-specific transcription factor double homeobox 4 (DUX4) has gone from being an obscure entity to being a key factor in important physiological and pathological processes. We now know that expression of DUX4 is highly regulated and restricted to the early steps of embryonic development, where DUX4 is involved in transcriptional activation of the zygotic genome. While DUX4 is epigenetically silenced in most somatic tissues of healthy humans, its aberrant reactivation is associated with several diseases, including cancer, viral infection and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). DUX4 is also translocated, giving rise to chimeric oncogenic proteins at the basis of sarcoma and leukemia forms. Hence, understanding how DUX4 is regulated and performs its activity could provide relevant information, not only to further our knowledge of human embryonic development regulation, but also to develop therapeutic approaches for the diseases associated with DUX4. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the cellular and molecular processes regulated by DUX4 with a special emphasis on FSHD muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Davide Gabellini
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; (E.M.); (V.R.); (P.G.); (M.P.)
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20
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Banerji CRS, Zammit PS. Pathomechanisms and biomarkers in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: roles of DUX4 and PAX7. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e13695. [PMID: 34151531 PMCID: PMC8350899 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202013695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is characterised by progressive skeletal muscle weakness and wasting. FSHD is linked to epigenetic derepression of the subtelomeric D4Z4 macrosatellite at chromosome 4q35. Epigenetic derepression permits the distal-most D4Z4 unit to transcribe DUX4, with transcripts stabilised by splicing to a poly(A) signal on permissive 4qA haplotypes. The pioneer transcription factor DUX4 activates target genes that are proposed to drive FSHD pathology. While this toxic gain-of-function model is a satisfying "bottom-up" genotype-to-phenotype link, DUX4 is rarely detectable in muscle and DUX4 target gene expression is inconsistent in patients. A reliable biomarker for FSHD is suppression of a target gene score of PAX7, a master regulator of myogenesis. However, it is unclear how this "top-down" finding links to genomic changes that characterise FSHD and to DUX4. Here, we explore the roles and interactions of DUX4 and PAX7 in FSHD pathology and how the relationship between these two transcription factors deepens understanding via the immune system and muscle regeneration. Considering how FSHD pathomechanisms are represented by "DUX4opathy" models has implications for developing therapies and current clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular BiophysicsKing's College LondonLondonUK
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21
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Nguyen TH, Conotte S, Belayew A, Declèves AE, Legrand A, Tassin A. Hypoxia and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Signaling in Muscular Dystrophies: Cause and Consequences. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7220. [PMID: 34281273 PMCID: PMC8269128 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophies (MDs) are a group of inherited degenerative muscle disorders characterized by a progressive skeletal muscle wasting. Respiratory impairments and subsequent hypoxemia are encountered in a significant subgroup of patients in almost all MD forms. In response to hypoxic stress, compensatory mechanisms are activated especially through Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 α (HIF-1α). In healthy muscle, hypoxia and HIF-1α activation are known to affect oxidative stress balance and metabolism. Recent evidence has also highlighted HIF-1α as a regulator of myogenesis and satellite cell function. However, the impact of HIF-1α pathway modifications in MDs remains to be investigated. Multifactorial pathological mechanisms could lead to HIF-1α activation in patient skeletal muscles. In addition to the genetic defect per se, respiratory failure or blood vessel alterations could modify hypoxia response pathways. Here, we will discuss the current knowledge about the hypoxia response pathway alterations in MDs and address whether such changes could influence MD pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-Hang Nguyen
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium; (T.-H.N.); (S.C.); (A.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Stephanie Conotte
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium; (T.-H.N.); (S.C.); (A.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Alexandra Belayew
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium; (T.-H.N.); (S.C.); (A.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Anne-Emilie Declèves
- Department of Metabolic and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium;
| | - Alexandre Legrand
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium; (T.-H.N.); (S.C.); (A.B.); (A.L.)
| | - Alexandra Tassin
- Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Pathophysiology and Rehabilitation, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium; (T.-H.N.); (S.C.); (A.B.); (A.L.)
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22
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Lek A, Zhang Y, Woodman KG, Huang S, DeSimone AM, Cohen J, Ho V, Conner J, Mead L, Kodani A, Pakula A, Sanjana N, King OD, Jones PL, Wagner KR, Lek M, Kunkel LM. Applying genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens for therapeutic discovery in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/536/eaay0271. [PMID: 32213627 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aay0271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technologies and genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 libraries enables efficient unbiased genetic screening that can accelerate the process of therapeutic discovery for genetic disorders. Here, we demonstrate the utility of a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function library to identify therapeutic targets for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a genetically complex type of muscular dystrophy for which there is currently no treatment. In FSHD, both genetic and epigenetic changes lead to misexpression of DUX4, the FSHD causal gene that encodes the highly cytotoxic DUX4 protein. We performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen to identify genes whose loss-of-function conferred survival when DUX4 was expressed in muscle cells. Genes emerging from our screen illuminated a pathogenic link to the cellular hypoxia response, which was revealed to be the main driver of DUX4-induced cell death. Application of hypoxia signaling inhibitors resulted in increased DUX4 protein turnover and subsequent reduction of the cellular hypoxia response and cell death. In addition, these compounds proved successful in reducing FSHD disease biomarkers in patient myogenic lines, as well as improving structural and functional properties in two zebrafish models of FSHD. Our genome-wide perturbation of pathways affecting DUX4 expression has provided insight into key drivers of DUX4-induced pathogenesis and has identified existing compounds with potential therapeutic benefit for FSHD. Our experimental approach presents an accelerated paradigm toward mechanistic understanding and therapeutic discovery of a complex genetic disease, which may be translatable to other diseases with well-established phenotypic selection assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Lek
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. .,Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yuanfan Zhang
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Keryn G Woodman
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Shushu Huang
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.,First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.,Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Alec M DeSimone
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.,Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Justin Cohen
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Vincent Ho
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - James Conner
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lillian Mead
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Andrew Kodani
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anna Pakula
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Neville Sanjana
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013, USA.,Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Oliver D King
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Peter L Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Kathryn R Wagner
- Center for Genetic Muscle Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Monkol Lek
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Louis M Kunkel
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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23
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Redox Homeostasis in Muscular Dystrophies. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061364. [PMID: 34205993 PMCID: PMC8229249 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, growing evidence has suggested a prominent role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of several early- and adult-onset muscle disorders, although effective antioxidant treatments are still lacking. Oxidative stress causes cell damage by affecting protein function, membrane structure, lipid metabolism, and DNA integrity, thus interfering with skeletal muscle homeostasis and functionality. Some features related to oxidative stress, such as chronic inflammation, defective regeneration, and mitochondrial damage are shared among most muscular dystrophies, and Nrf2 has been shown to be a central player in antagonizing redox imbalance in several of these disorders. However, the exact mechanisms leading to overproduction of reactive oxygen species and deregulation in the cellular antioxidants system seem to be, to a large extent, disease-specific, and the clarification of these mechanisms in vivo in humans is the cornerstone for the development of targeted antioxidant therapies, which will require testing in appropriately designed clinical trials.
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24
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Schätzl T, Kaiser L, Deigner HP. Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: genetics, gene activation and downstream signalling with regard to recent therapeutic approaches: an update. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2021; 16:129. [PMID: 33712050 PMCID: PMC7953708 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-021-01760-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Whilst a disease-modifying treatment for Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) does not exist currently, recent advances in complex molecular pathophysiology studies of FSHD have led to possible therapeutic approaches for its targeted treatment. Although the underlying genetics of FSHD have been researched extensively, there remains an incomplete understanding of the pathophysiology of FSHD in relation to the molecules leading to DUX4 gene activation and the downstream gene targets of DUX4 that cause its toxic effects. In the context of the local proximity of chromosome 4q to the nuclear envelope, a contraction of the D4Z4 macrosatellite induces lower methylation levels, enabling the ectopic expression of DUX4. This disrupts numerous signalling pathways that mostly result in cell death, detrimentally affecting skeletal muscle in affected individuals. In this regard different options are currently explored either to suppress the transcription of DUX4 gene, inhibiting DUX4 protein from its toxic effects, or to alleviate the symptoms triggered by its numerous targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Schätzl
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Medical and Life Sciences Faculty, Furtwangen University, Jakob-Kienzle-Straße 17, 78054, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
| | - Lars Kaiser
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Medical and Life Sciences Faculty, Furtwangen University, Jakob-Kienzle-Straße 17, 78054, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Albertstraße 25, 79104, Freiburg i. Br., Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Deigner
- Institute of Precision Medicine, Medical and Life Sciences Faculty, Furtwangen University, Jakob-Kienzle-Straße 17, 78054, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany.
- EXIM Department, Fraunhofer Institute IZI, Leipzig, Schillingallee 68, 18057, Rostock, Germany.
- Faculty of Science, Tuebingen University, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
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25
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Cohen J, DeSimone A, Lek M, Lek A. Therapeutic Approaches in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:123-137. [PMID: 33092966 PMCID: PMC8048701 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common types of muscular dystrophy, affecting roughly one in 8000 individuals. The complex underlying genetics and poor mechanistic understanding has caused a bottleneck in therapeutic development. Until the discovery of DUX4 and its causal role in FSHD, most trials were untargeted with limited results. Emerging approaches can learn from these early trials to increase their chance of success. Here, we explore the evolution of FSHD clinical trials from nonspecific anabolic or anti-inflammatory/oxidant strategies to cutting-edge molecular therapies targeting DUX4, and we discuss the importance of clinical outcome measures. With combined advances across multiple facets of FSHD research, the field is now poised to accelerate the process of therapeutic discovery and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Cohen
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Alec DeSimone
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Monkol Lek
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Angela Lek
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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26
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Hangül C, Karaüzüm SB, Akkol EK, Demir-Dora D, Çetin Z, Saygılı Eİ, Evcili G, Sobarzo-Sánchez E. Promising Perspective to Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Treatment: Nutraceuticals and Phytochemicals. Curr Neuropharmacol 2021; 19:2276-2295. [PMID: 34315378 PMCID: PMC9185762 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666210726151924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) is in the top three list of all dystrophies with an approximate 1:8000 incidence. It is not a life-threatening disease; however, the progression of the disease extends over being wheelchair bound. Despite some drug trials continuing, including DUX4 inhibition, TGF-ß inhibition and resokine which promote healthier muscle, there is not an applicable treatment option for FSHD today. Still, there is a need for new agents to heal, stop or at least slow down muscle wasting. Current FSHD studies involving nutraceuticals as vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, zinc, selenium, and phytochemicals as curcumin or genistein, daidzein flavonoids provide promising treatment strategies. In this review, we present the clinical and molecular nature of FSHD and focus on nutraceuticals and phytochemicals that may alleviate FSHD. In the light of the association of impaired pathophysiological FSHD pathways with nutraceuticals and phytochemicals according to the literature, we present both studied and novel approaches that can contribute to FSHD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Esra Küpeli Akkol
- Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, 06330, Ankara, Turkey; E-mail:
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27
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DeSimone AM, Cohen J, Lek M, Lek A. Cellular and animal models for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13: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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [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.
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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
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28
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Mensch A, Zierz S. Cellular Stress in the Pathogenesis of Muscular Disorders-From Cause to Consequence. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165830. [PMID: 32823799 PMCID: PMC7461575 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular stress has been considered a relevant pathogenetic factor in a variety of human diseases. Due to its primary functions by means of contractility, metabolism, and protein synthesis, the muscle cell is faced with continuous changes of cellular homeostasis that require rapid and coordinated adaptive mechanisms. Hence, a prone susceptibility to cellular stress in muscle is immanent. However, studies focusing on the cellular stress response in muscular disorders are limited. While in recent years there have been emerging indications regarding a relevant role of cellular stress in the pathophysiology of several muscular disorders, the underlying mechanisms are to a great extent incompletely understood. This review aimed to summarize the available evidence regarding a deregulation of the cellular stress response in individual muscle diseases. Potential mechanisms, as well as involved pathways are critically discussed, and respective disease models are addressed. Furthermore, relevant therapeutic approaches that aim to abrogate defects of cellular stress response in muscular disorders are outlined.
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29
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Banerji CRS, Zammit PS. PAX7 target gene repression is a superior FSHD biomarker than DUX4 target gene activation, associating with pathological severity and identifying FSHD at the single-cell level. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:2224-2236. [PMID: 31067297 PMCID: PMC6586142 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a prevalent, incurable skeletal myopathy. The condition is linked to hypomethylation of the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat at chromosome 4q35, leading to epigenetic derepression of the transcription factor DUX4; coupled with a permissive 4qA haplotype supplying a poly(A) signal. DUX4 may drive FSHD pathology via both induction of target genes and inhibition of the function of the myogenic master regulator PAX7. Biomarkers for FSHD have focused on DUX4 target gene expression. We have, however, reported that PAX7 target gene repression is a hallmark of FSHD skeletal muscle. Here we demonstrate that PAX7 target gene repression is an equivalent biomarker to DUX4 target gene expression when considering RNA-Sequencing data from magnetic resonance imaging-guided muscle biopsies. Moreover, PAX7 target gene repression correlates with active disease, independent to DUX4 target gene expression. PAX7 target genes are also repressed in RNA-Sequencing data from single cells, representing a significantly better biomarker of FSHD cells than DUX4 target gene expression. Importantly, PAX7 target gene repression is a significant biomarker in the majority of FSHD cells that are DUX4 target gene negative, and on which the DUX4 biomarker is indiscriminate. To facilitate the evaluation of validated biomarkers we provide a simple tool that outputs biomarker values from a normalized expression data matrix. In summary, PAX7 target gene repression in FSHD correlates with disease severity, independently of DUX4 target gene expression. At the single-cell level, PAX7 target gene repression can efficiently discriminate FSHD cells, even when no DUX4 target genes are detectable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R S Banerji
- King's College London, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, UK.,Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Level, Faculty Building, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Peter S Zammit
- King's College London, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, UK
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30
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Lim KRQ, Nguyen Q, Yokota T. DUX4 Signalling in the Pathogenesis of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E729. [PMID: 31979100 PMCID: PMC7037115 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a disabling inherited muscular disorder characterized by asymmetric, progressive muscle weakness and degeneration. Patients display widely variable disease onset and severity, and sometimes present with extra-muscular symptoms. There is a consensus that FSHD is caused by the aberrant production of the double homeobox protein 4 (DUX4) transcription factor in skeletal muscle. DUX4 is normally expressed during early embryonic development, and is then effectively silenced in all tissues except the testis and thymus. Its reactivation in skeletal muscle disrupts numerous signalling pathways that mostly converge on cell death. Here, we review studies on DUX4-affected pathways in skeletal muscle and provide insights into how understanding these could help explain the unique pathogenesis of FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Rowel Q. Lim
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2H7, Canada; (K.R.Q.L.); (Q.N.)
| | - Quynh Nguyen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2H7, Canada; (K.R.Q.L.); (Q.N.)
| | - Toshifumi Yokota
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2H7, Canada; (K.R.Q.L.); (Q.N.)
- The Friends of Garrett Cumming Research & Muscular Dystrophy Canada, HM Toupin Neurological Science Research Chair, Edmonton, AB T6G2H7, Canada
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31
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Banerji CRS, Panamarova M, Pruller J, Figeac N, Hebaishi H, Fidanis E, Saxena A, Contet J, Sacconi S, Severini S, Zammit PS. Dynamic transcriptomic analysis reveals suppression of PGC1α/ERRα drives perturbed myogenesis in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 28:1244-1259. [PMID: 30462217 PMCID: PMC6452176 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a prevalent, incurable myopathy, linked to epigenetic derepression of D4Z4 repeats on chromosome 4q, leading to ectopic DUX4 expression. FSHD patient myoblasts have defective myogenic differentiation, forming smaller myotubes with reduced myosin content. However, molecular mechanisms driving such disrupted myogenesis in FSHD are poorly understood. We performed high-throughput morphological analysis describing FSHD and control myogenesis, revealing altered myogenic differentiation results in hypotrophic myotubes. Employing polynomial models and an empirical Bayes approach, we established eight critical time points during which human healthy and FSHD myogenesis differ. RNA-sequencing at these eight nodal time points in triplicate, provided temporal depth for a multivariate regression analysis, allowing assessment of interaction between progression of differentiation and FSHD disease status. Importantly, the unique size and structure of our data permitted identification of many novel FSHD pathomechanisms undetectable by previous approaches. For further analysis here, we selected pathways that control mitochondria: of interest considering known alterations in mitochondrial structure and function in FSHD muscle, and sensitivity of FSHD cells to oxidative stress. Notably, we identified suppression of mitochondrial biogenesis, in particular via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-α (PGC1α), the cofactor and activator of oestrogen-related receptor α (ERRα). PGC1α knock-down caused hypotrophic myotubes to form from control myoblasts. Known ERRα agonists and safe food supplements biochanin A, daidzein or genistein, each rescued the hypotrophic FSHD myotube phenotype. Together our work describes transcriptomic changes in high resolution that occur during myogenesis in FSHD ex vivo, identifying suppression of the PGC1α-ERRα axis leading to perturbed myogenic differentiation, which can effectively be rescued by readily available food supplements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R S Banerji
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
- Centre of Mathematics and Physics in the Life Sciences and Experimental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Maryna Panamarova
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Johanna Pruller
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nicolas Figeac
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Husam Hebaishi
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Efthymios Fidanis
- Genomics Research Platform, Biomedical Research Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust and Kings College London, Guy’s Hospital, London, UK
| | - Alka Saxena
- Genomics Research Platform, Biomedical Research Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust and Kings College London, Guy’s Hospital, London, UK
| | - Julian Contet
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice, Faculty of Medicine, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, Cedex, France
| | - Sabrina Sacconi
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice, Faculty of Medicine, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, Cedex, France
- Peripheral Nervous System, Muscle and ALS Department, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Simone Severini
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, UK
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Jagannathan S, Ogata Y, Gafken PR, Tapscott SJ, Bradley RK. Quantitative proteomics reveals key roles for post-transcriptional gene regulation in the molecular pathology of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. eLife 2019; 8:41740. [PMID: 30644821 PMCID: PMC6349399 DOI: 10.7554/elife.41740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
DUX4 is a transcription factor whose misexpression in skeletal muscle causes facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). DUX4’s transcriptional activity has been extensively characterized, but the DUX4-induced proteome remains undescribed. Here, we report concurrent measurement of RNA and protein levels in DUX4-expressing cells via RNA-seq and quantitative mass spectrometry. DUX4 transcriptional targets were robustly translated, confirming the likely clinical relevance of proposed FSHD biomarkers. However, a multitude of mRNAs and proteins exhibited discordant expression changes upon DUX4 expression. Our dataset revealed unexpected proteomic, but not transcriptomic, dysregulation of diverse molecular pathways, including Golgi apparatus fragmentation, as well as extensive post-transcriptional buffering of stress-response genes. Key components of RNA degradation machineries, including UPF1, UPF3B, and XRN1, exhibited suppressed protein, but not mRNA, levels, explaining the build-up of aberrant RNAs that characterizes DUX4-expressing cells. Our results provide a resource for the FSHD community and illustrate the importance of post-transcriptional processes in DUX4-induced pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujatha Jagannathan
- Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States.,Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States.,Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States
| | - Yuko Ogata
- Proteomics Shared Resource, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States
| | - Philip R Gafken
- Proteomics Shared Resource, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States
| | - Stephen J Tapscott
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States
| | - Robert K Bradley
- Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States
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Helmbacher F. Tissue-specific activities of the Fat1 cadherin cooperate to control neuromuscular morphogenesis. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2004734. [PMID: 29768404 PMCID: PMC5973635 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2004734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscle morphogenesis is tightly coupled with that of motor neurons (MNs). Both MNs and muscle progenitors simultaneously explore the surrounding tissues while exchanging reciprocal signals to tune their behaviors. We previously identified the Fat1 cadherin as a regulator of muscle morphogenesis and showed that it is required in the myogenic lineage to control the polarity of progenitor migration. To expand our knowledge on how Fat1 exerts its tissue-morphogenesis regulator activity, we dissected its functions by tissue-specific genetic ablation. An emblematic example of muscle under such morphogenetic control is the cutaneous maximus (CM) muscle, a flat subcutaneous muscle in which progenitor migration is physically separated from the process of myogenic differentiation but tightly associated with elongating axons of its partner MNs. Here, we show that constitutive Fat1 disruption interferes with expansion and differentiation of the CM muscle, with its motor innervation and with specification of its associated MN pool. Fat1 is expressed in muscle progenitors, in associated mesenchymal cells, and in MN subsets, including the CM-innervating pool. We identify mesenchyme-derived connective tissue (CT) as a cell type in which Fat1 activity is required for the non-cell-autonomous control of CM muscle progenitor spreading, myogenic differentiation, motor innervation, and for motor pool specification. In parallel, Fat1 is required in MNs to promote their axonal growth and specification, indirectly influencing muscle progenitor progression. These results illustrate how Fat1 coordinates the coupling of muscular and neuronal morphogenesis by playing distinct but complementary actions in several cell types.
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Mitsuhashi H, Ishimaru S, Homma S, Yu B, Honma Y, Beermann ML, Miller JB. Functional domains of the FSHD-associated DUX4 protein. Biol Open 2018; 7:bio.033977. [PMID: 29618456 PMCID: PMC5936065 DOI: 10.1242/bio.033977] [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] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of the full-length isoform of DUX4 (DUX4-FL) appears to underlie pathogenesis in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). DUX4-FL is a transcription factor and ectopic expression of DUX4-FL is toxic to most cells. Previous studies showed that DUX4-FL-induced pathology requires intact homeodomains and that transcriptional activation required the C-terminal region. In this study, we further examined the functional domains of DUX4 by generating mutant, deletion, and fusion variants of DUX4. We compared each construct to DUX4-FL for (i) activation of a DUX4 promoter reporter, (ii) expression of the DUX4-FL target gene ZSCAN4, (iii) effect on cell viability, (iv) activation of endogenous caspases, and (v) level of protein ubiquitination. Each construct produced a similarly sized effect (or lack of effect) in each assay. Thus, the ability to activate transcription determined the extent of change in multiple molecular and cellular properties that may be relevant to FSHD pathology. Transcriptional activity was mediated by the C-terminal 80 amino acids of DUX4-FL, with most activity located in the C-terminal 20 amino acids. We also found that non-toxic constructs with both homeodomains intact could act as inhibitors of DUX4-FL transcriptional activation, likely due to competition for promoter sites. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Aberrant expression of DUX4 underlies facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. This study identified functional domains of DUX4 and demonstrated that multiple pathological changes are related to DUX4-mediated transcriptional activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Mitsuhashi
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, School of Engineering, Tokai University, Kanagawa 259-1207, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ishimaru
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, School of Engineering, Tokai University, Kanagawa 259-1207, Japan
| | - Sachiko Homma
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Bryant Yu
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Yuki Honma
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, School of Engineering, Tokai University, Kanagawa 259-1207, Japan
| | - Mary Lou Beermann
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jeffrey Boone Miller
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Jagannathan S, Shadle SC, Resnick R, Snider L, Tawil RN, van der Maarel SM, Bradley RK, Tapscott SJ. Model systems of DUX4 expression recapitulate the transcriptional profile of FSHD cells. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 25:4419-4431. [PMID: 28171552 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is caused by the mis-expression of the double-homeodomain transcription factor DUX4 in skeletal muscle cells. Many different cell culture models have been developed to study the pathophysiology of FSHD, frequently based on endogenous expression of DUX4 in FSHD cells or by mis-expression of DUX4 in control human muscle cells. Although results generated using each model are generally consistent, differences have also been reported, making it unclear which model(s) faithfully recapitulate DUX4 and FSHD biology. In this study, we systematically compared RNA-seq data generated from three different models of FSHD—lentiviral-based DUX4 expression in myoblasts, doxycycline-inducible DUX4 in myoblasts, and differentiated human FSHD myocytes expressing endogenous DUX4—and show that the DUX4-associated gene expression signatures of each dataset are highly correlated (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r ∼ 0.75-0.85). The few robust differences were attributable to different states of cell differentiation and other differences in experimental design. Our study describes a model system for inducible DUX4 expression that enables reproducible and synchronized experiments and validates the fidelity and FSHD relevance of multiple distinct models of DUX4 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujatha Jagannathan
- Division of Human Biology; Division of Public Health Sciences; Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Rebecca Resnick
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Rabi N Tawil
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | - Robert K Bradley
- Division of Public Health Sciences; Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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Vanderplanck C, Tassin A, Ansseau E, Charron S, Wauters A, Lancelot C, Vancutsem K, Laoudj-Chenivesse D, Belayew A, Coppée F. Overexpression of the double homeodomain protein DUX4c interferes with myofibrillogenesis and induces clustering of myonuclei. Skelet Muscle 2018; 8:2. [PMID: 29329560 PMCID: PMC5767009 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-017-0148-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is associated with DNA hypomethylation at the 4q35 D4Z4 repeat array. Both the causal gene DUX4 and its homolog DUX4c are induced. DUX4c is immunodetected in every myonucleus of proliferative cells, while DUX4 is present in only 1/1000 of myonuclei where it initiates a gene deregulation cascade. FSHD primary myoblasts differentiate into either atrophic or disorganized myotubes. DUX4 expression induces atrophic myotubes and associated FSHD markers. Although DUX4 silencing normalizes the FSHD atrophic myotube phenotype, this is not the case for the disorganized phenotype. DUX4c overexpression increases the proliferation rate of human TE671 rhabdomyosarcoma cells and inhibits their differentiation, suggesting a normal role during muscle differentiation. METHODS By gain- and loss-of-function experiments in primary human muscle cells, we studied the DUX4c impact on proliferation, differentiation, myotube morphology, and FSHD markers. RESULTS In primary myoblasts, DUX4c overexpression increased the staining intensity of KI67 (a proliferation marker) in adjacent cells and delayed differentiation. In differentiating cells, DUX4c overexpression led to the expression of some FSHD markers including β-catenin and to the formation of disorganized myotubes presenting large clusters of nuclei and cytoskeletal defects. These were more severe when DUX4c was expressed before the cytoskeleton reorganized and myofibrils assembled. In addition, endogenous DUX4c was detected at a higher level in FSHD myotubes presenting abnormal clusters of nuclei and cytoskeletal disorganization. We found that the disorganized FSHD myotube phenotype could be rescued by silencing of DUX4c, not DUX4. CONCLUSION Excess DUX4c could disturb cytoskeletal organization and nuclear distribution in FSHD myotubes. We suggest that DUX4c up-regulation could contribute to DUX4 toxicity in the muscle fibers by favoring the clustering of myonuclei and therefore facilitating DUX4 diffusion among them. Defining DUX4c functions in the healthy skeletal muscle should help to design new targeted FSHD therapy by DUX4 or DUX4c inhibition without suppressing DUX4c normal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Vanderplanck
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Alexandra Tassin
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Eugénie Ansseau
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Sébastien Charron
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Armelle Wauters
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Céline Lancelot
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Kelly Vancutsem
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | | | - Alexandra Belayew
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Frédérique Coppée
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, 6, Avenue du Champs de Mars, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
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Banerji CRS, Panamarova M, Hebaishi H, White RB, Relaix F, Severini S, Zammit PS. PAX7 target genes are globally repressed in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy skeletal muscle. Nat Commun 2017; 8:2152. [PMID: 29255294 PMCID: PMC5735185 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01200-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a prevalent, incurable myopathy, linked to hypomethylation of D4Z4 repeats on chromosome 4q causing expression of the DUX4 transcription factor. However, DUX4 is difficult to detect in FSHD muscle biopsies and it is debatable how robust changes in DUX4 target gene expression are as an FSHD biomarker. PAX7 is a master regulator of myogenesis that rescues DUX4-mediated apoptosis. Here, we show that suppression of PAX7 target genes is a hallmark of FSHD, and that it is as major a signature of FSHD muscle as DUX4 target gene expression. This is shown using meta-analysis of over six FSHD muscle biopsy gene expression studies, and validated by RNA-sequencing on FSHD patient-derived myoblasts. DUX4 also inhibits PAX7 from activating its transcriptional target genes and vice versa. Furthermore, PAX7 target gene repression can explain oxidative stress sensitivity and epigenetic changes in FSHD. Thus, PAX7 target gene repression is a hallmark of FSHD that should be considered in the investigation of FSHD pathology and therapy. Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is a myopathy linked to ectopic expression of the DUX4 transcription factor. The authors show that the suppression of targets genes of the myogenesis regulator PAX7 is a signature of FSHD, and might explain oxidative stress sensitivity and epigenetic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R S Banerji
- Randall Centre of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK. .,Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. .,Centre of Mathematics and Physics in the Life Sciences and Experimental Biology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. .,Statistical Cancer Genomics, Paul O'Gorman Building, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Maryna Panamarova
- Randall Centre of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Husam Hebaishi
- Randall Centre of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Robert B White
- Randall Centre of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK.,School of Anatomy, Physiology & Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Frédéric Relaix
- Paris Est-Creteil University, IMRB U955, Faculté de médecine 8 rue du Général Sarrail, 94000, Créteil, France
| | - Simone Severini
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.,Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, 200240, Shanghai, China
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
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Moyle LA, Blanc E, Jaka O, Prueller J, Banerji CR, Tedesco FS, Harridge SD, Knight RD, Zammit PS. Ret function in muscle stem cells points to tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27841748 PMCID: PMC5108591 DOI: 10.7554/elife.11405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) involves sporadic expression of DUX4, which inhibits myogenesis and is pro-apoptotic. To identify target genes, we over-expressed DUX4 in myoblasts and found that the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret was significantly up-regulated, suggesting a role in FSHD. RET is dynamically expressed during myogenic progression in mouse and human myoblasts. Constitutive expression of either RET9 or RET51 increased myoblast proliferation, whereas siRNA-mediated knockdown of Ret induced myogenic differentiation. Suppressing RET activity using Sunitinib, a clinically-approved tyrosine kinase inhibitor, rescued differentiation in both DUX4-expressing murine myoblasts and in FSHD patient-derived myoblasts. Importantly, Sunitinib also increased engraftment and differentiation of FSHD myoblasts in regenerating mouse muscle. Thus, DUX4-mediated activation of Ret prevents myogenic differentiation and could contribute to FSHD pathology by preventing satellite cell-mediated repair. Rescue of DUX4-induced pathology by Sunitinib highlights the therapeutic potential of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for treatment of FSHD. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11405.001
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise A Moyle
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eric Blanc
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Core Unit Bioinformatics, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oihane Jaka
- Centre of Human and Aerospace Physiological Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Johanna Prueller
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Rs Banerji
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Stephen Dr Harridge
- Centre of Human and Aerospace Physiological Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert D Knight
- Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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Knopp P, Krom YD, Banerji CRS, Panamarova M, Moyle LA, den Hamer B, van der Maarel SM, Zammit PS. DUX4 induces a transcriptome more characteristic of a less-differentiated cell state and inhibits myogenesis. J Cell Sci 2016; 129:3816-3831. [PMID: 27744317 PMCID: PMC5087662 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.180372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle wasting in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) results in substantial morbidity. On a disease-permissive chromosome 4qA haplotype, genomic and/or epigenetic changes at the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat allows transcription of the DUX4 retrogene. Analysing transgenic mice carrying a human D4Z4 genomic locus from an FSHD-affected individual showed that DUX4 was transiently induced in myoblasts during skeletal muscle regeneration. Centromeric to the D4Z4 repeats is an inverted D4Z4 unit encoding DUX4c. Expression of DUX4, DUX4c and DUX4 constructs, including constitutively active, dominant-negative and truncated versions, revealed that DUX4 activates target genes to inhibit proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells, but that it also downregulates target genes to suppress myogenic differentiation. These transcriptional changes elicited by DUX4 in mouse have significant overlap with genes regulated by DUX4 in man. Comparison of DUX4 and DUX4c transcriptional perturbations revealed that DUX4 regulates genes involved in cell proliferation, whereas DUX4c regulates genes engaged in angiogenesis and muscle development, with both DUX4 and DUX4c modifing genes involved in urogenital development. Transcriptomic analysis showed that DUX4 operates through both target gene activation and repression to orchestrate a transcriptome characteristic of a less-differentiated cell state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Knopp
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Yvonne D Krom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Christopher R S Banerji
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK Centre of Mathematics and Physics in the Life Sciences and Experimental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Maryna Panamarova
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Louise A Moyle
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Bianca den Hamer
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Silvère M van der Maarel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
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40
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Caron L, Kher D, Lee KL, McKernan R, Dumevska B, Hidalgo A, Li J, Yang H, Main H, Ferri G, Petek LM, Poellinger L, Miller DG, Gabellini D, Schmidt U. A Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Model of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy-Affected Skeletal Muscles. Stem Cells Transl Med 2016; 5:1145-61. [PMID: 27217344 PMCID: PMC4996435 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2015-0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED : Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) represents a major unmet clinical need arising from the progressive weakness and atrophy of skeletal muscles. The dearth of adequate experimental models has severely hampered our understanding of the disease. To date, no treatment is available for FSHD. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) potentially represent a renewable source of skeletal muscle cells (SkMCs) and provide an alternative to invasive patient biopsies. We developed a scalable monolayer system to differentiate hESCs into mature SkMCs within 26 days, without cell sorting or genetic manipulation. Here we show that SkMCs derived from FSHD1-affected hESC lines exclusively express the FSHD pathogenic marker double homeobox 4 and exhibit some of the defects reported in FSHD. FSHD1 myotubes are thinner when compared with unaffected and Becker muscular dystrophy myotubes, and differentially regulate genes involved in cell cycle control, oxidative stress response, and cell adhesion. This cellular model will be a powerful tool for studying FSHD and will ultimately assist in the development of effective treatments for muscular dystrophies. SIGNIFICANCE This work describes an efficient and highly scalable monolayer system to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into skeletal muscle cells (SkMCs) and demonstrates disease-specific phenotypes in SkMCs derived from both embryonic and induced hPSCs affected with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. This study represents the first human stem cell-based cellular model for a muscular dystrophy that is suitable for high-throughput screening and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Caron
- Genea Biocells Pty. Ltd., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Devaki Kher
- Genea Biocells Pty. Ltd., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kian Leong Lee
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Robert McKernan
- Genea Biocells Pty. Ltd., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | | - Jia Li
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Henry Yang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Heather Main
- Genea Biocells Pty. Ltd., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Giulia Ferri
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute and Division of Regenerative Medicine, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
| | - Lisa M Petek
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lorenz Poellinger
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daniel G Miller
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Davide Gabellini
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute and Division of Regenerative Medicine, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Uli Schmidt
- Genea Biocells Pty. Ltd., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Genea Biocells US Inc., San Diego, California, USA
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41
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Liu F, Liang Z, Xu J, Li W, Zhao D, Zhao Y, Yan C. Activation of the wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. J Clin Neurol 2016; 12:351-60. [PMID: 27165423 PMCID: PMC4960221 DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2016.12.3.351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a critical role in embryonic development and adult-tissue homeostasis. Recent investigations implicate the importance of wnt/β-catenin signaling in normal wound healing and its sustained activation being associated with fibrogenesis. We investigated the immunolocalization and activation of wnt/β-catenin in polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). METHODS Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis of β-catenin were performed in muscle specimens from 6 PM, 8 DM, and 6 DMD subjects. The β-catenin/Tcf4 DNA-binding activity in muscle was studied using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and serum wnt/β-catenin/Tcf transcriptional activity was measured using a luciferase reporter gene assay. RESULTS Immunoreactivity for β-catenin was found in the cytoplasm and nuclei of muscle fibers in PM, DM, and DMD. The protein level of β-catenin was elevated, and EMSA analysis confirmed the activation of wnt/β-catenin signaling. The transcriptional activities of β-catenin/Tcf in the circulation were increased in patients with PM, DM, and DMD, especially in those with interstitial lung disease, and these transcriptional activities decreased when PM or DM patients exhibited obvious clinical improvements. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that wnt/β-catenin signaling is activated in PM, DM, and DMD. Its activation in muscle tissue and the circulation may play a role in modulating muscle regeneration and be at least partly involved in the process of muscle and pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuchen Liu
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jian, China.,Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Zonglai Liang
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jian, China
| | - Jingwen Xu
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jian, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jian, China
| | - Dandan Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jian, China
| | - Yuying Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jian, China
| | - Chuanzhu Yan
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jian, China.,Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jian, China.,Brain Science Research Institute, Shandong University, Jian, China.
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