Studying the role of dystrophin-associated proteins in influencing Becker muscular dystrophy disease severity

DMD Gene and Dystrophinopathy Phenotypes Associated With Mutations: A Systematic Review for Clinicians

ABSTRACT

The diagnosis of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DBMD) is made by genetic testing in approximately 95% of cases. Although specific mutations can be associated with skeletal muscle phenotype, pulmonary and cardiac comorbidities (leading causes of death in Duchenne) have not been associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy mutation type or location and vary within families. Therefore, identifying predictors for phenotype severity beyond frameshift prediction is important clinically. We performed a systematic review assessing research related to genotype-phenotype correlations in DBMD. While there are severity differences across the spectrum and within mild and severe forms of DBMD, few protective or exacerbating mutations within the dystrophin gene were reported. Except for intellectual disability, clinical test results reporting genotypic information are insufficient for clinical prediction of severity and comorbidities and the predictive validity is too low to be useful when advising families. Including expanded information coupled with proposed severity predictions in clinical genetic reports for DBMD is critical for improving anticipatory guidance.

Identifying the hub genes for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy by weighted correlation network analysis

Background

The goal of this study is to identify the hub genes for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) via weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA).

Methods

The gene expression profile of vastus lateralis biopsy samples obtained in 17 patients with DMD, 11 patients with BMD and 6 healthy individuals was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (GSE109178). After obtaining different expressed genes (DEGs) via GEO2R, WGCNA was conducted using R package, modules and genes that highly associated with DMD, BMD, and their age or pathology were screened. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis were also conducted. Hub genes and highly correlated clustered genes were identified using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) and Cystoscape software.

Results

One thousand four hundred seventy DEGs were identified between DMD and control, with 1281 upregulated and 189 downregulated DEGs. Four hundred and twenty DEGs were found between BMD and control, with 157 upregulated and 263 upregulated DEGs. Fourteen modules with different colors were identified for DMD vs control, and 7 modules with different colors were identified for BMD vs control. Ten hub genes were summarized for DMD and BMD respectively, 5 hub genes were summarized for BMD age, 5 and 3 highly correlated clustered genes were summarized for DMD age and BMD pathology, respectively. In addition, 20 GO enrichments were found to be involved in DMD, 3 GO enrichments were found to be involved in BMD, 3 GO enrichments were found to be involved in BMD age.

Conclusion

In DMD, several hub genes were identified: C3AR1, TLR7, IRF8, FYB and CD33(immune and inflammation associated genes), TYROBP, PLEK, AIF1(actin reorganization associated genes), LAPTM5 and NT5E(cell death and arterial calcification associated genes, respectively). In BMD, a number of hub genes were identified: LOX, ELN, PLEK, IKZF1, CTSK, THBS2, ADAMTS2, COL5A1(extracellular matrix associated genes), BCL2L1 and CDK2(cell cycle associated genes).

Membrane recruitment of nNOSµ in microdystrophin gene transfer to enhance durability

Several gene transfer clinical trials are currently ongoing with the common aim of delivering a shortened version of dystrophin, termed a microdystrophin, for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, one of the main differences between these trials is the microdystrophin protein produced following treatment. Each gene transfer product is based on different selections of dystrophin domain combinations to assemble microdystrophin transgenes that maintain functional dystrophin domains and fit within the packaging limits of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector. While domains involved in mechanical function, such as the actin-binding domain and β-dystroglycan binding domain, have been identified for many years and included in microdystrophin constructs, more recently the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) domain has also been identified due to its role in enhancing nNOS membrane localization. As nNOS membrane localization has been established as an important requirement for prevention of functional ischemia in skeletal muscle, inclusion of the nNOS domain into a microdystrophin construct represents an important consideration. The aim of this mini review is to highlight what is currently known about the nNOS domain of dystrophin and to describe potential implications of this domain in a microdystrophin gene transfer clinical trial.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Phenotype Classification in Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy Using Medical Record Data1

Dystrophinopathies are caused by mutations in DMD resulting in progressive muscle weakness. They are historically divided into the more severe Duchenne (DMD) and milder Becker (BMD) muscular dystrophy phenotypes. Classification is important for research and clinical care. The purpose of this study was to describe a multi-variable approach to classifying cases from the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking, and Research Network (MD STARnet) and to assess the accuracy of the diagnostic classification scheme. We used age at loss of mobility, molecular testing results, and age at symptom onset to classify cases as having DMD or BMD and to assess sensitivity and specificity. Mobility status showed low sensitivity and high specificity for predicting DMD (65.5% and 99.3%, respectively) and BMD (62.8% and 97.7%, respectively) phenotypes. Molecular testing showed 90.9% sensitivity and 66.4% specificity for DMD; 76.3% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity for BMD. Age of onset predicted DMD with sensitivity of 73.9% and specificity of 69.0%; BMD had 99.7% specificity and 36.7% sensitivity. Mobility status, molecular test results, and age at symptom onset are important but inconsistent measures for accurately classifying individuals into DMD or BMD phenotypes. These results have implications for prognosis in newly diagnosed individuals and for classifying phenotype in clinical trials.

Improvement of Duchenne muscular dystrophy phenotype following obestatin treatment

BACKGROUND

This study was performed to test the therapeutic potential of obestatin, an autocrine anabolic factor regulating skeletal muscle repair, to ameliorate the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) phenotype.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using a multidisciplinary approach, we characterized the ageing-related preproghrelin/GPR39 expression patterns in tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of 4-, 8-, and 18-week-old mdx mice (n = 3/group) and established the effects of obestatin administration at this level in 8-week-old mdx mice (n = 5/group). The findings were extended to in vitro effects on human immortalized DMD myotubes. An analysis of TAs revealed an age-related loss of preproghrelin expression, as precursor of obestatin, in mdx mice. Administration of obestatin resulted in a significant increase in tetanic specific force (33.0% ± 1.5%, P < 0.05), compared with control mdx mice. Obestatin-treated TAs were characterized by reduction of fibres with centrally located nuclei (10.0% ± 1.2%, P < 0.05) together with an increase in the number of type I fibres (25.2% ± 1.7%, P < 0.05) associated to histone deacetylases/myocyte enhancer factor-2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α axis, and down-regulation of ubiquitin E3-ligases by inactivation of FoxO1/4, indexes of muscle atrophy. Obestatin reduced the level of contractile damage and tissue fibrosis. These observations correlated with decline in serum creatine kinase (58.8 ± 15.2, P < 0.05). Obestatin led to stabilization of the sarcolemma by up-regulation of utrophin, α-syntrophin, β-dystroglycan, and α7β1-integrin proteins. These pathways were also operative in human DMD myotubes.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the potential of obestatin as a peptide therapeutic for preserving muscle integrity in DMD, thus allowing a better efficiency of gene or cell therapy in a combined therapeutic approach.

Concordant utrophin upregulation in phenotypically discordant DMD/BMD brothers

Utrophin expression was investigated in two phenotypically discordant Duchenne muscular dystrophy half-brothers. The youngest was wheelchair-bound at age 9, while his mildly affected older brother was able to walk without difficulties at age 15. DNA analysis revealed an out-of-frame exon 2 duplication in the DMD gene, associated with muscle dystrophin protein deficiency. Utrophin localization and quantity was analyzed and compared in both sibs to verify whether this could explain the milder phenotype of the older brother. Immunofluorescence analysis showed a clear sarcolemmal labeling for utrophin in both of them, which was present in regenerating as well as in mature fibers. On western blot analysis, utrophin amount was increased 3.4 and 3.3 fold respectively, as compared to normal controls, while it was increased 1.7 to 4.0 fold in a group of DMD patients within the typical range of clinical progression. These data are in accordance with our previous observations suggesting no correlation between phenotype severity and utrophin up-regulation or sarcolemmal localization in dystrophinopathies. Finding the protective mechanisms in patients with milder course is of utmost interest to direct therapeutic targets.

[Specific features of Becker Muscular Dystrophy patients and female carriers of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy]

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) was first described in 1955 and linked to the DMD gene in 1987. Compared to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), clinical onset of BMD usually occurs after the age of 12 and wheelchair is required after the age of 16. BMD is characterized by generalized weakness first affecting limb girdle muscles, hypertrophy of the calves and cardiomyopathy in males. Some patients have only mild symptoms such as cramps or elevated serum creatine kinases (SCK) throughout all their lives. SCK levels are usually elevated. Muscle biopsy (immunohistochemistry or immunoblotting) shows a dystrophic pattern with abnormal dystrophin staining. Diagnosis is confirmed by DMD gene sequencing. Deletions or duplications of one or several exons are identified in the majority of cases. A multidisciplinary approach is recommended for the care management of these patients with a particular attention to the cardiomyopathy, which is typically responsible for death but can be prevented by specific treatment. X-linked dilated cardiomyopathies linked to DMD gene are a phenotypic continuum of BMD. Some female carriers of DMD mutations exhibit clinical symptoms of variable severity, often milder and beginning later than in males. The cardiomyopathy is the most frequent feature that should be especially monitored in these patients. Genetic counselling should be systematically proposed.

Second-generation compound for the modulation of utrophin in the therapy of DMD

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal, X-linked muscle-wasting disease caused by lack of the cytoskeletal protein dystrophin. There is currently no cure for DMD although various promising approaches are progressing through human clinical trials. By pharmacologically modulating the expression of the dystrophin-related protein utrophin, we have previously demonstrated in dystrophin-deficient mdx studies, daily SMT C1100 treatment significantly reduced muscle degeneration leading to improved muscle function. This manuscript describes the significant disease modifying benefits associated with daily dosing of SMT022357, a second-generation compound in this drug series with improved physicochemical properties and a more robust metabolism profile. These studies in the mdx mouse demonstrate that oral administration of SMT022357 leads to increased utrophin expression in skeletal, respiratory and cardiac muscles. Significantly, utrophin expression is localized along the length of the muscle fibre, not just at the synapse, and is fibre-type independent, suggesting that drug treatment is modulating utrophin transcription in extra-synaptic myonuclei. This results in improved sarcolemmal stability and prevents dystrophic pathology through a significant reduction of regeneration, necrosis and fibrosis. All these improvements combine to protect the mdx muscle from contraction induced damage and enhance physiological function. This detailed evaluation of the SMT C1100 drug series strongly endorses the therapeutic potential of utrophin modulation as a disease modifying therapeutic strategy for all DMD patients irrespective of their dystrophin mutation.