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Mocciaro E, Giambruno R, Micheloni S, Cernilogar FM, Andolfo A, Consonni C, Pannese M, Ferri G, Runfola V, Schotta G, Gabellini D. WDR5 is required for DUX4 expression and its pathological effects in FSHD muscular dystrophy. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:5144-5161. [PMID: 37021550 PMCID: PMC10250208 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad230] [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: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most prevalent neuromuscular disorders. The disease is linked to copy number reduction and/or epigenetic alterations of the D4Z4 macrosatellite on chromosome 4q35 and associated with aberrant gain of expression of the transcription factor DUX4, which triggers a pro-apoptotic transcriptional program leading to muscle wasting. As today, no cure or therapeutic option is available to FSHD patients. Given its centrality in FSHD, blocking DUX4 expression with small molecule drugs is an attractive option. We previously showed that the long non protein-coding RNA DBE-T is required for aberrant DUX4 expression in FSHD. Using affinity purification followed by proteomics, here we identified the chromatin remodeling protein WDR5 as a novel DBE-T interactor and a key player required for the biological activity of the lncRNA. We found that WDR5 is required for the expression of DUX4 and its targets in primary FSHD muscle cells. Moreover, targeting WDR5 rescues both cell viability and myogenic differentiation of FSHD patient cells. Notably, comparable results were obtained by pharmacological inhibition of WDR5. Importantly, WDR5 targeting was safe to healthy donor muscle cells. Our results support a pivotal role of WDR5 in the activation of DUX4 expression identifying a druggable target for an innovative therapeutic approach for FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Mocciaro
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Roberto Giambruno
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefano Micheloni
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Filippo M Cernilogar
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Annapaola Andolfo
- ProMeFa, Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Cristina Consonni
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Pannese
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Giulia Ferri
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Valeria Runfola
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Gunnar Schotta
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Davide Gabellini
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
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Tawil R, Kissel JT, Heatwole C, Pandya S, Gronseth G, Benatar M. Evidence-based guideline summary: Evaluation, diagnosis, and management of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: Report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Issues Review Panel of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine. Neurology 2015; 85:357-64. [PMID: 26215877 PMCID: PMC4520817 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000001783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop recommendations for the evaluation, diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) from a systematic review and analysis of the evidence. METHODS Relevant articles were analyzed in accordance with the American Academy of Neurology classification of evidence schemes for diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment studies. Recommendations were linked to the strength of the evidence and other factors. RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Available genetic testing for FSHD type 1 is highly sensitive and specific. Although respiratory insufficiency occurs rarely in FSHD, patients with severe FSHD should have routine pulmonary function testing. Routine cardiac screening is not necessary in patients with FSHD without cardiac symptoms. Symptomatic retinal vascular disease is very rare in FSHD. Exudative retinopathy, however, is potentially preventable, and patients with large deletions should be screened through dilated indirect ophthalmoscopy. The prevalence of clinically relevant hearing loss is not clear. In clinical practice, patients with childhood-onset FSHD may have significant hearing loss. Because undetected hearing loss may impair language development, screening through audiometry is recommended for such patients. Musculoskeletal pain is common in FSHD and treating physicians should routinely inquire about pain. There is at present no effective pharmacologic intervention in FSHD. Available studies suggest that scapular fixation is safe and effective. Surgical scapular fixation might be cautiously offered to selected patients. Aerobic exercise in FSHD appears to be safe and potentially beneficial. On the basis of the evidence, patients with FSHD might be encouraged to engage in low-intensity aerobic exercises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabi Tawil
- From the MDA Neuromuscular Disease Clinic (R.T.) and the Department of Neurology (C.H., S.P.), School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; the Department of Neurology (J.T.K.), Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus; the Department of Neurology (G.G.), University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City; and the Department of Neurology (M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, OH
| | - John T Kissel
- From the MDA Neuromuscular Disease Clinic (R.T.) and the Department of Neurology (C.H., S.P.), School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; the Department of Neurology (J.T.K.), Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus; the Department of Neurology (G.G.), University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City; and the Department of Neurology (M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, OH
| | - Chad Heatwole
- From the MDA Neuromuscular Disease Clinic (R.T.) and the Department of Neurology (C.H., S.P.), School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; the Department of Neurology (J.T.K.), Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus; the Department of Neurology (G.G.), University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City; and the Department of Neurology (M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, OH
| | - Shree Pandya
- From the MDA Neuromuscular Disease Clinic (R.T.) and the Department of Neurology (C.H., S.P.), School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; the Department of Neurology (J.T.K.), Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus; the Department of Neurology (G.G.), University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City; and the Department of Neurology (M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, OH
| | - Gary Gronseth
- From the MDA Neuromuscular Disease Clinic (R.T.) and the Department of Neurology (C.H., S.P.), School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; the Department of Neurology (J.T.K.), Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus; the Department of Neurology (G.G.), University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City; and the Department of Neurology (M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, OH
| | - Michael Benatar
- From the MDA Neuromuscular Disease Clinic (R.T.) and the Department of Neurology (C.H., S.P.), School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; the Department of Neurology (J.T.K.), Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus; the Department of Neurology (G.G.), University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City; and the Department of Neurology (M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, OH
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Neguembor MV, Xynos A, Onorati MC, Caccia R, Bortolanza S, Godio C, Pistoni M, Corona DF, Schotta G, Gabellini D. FSHD muscular dystrophy region gene 1 binds Suv4-20h1 histone methyltransferase and impairs myogenesis. J Mol Cell Biol 2013; 5:294-307. [DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjt018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
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Cabianca DS, Casa V, Gabellini D. A novel molecular mechanism in human genetic disease: a DNA repeat-derived lncRNA. RNA Biol 2012; 9:1211-7. [PMID: 23047063 DOI: 10.4161/rna.21922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Two thirds of the human genome is composed of repetitive sequences. Despite their prevalence, DNA repeats are largely ignored. The vast majority of our genome is transcribed to produce non protein-coding RNAs. Among these, long non protein-coding RNAs represent the most prevalent and functionally diverse class. The relevance of the non protein-coding genome to human disease has mainly been studied regarding the altered microRNA expression and function in human cancer. On the contrary, the elucidation of the involvement of long non-coding RNAs in disease is only in its infancy. We have recently found that a chromatin associated, long non protein-coding RNA regulates a Polycomb/Trithorax epigenetic switch at the basis of the repeat associated facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, a common muscle disorder. Based on this, we propose that long non-coding RNAs produced by repetitive sequences contribute in shaping the epigenetic landscape in normal human physiology and in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne S Cabianca
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute and Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem cells, and Gene therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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Cabianca DS, Gabellini D. The cell biology of disease: FSHD: copy number variations on the theme of muscular dystrophy. J Cell Biol 2010; 191:1049-60. [PMID: 21149563 PMCID: PMC3002039 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201007028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2010] [Accepted: 11/08/2010] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans, copy number variations (CNVs) are a common source of phenotypic diversity and disease susceptibility. Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an important genetic disease caused by CNVs. It is an autosomal-dominant myopathy caused by a reduction in the copy number of the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat located at chromosome 4q35. Interestingly, the reduction of D4Z4 copy number is not sufficient by itself to cause FSHD. A number of epigenetic events appear to affect the severity of the disease, its rate of progression, and the distribution of muscle weakness. Indeed, recent findings suggest that virtually all levels of epigenetic regulation, from DNA methylation to higher order chromosomal architecture, are altered at the disease locus, causing the de-regulation of 4q35 gene expression and ultimately FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne Selvaggia Cabianca
- International PhD Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, DIBIT 1, 2A3-49, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Gabellini
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, DIBIT 1, 2A3-49, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
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Lemmers RJLF, van der Wielen MJR, Bakker E, Frants RR, van der Maarel SM. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Neuromuscul Disord 2006; 16:615-7; author reply 617-8. [PMID: 16938455 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2006.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2006] [Revised: 06/02/2006] [Accepted: 07/17/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Abstract
Transcription of DNA into mRNA is a highly regulated process directed by a complex molecular machine comprising more than 100 proteins. Regulation of transcription occurs by both positive (transcriptional activation) and negative (transcriptional repression) mechanisms. Recently, inappropriate transcriptional derepression has been found as the underlying basis of several human genetic diseases. The putative target genes, whose inappropriate expression is thought to cause disease, have remained elusive but are being searched for intensively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Gabellini
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA.
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Gabellini D, Green MR, Tupler R. Inappropriate gene activation in FSHD: a repressor complex binds a chromosomal repeat deleted in dystrophic muscle. Cell 2002; 110:339-48. [PMID: 12176321 DOI: 10.1016/s0092-8674(02)00826-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 275] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a common myopathy, is an autosomal dominant disease of unknown molecular mechanism. Almost all FSHD patients carry deletions of an integral number of tandem 3.3 kilobase repeats, termed D4Z4, located on chromosome 4q35. Here, we find that in FSHD muscle, 4q35 genes located upstream of D4Z4 are inappropriately overexpressed. We show that an element within D4Z4 specifically binds a multiprotein complex consisting of YY1, a known transcriptional repressor, HMGB2, an architectural protein, and nucleolin. We demonstrate that this multiprotein complex binds D4Z4 in vitro and in vivo and mediates transcriptional repression of 4q35 genes. Based upon these results, we propose that deletion of D4Z4 leads to the inappropriate transcriptional derepression of 4q35 genes resulting in disease.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4/genetics
- Disease Models, Animal
- Gene Deletion
- Gene Expression Regulation/genetics
- HeLa Cells
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Mutant Strains
- Muscle Proteins/biosynthesis
- Muscle Proteins/genetics
- Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal/pathology
- Muscle, Skeletal/physiopathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/genetics
- Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral/physiopathology
- Repressor Proteins/genetics
- Tandem Repeat Sequences/genetics
- Transcriptional Activation
- Up-Regulation/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Gabellini
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Program in Gene Function and Expression, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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Abstract
A decade's progress in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy genetics has been marked by the discovery of novel genetic phenomena such as crossover of subtelomeric DNA between chromosomes 4 and 10 in normal individuals and by the recognition that the facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy deletion-mutation may cause a position variegation effect on more proximal DNA. The mutated DNA itself is probably not transcribed. Larger deletions tend to cause more severe disease. Antenatal diagnosis, based on detection of the short fragment of mutated DNA, is possible in between 95 and 100% of cases, depending on the precise nature of the parental facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy mutation. Yet remarkably, the nature of the gene product(s) of the affected proximal gene(s), as well as of the molecular pathogenesis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy muscle, retinal and cochlear disease, is completely unknown. Marked perivascular inflammation is often present in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy muscle biopsies. The expression of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy within reported monozygotic twinships differs greatly. This raises the question of whether variations in expression of the T-cell receptor gene repertoire or of other immune genes play an important modifying role in determining the severity of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. A focus on traditional scientific disciplines may now be appropriate. Symptomatic treatments, for instance of scapular winging and of lagophthalmos, are important, and timely photocoagulation of the retinal exudates which are a very rare, but real, complication of retinal telangiectasis can curtail visual loss. The results of collobarative trials of pharmacological agents such as albuterol which affect muscle mass and development are awaited.
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Ricci E, Galluzzi G, Deidda G, Cacurri S, Colantoni L, Merico B, Piazzo N, Servidei S, Vigneti E, Pasceri V, Silvestri G, Mirabella M, Mangiola F, Tonali P, Felicetti L. Progress in the molecular diagnosis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and correlation between the number of KpnI repeats at the 4q35 locus and clinical phenotype. Ann Neurol 1999; 45:751-7. [PMID: 10360767 DOI: 10.1002/1531-8249(199906)45:6<751::aid-ana9>3.0.co;2-m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Genotype analysis by using the p13E-11 probe and other 4q35 polymorphic markers was performed in 122 Italian facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy families and 230 normal controls. EcoRI-BlnI double digestion was routinely used to avoid the interference of small EcoRI fragments of 10qter origin that were found in 15% of the controls. An EcoRI fragment ranging between 10 and 28 kb that was resistant to BlnI digestion was detected in 114 of 122 families (93%) comprising 76 familial and 38 isolated cases. Among the unaffected individuals, 3 were somatic mosaics and 7, carrying an EcoRI fragment larger than 20 kb, could be rated as nonpenetrant gene carriers. In a cohort of 165 patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy we found an inverse correlation between fragment size and clinical severity. A severe lower limb involvement was observed in 100% of patients with an EcoRI fragment size of 10 to 13 kb (1-2 KpnI repeats left), in 53% of patients with a fragment size of 16 to 20 kb (3-4 KpnI repeats left), and in 19% of patients with a fragment size larger than 21 kb (>4 KpnI repeats left). Our results confirm that the size of the fragment is a major factor in determining the facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy phenotype and that it has an impact on clinical prognosis and genetic counseling of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ricci
- Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Rome, Italy
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