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Núñez-Manchón J, Capó J, Martínez-Piñeiro A, Juanola E, Pesovic J, Mosqueira-Martín L, González-Imaz K, Maestre-Mora P, Odria R, Savic-Pavicevic D, Vallejo-Illarramendi A, Mamchaoui K, Bigot A, Mouly V, Suelves M, Nogales-Gadea G. Immortalized human myotonic dystrophy type 1 muscle cell lines to address patient heterogeneity. iScience 2024; 27:109930. [PMID: 38832025 PMCID: PMC11144749 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Historically, cellular models have been used as a tool to study myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and the validation of therapies in said pathology. However, there is a need for in vitro models that represent the clinical heterogeneity observed in patients with DM1 that is lacking in classical models. In this study, we immortalized three DM1 muscle lines derived from patients with different DM1 subtypes and clinical backgrounds and characterized them at the genetic, epigenetic, and molecular levels. All three cell lines display DM1 hallmarks, such as the accumulation of RNA foci, MBNL1 sequestration, splicing alterations, and reduced fusion. In addition, alterations in early myogenic markers, myotube diameter and CTCF1 DNA methylation were also found in DM1 cells. Notably, the new lines show a high level of heterogeneity in both the size of the CTG expansion and the aforementioned molecular alterations. Importantly, these immortalized cells also responded to previously tested therapeutics. Altogether, our results show that these three human DM1 cellular models are suitable to study the pathophysiological heterogeneity of DM1 and to test future therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Núñez-Manchón
- Grup de REcerca Neuromuscular de BAdalona (GRENBA), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Campus Can Ruti, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Júlia Capó
- Grup de REcerca Neuromuscular de BAdalona (GRENBA), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Campus Can Ruti, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Alicia Martínez-Piñeiro
- Grup de REcerca Neuromuscular de BAdalona (GRENBA), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Campus Can Ruti, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Neuromuscular Pathology Unit, Neurology Service, Neuroscience Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Eduard Juanola
- Grup de REcerca Neuromuscular de BAdalona (GRENBA), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Campus Can Ruti, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Neuromuscular Pathology Unit, Neurology Service, Neuroscience Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Jovan Pesovic
- University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Center for Human Molecular Genetics, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Laura Mosqueira-Martín
- Group of Neurosciences, Department of Pediatrics, UPV/EHU, Hospital Universitario Donostia - IIS Biodonostia, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Klaudia González-Imaz
- Group of Neurosciences, Department of Pediatrics, UPV/EHU, Hospital Universitario Donostia - IIS Biodonostia, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Pau Maestre-Mora
- Grup de REcerca Neuromuscular de BAdalona (GRENBA), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Campus Can Ruti, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Renato Odria
- Grup de REcerca Neuromuscular de BAdalona (GRENBA), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Campus Can Ruti, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Dusanka Savic-Pavicevic
- University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Center for Human Molecular Genetics, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ainara Vallejo-Illarramendi
- Group of Neurosciences, Department of Pediatrics, UPV/EHU, Hospital Universitario Donostia - IIS Biodonostia, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Kamel Mamchaoui
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Anne Bigot
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Vincent Mouly
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Mònica Suelves
- Grup de REcerca Neuromuscular de BAdalona (GRENBA), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Campus Can Ruti, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Gisela Nogales-Gadea
- Grup de REcerca Neuromuscular de BAdalona (GRENBA), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Campus Can Ruti, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
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Pluripotent Stem Cells in Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040571. [PMID: 36831237 PMCID: PMC9954118 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a progressive multisystemic disease caused by the expansion of a CTG repeat tract within the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase gene (DMPK). Although DM1 is considered to be the most frequent myopathy of genetic origin in adults, DM1 patients exhibit a vast diversity of symptoms, affecting many different organs. Up until now, different in vitro models from patients' derived cells have largely contributed to the current understanding of DM1. Most of those studies have focused on muscle physiopathology. However, regarding the multisystemic aspect of DM1, there is still a crucial need for relevant cellular models to cover the whole complexity of the disease and open up options for new therapeutic approaches. This review discusses how human pluripotent stem cell-based models significantly contributed to DM1 mechanism decoding, and how they provided new therapeutic strategies that led to actual phase III clinical trials.
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Costa A, Cruz AC, Martins F, Rebelo S. Protein Phosphorylation Alterations in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043091. [PMID: 36834509 PMCID: PMC9965115 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the most common muscular dystrophies in adults is Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1), an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by myotonia, muscle wasting and weakness, and multisystemic dysfunctions. This disorder is caused by an abnormal expansion of the CTG triplet at the DMPK gene that, when transcribed to expanded mRNA, can lead to RNA toxic gain of function, alternative splicing impairments, and dysfunction of different signaling pathways, many regulated by protein phosphorylation. In order to deeply characterize the protein phosphorylation alterations in DM1, a systematic review was conducted through PubMed and Web of Science databases. From a total of 962 articles screened, 41 were included for qualitative analysis, where we retrieved information about total and phosphorylated levels of protein kinases, protein phosphatases, and phosphoproteins in DM1 human samples and animal and cell models. Twenty-nine kinases, 3 phosphatases, and 17 phosphoproteins were reported altered in DM1. Signaling pathways that regulate cell functions such as glucose metabolism, cell cycle, myogenesis, and apoptosis were impaired, as seen by significant alterations to pathways such as AKT/mTOR, MEK/ERK, PKC/CUGBP1, AMPK, and others in DM1 samples. This explains the complexity of DM1 and its different manifestations and symptoms, such as increased insulin resistance and cancer risk. Further studies can be done to complement and explore in detail specific pathways and how their regulation is altered in DM1, to find what key phosphorylation alterations are responsible for these manifestations, and ultimately to find therapeutic targets for future treatments.
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Kawada R, Jonouchi T, Kagita A, Sato M, Hotta A, Sakurai H. Establishment of quantitative and consistent in vitro skeletal muscle pathological models of myotonic dystrophy type 1 using patient-derived iPSCs. Sci Rep 2023; 13:94. [PMID: 36631509 PMCID: PMC9834395 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26614-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by expanded CTG repeats (CTGexp) in the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene, and the transcription products, expanded CUG repeats, sequester muscleblind like splicing regulator 1 (MBNL1), resulting in the nuclear MBNL1 aggregation in the DM1 cells. Loss of MBNL1 function is the pivotal mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of DM1. To develop therapeutics for DM1, proper human in vitro models based on the pathologic mechanism of DM1 are required. In this study, we established robust in vitro skeletal muscle cell models of DM1 with patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using the MyoD1-induced system and iPSCs-derived muscle stem cell (iMuSC) differentiation system. Our newly established DM1 models enable simple quantitative evaluation of nuclear MBNL1 aggregation and the downstream splicing defects. Quantitative analyses using the MyoD1-induced myotubes showed that CTGexp-deleted DM1 skeletal myotubes exhibited a reversal of MBNL1-related pathologies, and antisense oligonucleotide treatment recovered these disease phenotypes in the DM1-iPSCs-derived myotubes. Furthermore, iMuSC-derived myotubes exhibited higher maturity than the MyoD1-induced myotubes, which enabled us to recapitulate the SERCA1 splicing defect in the DM1-iMuSC-derived myotubes. Our quantitative and reproducible in vitro models for DM1 established using human iPSCs are promising for drug discovery against DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryu Kawada
- grid.258799.80000 0004 0372 2033Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507 Japan ,grid.419836.10000 0001 2162 3360Discovery Research Laboratories, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, 331-9530 Japan
| | - Tatsuya Jonouchi
- grid.258799.80000 0004 0372 2033Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507 Japan
| | - Akihiro Kagita
- grid.258799.80000 0004 0372 2033Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507 Japan
| | - Masae Sato
- grid.258799.80000 0004 0372 2033Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507 Japan
| | - Akitsu Hotta
- grid.258799.80000 0004 0372 2033Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507 Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Sakurai
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
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Magalhães S, Almeida I, Pereira CD, Rebelo S, Goodfellow BJ, Nunes A. The Long-Term Culture of Human Fibroblasts Reveals a Spectroscopic Signature of Senescence. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105830. [PMID: 35628639 PMCID: PMC9146002 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105830] [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: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is a complex process which leads to progressive loss of fitness/capability/ability, increasing susceptibility to disease and, ultimately, death. Regardless of the organism, there are some features common to aging, namely, the loss of proteostasis and cell senescence. Mammalian cell lines have been used as models to study the aging process, in particular, cell senescence. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize the senescence-associated metabolic profile of a long-term culture of human fibroblasts using Fourier Transform Infrared and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. We sub-cultivated fibroblasts from a newborn donor from passage 4 to passage 17 and the results showed deep changes in the spectroscopic profile of cells over time. Late passage cells were characterized by a decrease in the length of fatty acid chains, triglycerides and cholesterol and an increase in lipid unsaturation. We also found an increase in the content of intermolecular β-sheets, possibly indicating an increase in protein aggregation levels in cells of later passages. Metabolic profiling by NMR showed increased levels of extracellular lactate, phosphocholine and glycine in cells at later passages. This study suggests that spectroscopy approaches can be successfully used to study changes concomitant with cell senescence and validate the use of human fibroblasts as a model to monitor the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Magalhães
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Agra do Crasto, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (S.M.); (I.A.); (C.D.P.); (S.R.)
- CICECO—Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Idália Almeida
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Agra do Crasto, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (S.M.); (I.A.); (C.D.P.); (S.R.)
- CICECO—Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Cátia D. Pereira
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Agra do Crasto, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (S.M.); (I.A.); (C.D.P.); (S.R.)
| | - Sandra Rebelo
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Agra do Crasto, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (S.M.); (I.A.); (C.D.P.); (S.R.)
| | - Brian J. Goodfellow
- CICECO—Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Alexandra Nunes
- iBiMED—Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Agra do Crasto, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (S.M.); (I.A.); (C.D.P.); (S.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-234-324-435
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Fralish Z, Lotz EM, Chavez T, Khodabukus A, Bursac N. Neuromuscular Development and Disease: Learning From in vitro and in vivo Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:764732. [PMID: 34778273 PMCID: PMC8579029 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.764732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a specialized cholinergic synaptic interface between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle fiber that translates presynaptic electrical impulses into motor function. NMJ formation and maintenance require tightly regulated signaling and cellular communication among motor neurons, myogenic cells, and Schwann cells. Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) can result in loss of NMJ function and motor input leading to paralysis or even death. Although small animal models have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the NMJ structure and function, the complexities of studying this multi-tissue system in vivo and poor clinical outcomes of candidate therapies developed in small animal models has driven the need for in vitro models of functional human NMJ to complement animal studies. In this review, we discuss prevailing models of NMDs and highlight the current progress and ongoing challenges in developing human iPSC-derived (hiPSC) 3D cell culture models of functional NMJs. We first review in vivo development of motor neurons, skeletal muscle, Schwann cells, and the NMJ alongside current methods for directing the differentiation of relevant cell types from hiPSCs. We further compare the efficacy of modeling NMDs in animals and human cell culture systems in the context of five NMDs: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, and Pompe disease. Finally, we discuss further work necessary for hiPSC-derived NMJ models to function as effective personalized NMD platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Fralish
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Ethan M Lotz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Taylor Chavez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Alastair Khodabukus
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Nenad Bursac
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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7
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Koscianska E, Kozlowska E, Fiszer A. Regulatory Potential of Competing Endogenous RNAs in Myotonic Dystrophies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22116089. [PMID: 34200099 PMCID: PMC8201210 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been reported to be implicated in cell fate determination and various human diseases. All ncRNA molecules are emerging as key regulators of diverse cellular processes; however, little is known about the regulatory interaction among these various classes of RNAs. It has been proposed that the large-scale regulatory network across the whole transcriptome is mediated by competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) activity attributed to both protein-coding and ncRNAs. ceRNAs are considered to be natural sponges of miRNAs that can influence the expression and availability of multiple miRNAs and, consequently, the global mRNA and protein levels. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the role of ncRNAs in two neuromuscular diseases, myotonic dystrophy type 1 and 2 (DM1 and DM2), and the involvement of expanded CUG and CCUG repeat-containing transcripts in miRNA-mediated RNA crosstalk. More specifically, we discuss the possibility that long repeat tracts present in mutant transcripts can be potent miRNA sponges and may affect ceRNA crosstalk in these diseases. Moreover, we highlight practical information related to innovative disease modelling and studying RNA regulatory networks in cells. Extending knowledge of gene regulation by ncRNAs, and of complex regulatory ceRNA networks in DM1 and DM2, will help to address many questions pertinent to pathogenesis and treatment of these disorders; it may also help to better understand general rules of gene expression and to discover new rules of gene control.
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Andreana I, Repellin M, Carton F, Kryza D, Briançon S, Chazaud B, Mounier R, Arpicco S, Malatesta M, Stella B, Lollo G. Nanomedicine for Gene Delivery and Drug Repurposing in the Treatment of Muscular Dystrophies. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:278. [PMID: 33669654 PMCID: PMC7922331 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13020278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscular Dystrophies (MDs) are a group of rare inherited genetic muscular pathologies encompassing a variety of clinical phenotypes, gene mutations and mechanisms of disease. MDs undergo progressive skeletal muscle degeneration causing severe health problems that lead to poor life quality, disability and premature death. There are no available therapies to counteract the causes of these diseases and conventional treatments are administered only to mitigate symptoms. Recent understanding on the pathogenetic mechanisms allowed the development of novel therapeutic strategies based on gene therapy, genome editing CRISPR/Cas9 and drug repurposing approaches. Despite the therapeutic potential of these treatments, once the actives are administered, their instability, susceptibility to degradation and toxicity limit their applications. In this frame, the design of delivery strategies based on nanomedicines holds great promise for MD treatments. This review focuses on nanomedicine approaches able to encapsulate therapeutic agents such as small chemical molecules and oligonucleotides to target the most common MDs such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and the Myotonic Dystrophies. The challenge related to in vitro and in vivo testing of nanosystems in appropriate animal models is also addressed. Finally, the most promising nanomedicine-based strategies are highlighted and a critical view in future developments of nanomedicine for neuromuscular diseases is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Andreana
- Laboratoire d’Automatique, de Génie des Procédés et de Génie Pharmaceutique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5007, 43 bd 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (I.A.); (M.R.); (D.K.); (S.B.)
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy;
| | - Mathieu Repellin
- Laboratoire d’Automatique, de Génie des Procédés et de Génie Pharmaceutique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5007, 43 bd 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (I.A.); (M.R.); (D.K.); (S.B.)
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy; (F.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Flavia Carton
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy; (F.C.); (M.M.)
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - David Kryza
- Laboratoire d’Automatique, de Génie des Procédés et de Génie Pharmaceutique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5007, 43 bd 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (I.A.); (M.R.); (D.K.); (S.B.)
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69437 Lyon, France
| | - Stéphanie Briançon
- Laboratoire d’Automatique, de Génie des Procédés et de Génie Pharmaceutique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5007, 43 bd 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (I.A.); (M.R.); (D.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Bénédicte Chazaud
- Institut NeuroMyoGène, University of Lyon, INSERM U1217, CNRS UMR 5310, 8 Avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France; (B.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Rémi Mounier
- Institut NeuroMyoGène, University of Lyon, INSERM U1217, CNRS UMR 5310, 8 Avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France; (B.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Silvia Arpicco
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy;
| | - Manuela Malatesta
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy; (F.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Barbara Stella
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Lollo
- Laboratoire d’Automatique, de Génie des Procédés et de Génie Pharmaceutique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5007, 43 bd 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (I.A.); (M.R.); (D.K.); (S.B.)
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9
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Fautsch MP, Wieben ED, Baratz KH, Bhattacharyya N, Sadan AN, Hafford-Tear NJ, Tuft SJ, Davidson AE. TCF4-mediated Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy: Insights into a common trinucleotide repeat-associated disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 81:100883. [PMID: 32735996 PMCID: PMC7988464 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a common cause for heritable visual loss in the elderly. Since the first description of an association between FECD and common polymorphisms situated within the transcription factor 4 (TCF4) gene, genetic and molecular studies have implicated an intronic CTG trinucleotide repeat (CTG18.1) expansion as a causal variant in the majority of FECD patients. To date, several non-mutually exclusive mechanisms have been proposed that drive and/or exacerbate the onset of disease. These mechanisms include (i) TCF4 dysregulation; (ii) toxic gain-of-function from TCF4 repeat-containing RNA; (iii) toxic gain-of-function from repeat-associated non-AUG dependent (RAN) translation; and (iv) somatic instability of CTG18.1. However, the relative contribution of these proposed mechanisms in disease pathogenesis is currently unknown. In this review, we summarise research implicating the repeat expansion in disease pathogenesis, define the phenotype-genotype correlations between FECD and CTG18.1 expansion, and provide an update on research tools that are available to study FECD as a trinucleotide repeat expansion disease. Furthermore, ongoing international research efforts to develop novel CTG18.1 expansion-mediated FECD therapeutics are highlighted and we provide a forward-thinking perspective on key unanswered questions that remain in the field. FECD is a common, age-related corneal dystrophy. The majority of cases are associated with expansion of a CTG repeat (CTG18.1). FECD is the most common trinucleotide repeat expansion disease in humans. Evidence supports multiple molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology. Novel CTG18.1-targeted therapeutics are in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Fautsch
- Department of Ophthalmology, 200 1st St SW, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
| | - Eric D Wieben
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 200 1st St SW, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Keith H Baratz
- Department of Ophthalmology, 200 1st St SW, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
| | | | - Amanda N Sadan
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, ECIV 9EL, UK.
| | | | - Stephen J Tuft
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, ECIV 9EL, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, EC1V 2PD, UK.
| | - Alice E Davidson
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, ECIV 9EL, UK.
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Recovery in the Myogenic Program of Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy Myoblasts after Excision of the Expanded (CTG) n Repeat. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225685. [PMID: 31766224 PMCID: PMC6888582 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The congenital form of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (cDM) is caused by the large-scale expansion of a (CTG•CAG)n repeat in DMPK and DM1-AS. The production of toxic transcripts with long trinucleotide tracts from these genes results in impairment of the myogenic differentiation capacity as cDM’s most prominent morpho-phenotypic hallmark. In the current in vitro study, we compared the early differentiation programs of isogenic cDM myoblasts with and without a (CTG)2600 repeat obtained by gene editing. We found that excision of the repeat restored the ability of cDM myoblasts to engage in myogenic fusion, preventing the ensuing myotubes from remaining immature. Although the cDM-typical epigenetic status of the DM1 locus and the expression of genes therein were not altered upon removal of the repeat, analyses at the transcriptome and proteome level revealed that early abnormalities in the temporal expression of differentiation regulators, myogenic progression markers, and alternative splicing patterns before and immediately after the onset of differentiation became normalized. Our observation that molecular and cellular features of cDM are reversible in vitro and can be corrected by repeat-directed genome editing in muscle progenitors, when already committed and poised for myogenic differentiation, is important information for the future development of gene therapy for different forms of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).
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Sznajder ŁJ, Swanson MS. Short Tandem Repeat Expansions and RNA-Mediated Pathogenesis in Myotonic Dystrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20133365. [PMID: 31323950 PMCID: PMC6651174 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Short tandem repeat (STR) or microsatellite, expansions underlie more than 50 hereditary neurological, neuromuscular and other diseases, including myotonic dystrophy types 1 (DM1) and 2 (DM2). Current disease models for DM1 and DM2 propose a common pathomechanism, whereby the transcription of mutant DMPK (DM1) and CNBP (DM2) genes results in the synthesis of CUG and CCUG repeat expansion (CUGexp, CCUGexp) RNAs, respectively. These CUGexp and CCUGexp RNAs are toxic since they promote the assembly of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes or RNA foci, leading to sequestration of Muscleblind-like (MBNL) proteins in the nucleus and global dysregulation of the processing, localization and stability of MBNL target RNAs. STR expansion RNAs also form phase-separated gel-like droplets both in vitro and in transiently transfected cells, implicating RNA-RNA multivalent interactions as drivers of RNA foci formation. Importantly, the nucleation and growth of these nuclear foci and transcript misprocessing are reversible processes and thus amenable to therapeutic intervention. In this review, we provide an overview of potential DM1 and DM2 pathomechanisms, followed by a discussion of MBNL functions in RNA processing and how multivalent interactions between expanded STR RNAs and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) promote RNA foci assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz J Sznajder
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Maurice S Swanson
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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Ishikawa K, Yoshida K, Kanie K, Omori K, Kato R. Morphology-Based Analysis of Myoblasts for Prediction of Myotube Formation. SLAS DISCOVERY 2018; 24:47-56. [PMID: 30102873 DOI: 10.1177/2472555218793374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of new drugs depends on the efficiency of drug screening. Phenotype-based screening has attracted interest due to its considerable potency for the discovery of first-in-class drugs. In general, fluorescently labeled imagery is the leading technique for phenotype-based screening; however, there are growing requirements to understand total culture profiles, which are unclear after end-point assays. In this study, we demonstrate that morphology-based cellular evaluation of unlabeled cells is an efficient approach to evaluate myotube formation assays. One of our aims was to study the myogenic differentiation process in C2C12 cells to discern the differences between cellular responses to different medium conditions (serum concentrations and insulin dosages). Our results show that predictive morphological profiles that strongly correlate with myogenic differentiation can be generated from myotube images, even in the confluent stage. The differentiation rate after 14 days can be quantitatively predicted with the highest accuracy by means of images taken on days 0-11.5. In addition, for the application of our morphology-based cellular evaluation, the effect of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) on myogenic differentiation was analyzed. Our results show that the quantitated morphological profile from these images can be an effective descriptor for analysis of the myotube-recovering effect of cGMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoshi Ishikawa
- 1 Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,2 Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kei Yoshida
- 1 Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kei Kanie
- 1 Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kenji Omori
- 2 Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ryuji Kato
- 1 Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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RNA-mediated therapies in myotonic dystrophy. Drug Discov Today 2018; 23:2013-2022. [PMID: 30086404 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2018.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic neuromuscular disease caused by a dominantly inherited 'CTG' repeat expansion in the gene encoding DM Protein Kinase (DMPK). The repeats are transcribed into mRNA, which forms hairpins and binds with high affinity to the Muscleblind-like (MBNL) family of proteins, sequestering them from their normal function. The loss of function of MBNL proteins causes numerous downstream effects, primarily the appearance of nuclear foci, mis-splicing, and ultimately myotonia and other clinical symptoms. Antisense and other RNA-mediated technologies have been applied to target toxic-repeat mRNA transcripts to restore MBNL protein function in DM1 models, such as cells and mice, and in humans. This technique has had promising results in DM1 therapeutics by alleviating pathogenic phenotypes.
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