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Yadava RS, Mandal M, Mahadevan MS. Studying the Effect of MBNL1 and MBNL2 Loss in Skeletal Muscle Regeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2687. [PMID: 38473933 PMCID: PMC10931579 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052687] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Loss of function of members of the muscleblind-like (MBNL) family of RNA binding proteins has been shown to play a key role in the spliceopathy of RNA toxicity in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the most common muscular dystrophy affecting adults and children. MBNL1 and MBNL2 are the most abundantly expressed members in skeletal muscle. A key aspect of DM1 is poor muscle regeneration and repair, leading to dystrophy. We used a BaCl2-induced damage model of muscle injury to study regeneration and effects on skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs) in Mbnl1∆E3/∆E3 and Mbnl2∆E2/∆E2 knockout mice. Similar experiments have previously shown deleterious effects on these parameters in mouse models of RNA toxicity. Muscle regeneration in Mbnl1 and Mbnl2 knockout mice progressed normally with no obvious deleterious effects on MuSC numbers or increased expression of markers of fibrosis. Skeletal muscles in Mbnl1∆E3/∆E3/ Mbnl2∆E2/+ mice showed increased histopathology but no deleterious reductions in MuSC numbers and only a slight increase in collagen deposition. These results suggest that factors beyond the loss of MBNL1/MBNL2 and the associated spliceopathy are likely to play a key role in the defects in skeletal muscle regeneration and deleterious effects on MuSCs that are seen in mouse models of RNA toxicity due to expanded CUG repeats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mani S. Mahadevan
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (R.S.Y.)
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2
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González-Martínez I, Cerro-Herreros E, Moreno N, García-Rey A, Espinosa-Espinosa J, Carrascosa-Sàez M, Piqueras-Losilla D, Arzumanov A, Seoane-Miraz D, Jad Y, Raz R, Wood MJ, Varela MA, Llamusí B, Artero R. Peptide-conjugated antimiRs improve myotonic dystrophy type 1 phenotypes by promoting endogenous MBNL1 expression. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 34:102024. [PMID: 37744174 PMCID: PMC10514136 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a rare neuromuscular disease caused by a CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene that generates toxic RNA with a myriad of downstream alterations in RNA metabolism. A key consequence is the sequestration of alternative splicing regulatory proteins MBNL1/2 by expanded transcripts in the affected tissues. MBNL1/2 depletion interferes with a developmental alternative splicing switch that causes the expression of fetal isoforms in adults. Boosting the endogenous expression of MBNL proteins by inhibiting the natural translational repressors miR-23b and miR-218 has previously been shown to be a promising therapeutic approach. We designed antimiRs against both miRNAs with a phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotide (PMO) chemistry conjugated to cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) to improve delivery to affected tissues. In DM1 cells, CPP-PMOs significantly increased MBNL1 levels. In some candidates, this was achieved using concentrations less than two orders of magnitude below the median toxic concentration, with up to 5.38-fold better therapeutic window than previous antagomiRs. In HSALR mice, intravenous injections of CPP-PMOs improve molecular, histopathological, and functional phenotypes, without signs of toxicity. Our findings place CPP-PMOs as promising antimiR candidates to overcome the treatment delivery challenge in DM1 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene González-Martínez
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Estefanía Cerro-Herreros
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Nerea Moreno
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Andrea García-Rey
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Jorge Espinosa-Espinosa
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Group of Emerging and Neglected Diseases, Ecoepidemiology and Biodiversity, Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad Internacional SEK, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Marc Carrascosa-Sàez
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Diego Piqueras-Losilla
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Andrey Arzumanov
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David Seoane-Miraz
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yahya Jad
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Raz
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew J. Wood
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Miguel A. Varela
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Beatriz Llamusí
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rubén Artero
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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3
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Nitschke L, Hu RC, Miller A, Lucas L, Cooper T. Alternative splicing mediates the compensatory upregulation of MBNL2 upon MBNL1 loss-of-function. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:1245-1259. [PMID: 36617982 PMCID: PMC9943662 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of gene function can be compensated by paralogs with redundant functions. An example of such compensation are the paralogs of the Muscleblind-Like (MBNL) family of RNA-binding proteins that are sequestered and lose their function in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1). Loss of MBNL1 increases the levels of its paralog MBNL2 in tissues where Mbnl2 expression is low, allowing MBNL2 to functionally compensate for MBNL1 loss. Here, we show that loss of MBNL1 increases the inclusion of Mbnl2 exon 6 and exon 9. We find that inclusion of Mbnl2 exon 6 increases the translocation of MBNL2 to the nucleus, while the inclusion of Mbnl2 exon 9 shifts the reading frame to an alternative C-terminus. We show that the C-terminus lacking exon 9 contains a PEST domain which causes proteasomal degradation. Loss of MBNL1 increases the inclusion of exon 9, resulting in an alternative C-terminus lacking the PEST domain and the increase of MBNL2. We further find that the compensatory mechanism is active in a mouse DM1 model. Together, this study uncovers the compensatory mechanism by which loss of MBNL1 upregulates its paralog MBNL2 and highlights a potential role of the compensatory mechanism in DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Nitschke
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rong-Chi Hu
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Andrew N Miller
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lathan Lucas
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Chemical, Physical & Structural Biology Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Thomas A Cooper
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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4
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Neault N, Ravel-Chapuis A, Baird SD, Lunde JA, Poirier M, Staykov E, Plaza-Diaz J, Medina G, Abadía-Molina F, Jasmin BJ, MacKenzie AE. Vorinostat Improves Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 Splicing Abnormalities in DM1 Muscle Cell Lines and Skeletal Muscle from a DM1 Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043794. [PMID: 36835205 PMCID: PMC9964082 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043794] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the most common form of adult muscular dystrophy, is caused by an abnormal expansion of CTG repeats in the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene. The expanded repeats of the DMPK mRNA form hairpin structures in vitro, which cause misregulation and/or sequestration of proteins including the splicing regulator muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1). In turn, misregulation and sequestration of such proteins result in the aberrant alternative splicing of diverse mRNAs and underlie, at least in part, DM1 pathogenesis. It has been previously shown that disaggregating RNA foci repletes free MBNL1, rescues DM1 spliceopathy, and alleviates associated symptoms such as myotonia. Using an FDA-approved drug library, we have screened for a reduction of CUG foci in patient muscle cells and identified the HDAC inhibitor, vorinostat, as an inhibitor of foci formation; SERCA1 (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase) spliceopathy was also improved by vorinostat treatment. Vorinostat treatment in a mouse model of DM1 (human skeletal actin-long repeat; HSALR) improved several spliceopathies, reduced muscle central nucleation, and restored chloride channel levels at the sarcolemma. Our in vitro and in vivo evidence showing amelioration of several DM1 disease markers marks vorinostat as a promising novel DM1 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafisa Neault
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 5B2, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Eric Poulin Center for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Aymeric Ravel-Chapuis
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Eric Poulin Center for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Stephen D. Baird
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 5B2, Canada
| | - John A. Lunde
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Eric Poulin Center for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Mathieu Poirier
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 5B2, Canada
| | - Emiliyan Staykov
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 5B2, Canada
| | - Julio Plaza-Diaz
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 5B2, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Gerardo Medina
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 5B2, Canada
| | - Francisco Abadía-Molina
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology “José Mataix”, Biomedical Research Center, University of Granada, Armilla, 18016 Granada, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Bernard J. Jasmin
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Eric Poulin Center for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Alex E. MacKenzie
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 5B2, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Eric Poulin Center for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-613-737-2772
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Huang K, Wang DD, Hu WB, Zeng WQ, Xu X, Li QX, Bi FF, Yang H, Qiu J. Calcitriol increases MBNL1 expression and alleviates myotonic dystrophy phenotypes in HSA LR mouse models. J Transl Med 2022; 20:588. [PMID: 36510245 PMCID: PMC9743610 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03806-9] [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: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), one of the most common forms of adult-onset muscular dystrophy, is caused by abnormally expanded CTG repeats in the 3' untranslated region of the DMPK gene. The CUG repeats transcribed from the expanded CTG repeats sequestrate a splicing factor, MBNL1, causing the clinical symptoms in DM1. Nowadays, only symptomatic treatments are available for DM1, and no rational therapy is available. Recently, upregulation of MBNL1 expression has been found to be one of the promising therapies for DM1. METHODS All experiments were conducted in the C2C12 myoblasts and HSALR mice, a DM1 mouse model. Real-time PCR and western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein level, respectively. The rotarod exercise, grip strength and hanging time were used to evaluate the muscle strength of mice. RESULTS In this study, we demonstrated that calcitriol, an active form of vitamin D3, increased MBNL1 in C2C12 mouse myoblasts as well as in HSALR mice model for DM1. In HSALR mice model, calcitriol improved muscle strength, and corrected aberrant splicing in skeletal muscle. Besides, calcitriol reduced the number of central nuclei, and improved muscle histopathology in HSALR mice. In addition, we identified that calcitriol upregulated MBNL1 expression via activating the promoter of Mbnl1 in C2C12 myogenic cells. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that calcitriol is a potential pharmacological strategy for DM1 that enhances MBNL1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Huang
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Dan-Dan Wang
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Wen-Bao Hu
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Wei-Qian Zeng
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Xia Xu
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Department of General Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Qiu-Xiang Li
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Fang-Fang Bi
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Huan Yang
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Jian Qiu
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China
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6
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Baud A, Derbis M, Tutak K, Sobczak K. Partners in crime: Proteins implicated in
RNA
repeat expansion diseases. WIRES RNA 2022; 13:e1709. [PMID: 35229468 PMCID: PMC9539487 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Baud
- Department of Gene Expression Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan Poland
| | - Magdalena Derbis
- Department of Gene Expression Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan Poland
| | - Katarzyna Tutak
- Department of Gene Expression Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan Poland
| | - Krzysztof Sobczak
- Department of Gene Expression Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan Poland
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7
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Lee KY, Seah C, Li C, Chen YF, Chen CY, Wu CI, Liao PC, Shyu YC, Olafson HR, McKee KK, Wang ET, Yeh CH, Wang CH. Mice lacking MBNL1 and MBNL2 exhibit sudden cardiac death and molecular signatures recapitulating myotonic dystrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:3144-3160. [PMID: 35567413 PMCID: PMC9476621 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is caused by expansions of C(C)TG repeats in the non-coding regions of the DMPK and CNBP genes, and DM patients often suffer from sudden cardiac death due to lethal conduction block or arrhythmia. Specific molecular changes that underlie DM cardiac pathology have been linked to repeat-associated depletion of Muscleblind-like (MBNL) 1 and 2 proteins and upregulation of CUGBP, Elav-like family member 1 (CELF1). Hypothesis solely targeting MBNL1 or CELF1 pathways that could address all the consequences of repeat expansion in heart remained inconclusive, particularly when the direct cause of mortality and results of transcriptome analyses remained undetermined in Mbnl compound knockout (KO) mice with cardiac phenotypes. Here, we develop Myh6-Cre double KO (DKO) (Mbnl1−/−; Mbnl2cond/cond; Myh6-Cre+/−) mice to eliminate Mbnl1/2 in cardiomyocytes and observe spontaneous lethal cardiac events under no anesthesia. RNA sequencing recapitulates DM heart spliceopathy and shows gene expression changes that were previously undescribed in DM heart studies. Notably, immunoblotting reveals a nearly 6-fold increase of Calsequestrin 1 and 50% reduction of epidermal growth factor proteins. Our findings demonstrate that complete ablation of MBNL1/2 in cardiomyocytes is essential for generating sudden death due to lethal cardiac rhythms and reveal potential mechanisms for DM heart pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuang-Yung Lee
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan.,Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Carol Seah
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Ching Li
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Fu Chen
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Chwen-Yu Chen
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Ching-I Wu
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Cheng Liao
- Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chiau Shyu
- Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan.,Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Hailey R Olafson
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. 32610, USA
| | - Kendra K McKee
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. 32610, USA
| | - Eric T Wang
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. 32610, USA
| | - Chi-Hsiao Yeh
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linko Branch, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Hung Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Heart Failure Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan.,Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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8
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Myotonic Dystrophies: A Genetic Overview. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13020367. [PMID: 35205411 PMCID: PMC8872148 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophies (DM) are the most common muscular dystrophies in adults, which can affect other non-skeletal muscle organs such as the heart, brain and gastrointestinal system. There are two genetically distinct types of myotonic dystrophy: myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2), both dominantly inherited with significant overlap in clinical manifestations. DM1 results from CTG repeat expansions in the 3′-untranslated region (3′UTR) of the DMPK (dystrophia myotonica protein kinase) gene on chromosome 19, while DM2 is caused by CCTG repeat expansions in intron 1 of the CNBP (cellular nucleic acid-binding protein) gene on chromosome 3. Recent advances in genetics and molecular biology, especially in the field of RNA biology, have allowed better understanding of the potential pathomechanisms involved in DM. In this review article, core clinical features and genetics of DM are presented followed by a discussion on the current postulated pathomechanisms and therapeutic approaches used in DM, including the ones currently in human clinical trial phase.
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9
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Arandel L, Matloka M, Klein AF, Rau F, Sureau A, Ney M, Cordier A, Kondili M, Polay-Espinoza M, Naouar N, Ferry A, Lemaitre M, Begard S, Colin M, Lamarre C, Tran H, Buée L, Marie J, Sergeant N, Furling D. Reversal of RNA toxicity in myotonic dystrophy via a decoy RNA-binding protein with high affinity for expanded CUG repeats. Nat Biomed Eng 2022; 6:207-220. [PMID: 35145256 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00838-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an RNA-dominant disease whose pathogenesis stems from the functional loss of muscleblind-like RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which causes the formation of alternative-splicing defects. The loss of functional muscleblind-like protein 1 (MBNL1) results from its nuclear sequestration by mutant transcripts containing pathogenic expanded CUG repeats (CUGexp). Here we show that an RBP engineered to act as a decoy for CUGexp reverses the toxicity of the mutant transcripts. In vitro, the binding of the RBP decoy to CUGexp in immortalized muscle cells derived from a patient with DM1 released sequestered endogenous MBNL1 from nuclear RNA foci, restored MBNL1 activity, and corrected the transcriptomic signature of DM1. In mice with DM1, the local or systemic delivery of the RBP decoy via an adeno-associated virus into the animals' skeletal muscle led to the long-lasting correction of the splicing defects and to ameliorated disease pathology. Our findings support the development of decoy RBPs with high binding affinities for expanded RNA repeats as a therapeutic strategy for myotonic dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Arandel
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Magdalena Matloka
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Arnaud F Klein
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Frédérique Rau
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Alain Sureau
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Michel Ney
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Aurélien Cordier
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Maria Kondili
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Micaela Polay-Espinoza
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Naira Naouar
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Arnaud Ferry
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Mégane Lemaitre
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Phénotypage du petit animal, Paris, France
| | - Séverine Begard
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Morvane Colin
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Chloé Lamarre
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Hélène Tran
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Luc Buée
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Joëlle Marie
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Sergeant
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France.
| | - Denis Furling
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France.
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10
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Moreno N, González-Martínez I, Artero R, Cerro-Herreros E. Rapid Determination of MBNL1 Protein Levels by Quantitative Dot Blot for the Evaluation of Antisense Oligonucleotides in Myotonic Dystrophy Myoblasts. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2434:207-215. [PMID: 35213019 PMCID: PMC9703865 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2010-6_13] [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: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Western blot assays are not adequate for high-throughput screening of protein expression because it is an expensive and time-consuming technique. Here we demonstrate that quantitative dot blots in plate format are a better option to determine the absolute contents of a given protein in less than 48 h. The method was optimized for the detection of the Muscleblind-like 1 protein in patient-derived myoblasts treated with a collection of more than 100 experimental oligonucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Moreno
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
- Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - Irene González-Martínez
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
- Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rubén Artero
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
- Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain.
- Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Estefanía Cerro-Herreros
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
- Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
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11
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Cerro-Herreros E, González-Martínez I, Moreno N, Espinosa-Espinosa J, Fernández-Costa JM, Colom-Rodrigo A, Overby SJ, Seoane-Miraz D, Poyatos-García J, Vilchez JJ, López de Munain A, Varela MA, Wood MJ, Pérez-Alonso M, Llamusí B, Artero R. Preclinical characterization of antagomiR-218 as a potential treatment for myotonic dystrophy. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 26:174-191. [PMID: 34513303 PMCID: PMC8413838 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a rare neuromuscular disease caused by expansion of unstable CTG repeats in a non-coding region of the DMPK gene. CUG expansions in mutant DMPK transcripts sequester MBNL1 proteins in ribonuclear foci. Depletion of this protein is a primary contributor to disease symptoms such as muscle weakness and atrophy and myotonia, yet upregulation of endogenous MBNL1 levels may compensate for this sequestration. Having previously demonstrated that antisense oligonucleotides against miR-218 boost MBNL1 expression and rescue phenotypes in disease models, here we provide preclinical characterization of an antagomiR-218 molecule using the HSALR mouse model and patient-derived myotubes. In HSALR, antagomiR-218 reached 40–60 pM 2 weeks after injection, rescued molecular and functional phenotypes in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and showed a good toxicity profile after a single subcutaneous administration. In muscle tissue, antagomiR rescued the normal subcellular distribution of Mbnl1 and did not alter the proportion of myonuclei containing CUG foci. In patient-derived cells, antagomiR-218 improved defective fusion and differentiation and rescued up to 34% of the gene expression alterations found in the transcriptome of patient cells. Importantly, miR-218 was found to be upregulated in DM1 muscle biopsies, pinpointing this microRNA (miRNA) as a relevant therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefanía Cerro-Herreros
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Irene González-Martínez
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Nerea Moreno
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Jorge Espinosa-Espinosa
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan M Fernández-Costa
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Anna Colom-Rodrigo
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Sarah J Overby
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - David Seoane-Miraz
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, OX3 9DU, Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Javier Poyatos-García
- The IISLAFE Health Research Institute, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell, 106 Torre A 7 planta, 46026 Valencia, Spain.,Neuromuscular Reference Centre ERN EURO-NMD and Neuromuscular Pathology and Ataxia Research Group, Hospital La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan J Vilchez
- The IISLAFE Health Research Institute, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell, 106 Torre A 7 planta, 46026 Valencia, Spain.,Neuromuscular Reference Centre ERN EURO-NMD and Neuromuscular Pathology and Ataxia Research Group, Hospital La Fe Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adolfo López de Munain
- Biodonostia Health Research Institute, P° Dr. Beguiristain s/n, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.,Hospital Universitario Donostia-Osakidetza-Departamento de Neurociencias-Universidad del Pais Vasco-CIBERNED
| | - Miguel A Varela
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, OX3 9DU, Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew J Wood
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, OX3 9DU, Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Manuel Pérez-Alonso
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Llamusí
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rubén Artero
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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12
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Rapisarda A, Bargiela A, Llamusi B, Pont I, Estrada-Tejedor R, Garcia-España E, Artero R, Perez-Alonso M. Defined D-hexapeptides bind CUG repeats and rescue phenotypes of myotonic dystrophy myotubes in a Drosophila model of the disease. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19417. [PMID: 34593893 PMCID: PMC8484449 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98866-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1), a non-coding CTG repeats rare expansion disease; toxic double-stranded RNA hairpins sequester the RNA-binding proteins Muscleblind-like 1 and 2 (MBNL1 and 2) and trigger other DM1-related pathogenesis pathway defects. In this paper, we characterize four d-amino acid hexapeptides identified together with abp1, a peptide previously shown to stabilize CUG RNA in its single-stranded conformation. With the generalized sequence cpy(a/t)(q/w)e, these related peptides improved three MBNL-regulated exon inclusions in DM1-derived cells. Subsequent experiments showed that these compounds generally increased the relative expression of MBNL1 and its nuclear-cytoplasmic distribution, reduced hyperactivated autophagy, and increased the percentage of differentiated (Desmin-positive) cells in vitro. All peptides rescued atrophy of indirect flight muscles in a Drosophila model of the disease, and partially rescued muscle function according to climbing and flight tests. Investigation of their mechanism of action supports that all four compounds can bind to CUG repeats with slightly different association constant, but binding did not strongly influence the secondary structure of the toxic RNA in contrast to abp1. Finally, molecular modeling suggests a detailed view of the interactions of peptide-CUG RNA complexes useful in the chemical optimization of compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rapisarda
- Department of Genetics, University Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100, Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ariadna Bargiela
- Department of Genetics, University Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100, Burjasot, Valencia, Spain. .,Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Beatriz Llamusi
- Department of Genetics, University Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100, Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, 46010, Valencia, Spain.,Arthex Biotech S.L. Catedrático Agustín Escardino 9, Parc Scientific University of Valencia, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Isabel Pont
- Instituto de Ciencia Molecular (ICMol), Departamento de Química Inorgánica, C. Catedrático José Beltrán 2, Universidad de Valencia, 46980, Paterna, Spain
| | | | - Enrique Garcia-España
- Instituto de Ciencia Molecular (ICMol), Departamento de Química Inorgánica, C. Catedrático José Beltrán 2, Universidad de Valencia, 46980, Paterna, Spain
| | - Ruben Artero
- Department of Genetics, University Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100, Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Perez-Alonso
- Department of Genetics, University Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100, Burjasot, Valencia, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, 46010, Valencia, Spain
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13
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Neault N, O’Reilly S, Baig AT, Plaza-Diaz J, Azimi M, Farooq F, Baird SD, MacKenzie A. High-throughput kinome-RNAi screen identifies protein kinase R activator (PACT) as a novel genetic modifier of CUG foci integrity in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256276. [PMID: 34520479 PMCID: PMC8439471 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) is the most common form of adult muscular dystrophy (~1:8000). In DM1, expansion of CTG trinucleotide repeats in the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene results in DMPK mRNA hairpin structures which aggregate as insoluble ribonuclear foci and sequester several RNA-binding proteins. The resulting sequestration and misregulation of important splicing factors, such as muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1), causes the aberrant expression of fetal transcripts for several genes that contribute to the disease phenotype. Previous work has shown that antisense oligonucleotide-mediated disaggregation of the intranuclear foci has the potential to reverse downstream anomalies. To explore whether the nuclear foci are, to some extent, controlled by cell signalling pathways, we have performed a screen using a small interfering RNA (siRNA) library targeting 518 protein kinases to look at kinomic modulation of foci integrity. RNA foci were visualized by in situ hybridization of a fluorescent-tagged (CAG)10 probe directed towards the expanded DMPK mRNA and the cross-sectional area and number of foci per nuclei were recorded. From our screen, we have identified PACT (protein kinase R (PKR) activator) as a novel modulator of foci integrity and have shown that PACT knockdown can both increase MBNL1 protein levels; however, these changes are not suffcient for significant correction of downstream spliceopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafisa Neault
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sean O’Reilly
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Aiman Tariq Baig
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Julio Plaza-Diaz
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mehrdad Azimi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Faraz Farooq
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen D. Baird
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Alex MacKenzie
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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14
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Pascual-Gilabert M, López-Castel A, Artero R. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 drug development: A pipeline toward the market. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:1765-1772. [PMID: 33798646 PMCID: PMC8372527 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic neuromuscular genetic disease with an estimated prevalence of approximately at least half a million individuals based on its vast ethnic variation. Building upon a well-known physiopathology and several proof-of-concept therapeutic approaches, herein we compile a comprehensive overview of the most recent drug development programs under preclinical and clinical evaluation. Specifically, close to two dozen drug developments, eight of which are already in clinical trials, explore a diversity of new chemical entities, drug repurposing, oligonucleotide, and gene therapy-based approaches. Of these, repurposing of tideglusib, mexiletine, or metformin appear to be therapies with the most potential to receive marketing authorization for DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arturo López-Castel
- University Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Ruben Artero
- University Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
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15
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Alexander MS, Hightower RM, Reid AL, Bennett AH, Iyer L, Slonim DK, Saha M, Kawahara G, Kunkel LM, Kopin AS, Gupta VA, Kang PB, Draper I. hnRNP L is essential for myogenic differentiation and modulates myotonic dystrophy pathologies. Muscle Nerve 2021; 63:928-940. [PMID: 33651408 DOI: 10.1002/mus.27216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play an important role in skeletal muscle development and disease by regulating RNA splicing. In myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the RBP MBNL1 (muscleblind-like) is sequestered by toxic CUG repeats, leading to missplicing of MBNL1 targets. Mounting evidence from the literature has implicated other factors in the pathogenesis of DM1. Herein we sought to evaluate the functional role of the splicing factor hnRNP L in normal and DM1 muscle cells. METHODS Co-immunoprecipitation assays using hnRNPL and MBNL1 expression constructs and splicing profiling in normal and DM1 muscle cell lines were performed. Zebrafish morpholinos targeting hnrpl and hnrnpl2 were injected into one-cell zebrafish for developmental and muscle analysis. In human myoblasts downregulation of hnRNP L was achieved with shRNAi. Ascochlorin administration to DM1 myoblasts was performed and expression of the CUG repeats, DM1 splicing biomarkers, and hnRNP L expression levels were evaluated. RESULTS Using DM1 patient myoblast cell lines we observed the formation of abnormal hnRNP L nuclear foci within and outside the expanded CUG repeats, suggesting a role for this factor in DM1 pathology. We showed that the antiviral and antitumorigenic isoprenoid compound ascochlorin increased MBNL1 and hnRNP L expression levels. Drug treatment of DM1 muscle cells with ascochlorin partially rescued missplicing of established early biomarkers of DM1 and improved the defective myotube formation displayed by DM1 muscle cells. DISCUSSION Together, these studies revealed that hnRNP L can modulate DM1 pathologies and is a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Alexander
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Center for Exercise Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Rylie M Hightower
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Center for Exercise Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Andrea L Reid
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Alexis H Bennett
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lakshmanan Iyer
- Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Donna K Slonim
- Department of Computer Science, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Madhurima Saha
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Genri Kawahara
- Department of Pathophysiology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Louis M Kunkel
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alan S Kopin
- Department of Medicine, Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Vandana A Gupta
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Peter B Kang
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Genetics Institute and Myology Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Neurology Department, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Isabelle Draper
- Department of Medicine, Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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16
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Li J, Yang T, Tang H, Sha Z, Chen R, Chen L, Yu Y, Rowe GC, Das S, Xiao J. Inhibition of lncRNA MAAT Controls Multiple Types of Muscle Atrophy by cis- and trans-Regulatory Actions. Mol Ther 2020; 29:1102-1119. [PMID: 33279721 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscle atrophy is associated with negative outcomes in a variety of diseases. Identification of a common therapeutic target would address a significant unmet clinical need. Here, we identify a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) (muscle-atrophy-associated transcript, lncMAAT) as a common regulator of skeletal muscle atrophy. lncMAAT is downregulated in multiple types of muscle-atrophy models both in vivo (denervation, Angiotensin II [AngII], fasting, immobilization, and aging-induced muscle atrophy) and in vitro (AngII, H2O2, and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]-induced muscle atrophy). Gain- and loss-of-function analysis both in vitro and in vivo reveals that downregulation of lncMAAT is sufficient to induce muscle atrophy, while overexpression of lncMAAT can ameliorate multiple types of muscle atrophy. Mechanistically, lncMAAT negatively regulates the transcription of miR-29b through SOX6 by a trans-regulatory module and increases the expression of the neighboring gene Mbnl1 by a cis-regulatory module. Therefore, overexpression of lncMAAT may represent a promising therapy for muscle atrophy induced by different stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- Cardiac Regeneration and Ageing Lab, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China; School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Tingting Yang
- Cardiac Regeneration and Ageing Lab, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Haifei Tang
- Cardiac Regeneration and Ageing Lab, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Zhao Sha
- Cardiac Regeneration and Ageing Lab, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Rui Chen
- Cardiac Regeneration and Ageing Lab, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Spine Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Yan Yu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Glenn C Rowe
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Saumya Das
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02214, USA
| | - Junjie Xiao
- Cardiac Regeneration and Ageing Lab, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China; School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
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17
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The sustained expression of Cas9 targeting toxic RNAs reverses disease phenotypes in mouse models of myotonic dystrophy type 1. Nat Biomed Eng 2020; 5:157-168. [PMID: 32929188 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-020-00607-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type I (DM1) is a multisystemic autosomal-dominant inherited human disorder that is caused by CTG microsatellite repeat expansions (MREs) in the 3' untranslated region of DMPK. Toxic RNAs expressed from such repetitive sequences can be eliminated using CRISPR-mediated RNA targeting, yet evidence of its in vivo efficacy and durability is lacking. Here, using adult and neonatal mouse models of DM1, we show that intramuscular or systemic injections of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors encoding nuclease-dead Cas9 and a single-guide RNA targeting CUG repeats results in the expression of the RNA-targeting Cas9 for up to three months, redistribution of the RNA-splicing protein muscleblind-like splicing regulator 1, elimination of foci of toxic RNA, reversal of splicing biomarkers and amelioration of myotonia. The sustained reversal of DM1 phenotypes provides further support that RNA-targeting Cas9 is a viable strategy for treating DM1 and other MRE-associated diseases.
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18
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Crawford Parks TE, Marcellus KA, Péladeau C, Jasmin BJ, Ravel-Chapuis A. Overexpression of Staufen1 in DM1 mouse skeletal muscle exacerbates dystrophic and atrophic features. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:2185-2199. [PMID: 32504084 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the CUG expansion (CUGexp) in the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase messenger ribonucleic acid affects the homeostasis of ribonucleic acid-binding proteins, causing the multiple symptoms of DM1. We have previously reported that Staufen1 is increased in skeletal muscles from DM1 mice and patients and that sustained Staufen1 expression in mature mouse muscle causes a progressive myopathy. Here, we hypothesized that the elevated levels of Staufen1 contributes to the myopathic features of the disease. Interestingly, the classic DM1 mouse model human skeletal actin long repeat (HSALR) lacks overt atrophy while expressing CUGexp transcripts and elevated levels of endogenous Staufen1, suggesting a lower sensitivity to atrophic signaling in this model. We report that further overexpression of Staufen1 in the DM1 mouse model HSALR causes a myopathy via inhibition of protein kinase B signaling through an increase in phosphatase tensin homolog, leading to the expression of atrogenes. Interestingly, we also show that Staufen1 regulates the expression of muscleblind-like splicing regulator 1 and CUG-binding protein elav-like family member 1 in wild-type and DM1 skeletal muscle. Together, data obtained from these new DM1 mouse models provide evidence for the role of Staufen1 as an atrophy-associated gene that impacts progressive muscle wasting in DM1. Accordingly, our findings highlight the potential of Staufen1 as a therapeutic target and biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara E Crawford Parks
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada.,Eric Poulin Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Kristen A Marcellus
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada.,Eric Poulin Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Christine Péladeau
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada.,Eric Poulin Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Bernard J Jasmin
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada.,Eric Poulin Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Aymeric Ravel-Chapuis
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada.,Eric Poulin Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
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19
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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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20
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Cerro-Herreros E, González-Martínez I, Moreno-Cervera N, Overby S, Pérez-Alonso M, Llamusí B, Artero R. Therapeutic Potential of AntagomiR-23b for Treating Myotonic Dystrophy. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 21:837-849. [PMID: 32805487 PMCID: PMC7452101 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a chronically debilitating, rare genetic disease that originates from an expansion of a noncoding CTG repeat in the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene. The expansion becomes pathogenic when DMPK transcripts contain 50 or more repetitions due to the sequestration of the muscleblind-like (MBNL) family of proteins. Depletion of MBNLs causes alterations in splicing patterns in transcripts that contribute to clinical symptoms such as myotonia and muscle weakness and wasting. We previously found that microRNA (miR)-23b directly regulates MBNL1 in DM1 myoblasts and mice and that antisense technology (“antagomiRs”) blocking this microRNA (miRNA) boosts MBNL1 protein levels. Here, we show the therapeutic effect over time in response to administration of antagomiR-23b as a treatment in human skeletal actin long repeat (HSALR) mice. Subcutaneous administration of antagomiR-23b upregulated the expression of MBNL1 protein and rescued splicing alterations, grip strength, and myotonia in a dose-dependent manner with long-lasting effects. Additionally, the effects of the treatment on grip strength and myotonia were still slightly notable after 45 days. The pharmacokinetic data obtained provide further evidence that miR-23b could be a valid therapeutic target for DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefanía Cerro-Herreros
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - Irene González-Martínez
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nerea Moreno-Cervera
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sarah Overby
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Pérez-Alonso
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Llamusí
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rubén Artero
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain.
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21
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Yadava RS, Kim YK, Mandal M, Mahadevan K, Gladman JT, Yu Q, Mahadevan MS. MBNL1 overexpression is not sufficient to rescue the phenotypes in a mouse model of RNA toxicity. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:2330-2338. [PMID: 30997488 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by an expanded (CTG)n tract in the 3'UTR of the DM protein kinase (DMPK) gene. The RNA transcripts produced from the expanded allele sequester or alter the function of RNA-binding proteins (MBNL1, CUGBP1, etc.). The sequestration of MBNL1 results in RNA-splicing defects that contribute to disease. Overexpression of MBNL1 in skeletal muscle has been shown to rescue some of the DM1 features in a mouse model and has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy for DM1. Here, we sought to confirm if overexpression of MBNL1 rescues the phenotypes in a different mouse model of RNA toxicity. Using an inducible mouse model of RNA toxicity in which expression of the mutant DMPK 3'UTR results in RNA foci formation, MBNL1 sequestration, splicing defects, myotonia and cardiac conduction defects, we find that MBNL1 overexpression did not rescue skeletal muscle function nor beneficially affect cardiac conduction. Surprisingly, MBNL1 overexpression also did not rescue myotonia, though variable rescue of Clcn1 splicing and other splicing defects was seen. Additionally, contrary to the previous study, we found evidence for increased muscle histopathology with MBNL1 overexpression. Overall, we did not find evidence for beneficial effects from overexpression of MBNL1 as a means to correct RNA toxicity mediated by mRNAs containing an expanded DMPK 3'UTR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh S Yadava
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Yun K Kim
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Mahua Mandal
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | - Jordan T Gladman
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Qing Yu
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Mani S Mahadevan
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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22
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Increased Muscleblind levels by chloroquine treatment improve myotonic dystrophy type 1 phenotypes in in vitro and in vivo models. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:25203-25213. [PMID: 31754023 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1820297116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a life-threatening and chronically debilitating neuromuscular disease caused by the expansion of a CTG trinucleotide repeat in the 3' UTR of the DMPK gene. The mutant RNA forms insoluble structures capable of sequestering RNA binding proteins of the Muscleblind-like (MBNL) family, which ultimately leads to phenotypes. In this work, we demonstrate that treatment with the antiautophagic drug chloroquine was sufficient to up-regulate MBNL1 and 2 proteins in Drosophila and mouse (HSALR) models and patient-derived myoblasts. Extra Muscleblind was functional at the molecular level and improved splicing events regulated by MBNLs in all disease models. In vivo, chloroquine restored locomotion, rescued average cross-sectional muscle area, and extended median survival in DM1 flies. In HSALR mice, the drug restored muscular strength and histopathology signs and reduced the grade of myotonia. Taken together, these results offer a means to replenish critically low MBNL levels in DM1.
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23
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Hung CS, Lin JC. Alternatively spliced MBNL1 isoforms exhibit differential influence on enhancing brown adipogenesis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2019; 1863:194437. [PMID: 31730826 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2019.194437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Browning of white adipocytes (WAs) (also referred as beige cells) was demonstrated to execute thermogenesis by consuming stored lipids as do brown adipocytes (BAs), and this is highly related to metabolic homeostasis. Alternative splicing (AS) constitutes a pivotal mechanism for defining cellular fates and functional specifications. Nevertheless, the impacts of AS regulation on the browning of WAs have not been comprehensively investigated. In this study, we first identified the discriminative expression and splicing profiles of the muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1) gene in postnatal brown adipose tissues (BATs) compared to those of embryonic BATs. A shift in the MBNL1+ex 5 isoform 7 (MBNL17) to MBNL1-ex 5 isoform 1 (MBNL11) was characterized throughout BAT development or during the in vitro browning of pre-WAs, 3T3-L1 cells. The interplay between MBNL1 and the exonic CCUG motif constitutes an autoregulatory mechanism for excluding MBNL1 exon 5. The simultaneous association of RNA-binding motif protein 4a (RBM4a) with exonic and intronic CU elements collaboratively mediates the skipping of MBNL1 exon 5. Overexpressing the MBNL11 isoform exhibited a more-prominent effect than that of the MBNL17 isoform on programming its own transcripts and beige cell-related splicing events in a CCUG motif-mediated manner. In addition to splicing regulation, overexpression of the MBNL11 and MBNL17 isoforms differentially enhanced beige adipogenic signatures of 3T3-L1 cells. Our findings demonstrated that MBNL1 constitutes an emerging and autoregulatory mechanism involved in development of beige cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Sheng Hung
- PhD Program in Medicine Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Chun Lin
- PhD Program in Medicine Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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24
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López Castel A, Overby SJ, Artero R. MicroRNA-Based Therapeutic Perspectives in Myotonic Dystrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225600. [PMID: 31717488 PMCID: PMC6888406 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy involves two types of chronically debilitating rare neuromuscular diseases: type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2). Both share similarities in molecular cause, clinical signs, and symptoms with DM2 patients usually displaying milder phenotypes. It is well documented that key clinical symptoms in DM are associated with a strong mis-regulation of RNA metabolism observed in patient’s cells. This mis-regulation is triggered by two leading DM-linked events: the sequestration of Muscleblind-like proteins (MBNL) and the mis-regulation of the CUGBP RNA-Binding Protein Elav-Like Family Member 1 (CELF1) that cause significant alterations to their important functions in RNA processing. It has been suggested that DM1 may be treatable through endogenous modulation of the expression of MBNL and CELF1 proteins. In this study, we analyzed the recent identification of the involvement of microRNA (miRNA) molecules in DM and focus on the modulation of these miRNAs to therapeutically restore normal MBNL or CELF1 function. We also discuss additional prospective miRNA targets, the use of miRNAs as disease biomarkers, and additional promising miRNA-based and miRNA-targeting drug development strategies. This review provides a unifying overview of the dispersed data on miRNA available in the context of DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo López Castel
- Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (Eri Biotecmed), University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.L.C.); (R.A.)
| | - Sarah Joann Overby
- Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (Eri Biotecmed), University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rubén Artero
- Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (Eri Biotecmed), University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.L.C.); (R.A.)
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25
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Baroni A, Neaga I, Delbosc N, Wells M, Verdy L, Ansseau E, Vanden Eynde JJ, Belayew A, Bodoki E, Oprean R, Hambye S, Blankert B. Bioactive Aliphatic Polycarbonates Carrying Guanidinium Functions: An Innovative Approach for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 Therapy. ACS OMEGA 2019; 4:18126-18135. [PMID: 31720515 PMCID: PMC6843715 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b02034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Dystrophia myotonica type 1 (DM1) results from nuclear sequestration of splicing factors by a messenger RNA (mRNA) harboring a large (CUG) n repeat array transcribed from the causal (CTG) n DNA amplification. Several compounds were previously shown to bind the (CUG) n RNA and release the splicing factors. We now investigated for the first time the interaction of an aliphatic polycarbonate carrying guanidinium functions to DM1 DNA/RNA model probes by affinity capillary electrophoresis. The apparent association constants (K a) were in the range described for reference compounds such as pentamidine. Further macromolecular engineering could improve association specificity. The polymer presented no toxicity in cell culture at concentrations of 1.6-100.0 μg/mL as evaluated both by MTT and real-time monitoring xCELLigence method. These promising results may lay the foundation for a new branch of potential therapeutic agents for DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Baroni
- Laboratory
of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular
Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Research Institute for
Health Sciences and Technology, and Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of
Sciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium
- Laboratory
of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Center of Innovation and Research
in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), University
of Mons. 20 Place du Parc, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Ioan Neaga
- Laboratory
of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular
Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Research Institute for
Health Sciences and Technology, and Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of
Sciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium
- Analytical
Chemistry Department, “Iuliu Haţieganu”
University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 4, Louis Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Nicolas Delbosc
- Laboratory
of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Center of Innovation and Research
in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), University
of Mons. 20 Place du Parc, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Mathilde Wells
- Laboratory
of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular
Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Research Institute for
Health Sciences and Technology, and Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of
Sciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Laetitia Verdy
- Laboratory
of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular
Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Research Institute for
Health Sciences and Technology, and Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of
Sciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Eugénie Ansseau
- Laboratory
of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular
Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Research Institute for
Health Sciences and Technology, and Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of
Sciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde
- Laboratory
of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular
Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Research Institute for
Health Sciences and Technology, and Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of
Sciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Alexandra Belayew
- Laboratory
of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular
Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Research Institute for
Health Sciences and Technology, and Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of
Sciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Ede Bodoki
- Analytical
Chemistry Department, “Iuliu Haţieganu”
University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 4, Louis Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Radu Oprean
- Analytical
Chemistry Department, “Iuliu Haţieganu”
University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 4, Louis Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Stéphanie Hambye
- Laboratory
of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular
Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Research Institute for
Health Sciences and Technology, and Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of
Sciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Bertrand Blankert
- Laboratory
of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Molecular
Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Research Institute for
Health Sciences and Technology, and Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of
Sciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium
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26
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Reddy K, Jenquin JR, Cleary JD, Berglund JA. Mitigating RNA Toxicity in Myotonic Dystrophy using Small Molecules. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E4017. [PMID: 31426500 PMCID: PMC6720693 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20164017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This review, one in a series on myotonic dystrophy (DM), is focused on the development and potential use of small molecules as therapeutics for DM. The complex mechanisms and pathogenesis of DM are covered in the associated reviews. Here, we examine the various small molecule approaches taken to target the DNA, RNA, and proteins that contribute to disease onset and progression in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and 2 (DM2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaalak Reddy
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
| | - Jana R Jenquin
- Center for NeuroGenetics and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - John D Cleary
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - J Andrew Berglund
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
- Center for NeuroGenetics and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
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27
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Wieben ED, Baratz KH, Aleff RA, Kalari KR, Tang X, Maguire LJ, Patel SV, Fautsch MP. Gene Expression and Missplicing in the Corneal Endothelium of Patients With a TCF4 Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion Without Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:3636-3643. [PMID: 31469403 PMCID: PMC6716950 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.19-27689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose CTG trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion in an intron of the TCF4 gene is the most common genetic variant associated with Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). Although several mechanisms have been implicated in the disease process, their exact pathophysiologic importance is unclear. To understand events leading from TCF4 TNR expansion to disease phenotype, we characterized splicing, gene expression, and exon sequence changes in a rare cohort of patients with TNR expansions but no phenotypic FECD (RE+/FECD-). Methods Corneal endothelium and blood were collected from patients undergoing endothelial keratoplasty for non-FECD corneal edema. Total RNA was isolated from corneal endothelial tissue (n = 3) and used for RNASeq. Gene splicing and expression was assessed by Mixture of Isoforms (MISO) and MAP-RSeq software. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood mononuclear cells and used for whole genome exome sequencing. Base calling was performed using Illumina's Real-Time Analysis. Results Three genes (MBNL1, KIF13A, AKAP13) that were previously identified as misspliced in patients with a CTG TNR expansion and FECD disease (RE+/FECD+) were found normally spliced in RE+/FECD- samples. Gene expression differences in pathways associated with the innate immune response, cell signaling (e.g., TGFβ, WNT), and cell senescence markers were also identified between RE+/FECD- and RE+/FECD+ groups. No consistent genetic variants were identified in RE+/FECD- patient exomes. Conclusions Identification of novel splicing patterns and differential gene expression in RE+/FECD- samples provides new insights and more relevant gene targets that may be protective against FECD disease in vulnerable patients with TCF4 CTG TNR expansions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D. Wieben
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Keith H. Baratz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Ross A. Aleff
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Krishna R. Kalari
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Xiaojia Tang
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Leo J. Maguire
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Sanjay V. Patel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Michael P. Fautsch
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
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28
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Hale MA, Richardson JI, Day RC, McConnell OL, Arboleda J, Wang ET, Berglund JA. An engineered RNA binding protein with improved splicing regulation. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:3152-3168. [PMID: 29309648 PMCID: PMC5888374 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The muscleblind-like (MBNL) family of proteins are key developmental regulators of alternative splicing. Sequestration of MBNL proteins by expanded CUG/CCUG repeat RNA transcripts is a major pathogenic mechanism in the neuromuscular disorder myotonic dystrophy (DM). MBNL1 contains four zinc finger (ZF) motifs that form two tandem RNA binding domains (ZF1-2 and ZF3-4) which each bind YGCY RNA motifs. In an effort to determine the differences in function between these domains, we designed and characterized synthetic MBNL proteins with duplicate ZF1-2 or ZF3-4 domains, referred to as MBNL-AA and MBNL-BB, respectively. Analysis of splicing regulation revealed that MBNL-AA had up to 5-fold increased splicing activity while MBNL-BB had 4-fold decreased activity compared to a MBNL protein with the canonical arrangement of zinc finger domains. RNA binding analysis revealed that the variations in splicing activity are due to differences in RNA binding specificities between the two ZF domains rather than binding affinity. Our findings indicate that ZF1-2 drives splicing regulation via recognition of YGCY RNA motifs while ZF3-4 acts as a general RNA binding domain. Our studies suggest that synthetic MBNL proteins with improved or altered splicing activity have the potential to be used as both tools for investigating splicing regulation and protein therapeutics for DM and other microsatellite diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Hale
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Jared I Richardson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Ryan C Day
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Ona L McConnell
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Juan Arboleda
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Eric T Wang
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - J Andrew Berglund
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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29
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Morriss GR, Rajapakshe K, Huang S, Coarfa C, Cooper TA. Mechanisms of skeletal muscle wasting in a mouse model for myotonic dystrophy type 1. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 27:2789-2804. [PMID: 29771332 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multi-systemic disease resulting in severe muscle weakening and wasting. DM1 is caused by expansion of CTG repeats in the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene. We have developed an inducible, skeletal muscle-specific mouse model of DM1 (CUG960) that expresses 960 CUG repeat-expressing animals (CUG960) in the context of human DMPK exons 11-15. CUG960 RNA-expressing mice induced at postnatal day 1, as well as adult-onset animals, show clear, measurable muscle wasting accompanied by severe histological defects including central myonuclei, reduced fiber cross-sectional area, increased percentage of oxidative myofibers, the presence of nuclear RNA foci that colocalize with Mbnl1 protein, and increased Celf1 protein in severely affected muscles. Importantly, muscle loss, histological abnormalities and RNA foci are reversible, demonstrating recovery upon removal of toxic RNA. RNA-seq and protein array analysis indicate that the balance between anabolic and catabolic pathways that normally regulate muscle mass may be disrupted by deregulation of platelet derived growth factor receptor β signaling and the PI3K/AKT pathways, along with prolonged activation of AMP-activated protein kinase α signaling. Similar changes were detected in DM1 skeletal muscle compared with unaffected controls. The mouse model presented in this paper shows progressive skeletal muscle wasting and has been used to identify potential molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle loss. The reversibility of the phenotype establishes a baseline response for testing therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ginny R Morriss
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kimal Rajapakshe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shixia Huang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Thomas A Cooper
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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30
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Myotonic Dystrophy: an RNA Toxic Gain of Function Tauopathy? ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1184:207-216. [PMID: 32096040 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9358-8_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophies (DM) are rare inherited neuromuscular disorders linked to microsatellite unstable expansions in non-coding regions of ubiquitously expressed genes. The DMPK and ZNF9/CNBP genes which mutations are responsible for DM1 and DM2 respectively. DM are multisystemic disorders with brain affection and cognitive deficits. Brain lesions consisting of neurofibrillary tangles are often observed in DM1 and DM2 brain. Neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) made of aggregates of hyper and abnormally phosphorylated isoforms of Tau proteins are neuropathological lesions common to more than 20 neurological disorders globally referred to as Tauopathies. Although NFT are observed in DM1 and DM2 brain, the question of whether DM1 and DM2 are Tauopathies remains a matter of debate. In the present review, several pathophysiological processes including, missplicing, nucleocytoplasmic transport disruption, RAN translation which are common mechanisms implicated in neurodegenerative diseases will be described. Together, these processes including the missplicing of Tau are providing evidence that DM1 and DM2 are not solely muscular diseases but that their brain affection component share many similarities with Tauopathies and other neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding DM1 and DM2 pathophysiology is therefore valuable to more globally understand other neurodegenerative diseases such as Tauopathies but also frontotemporal lobar neurodegeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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31
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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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32
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Braz SO, Acquaire J, Gourdon G, Gomes-Pereira M. Of Mice and Men: Advances in the Understanding of Neuromuscular Aspects of Myotonic Dystrophy. Front Neurol 2018; 9:519. [PMID: 30050493 PMCID: PMC6050950 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Intensive effort has been directed toward the modeling of myotonic dystrophy (DM) in mice, in order to reproduce human disease and to provide useful tools to investigate molecular and cellular pathogenesis and test efficient therapies. Mouse models have contributed to dissect the multifaceted impact of the DM mutation in various tissues, cell types and in a pleiotropy of pathways, through the expression of toxic RNA transcripts. Changes in alternative splicing, transcription, translation, intracellular RNA localization, polyadenylation, miRNA metabolism and phosphorylation of disease intermediates have been described in different tissues. Some of these events have been directly associated with specific disease symptoms in the skeletal muscle and heart of mice, offering the molecular explanation for individual disease phenotypes. In the central nervous system (CNS), however, the situation is more complex. We still do not know how the molecular abnormalities described translate into CNS dysfunction, nor do we know if the correction of individual molecular events will provide significant therapeutic benefits. The variability in model design and phenotypes described so far requires a thorough and critical analysis. In this review we discuss the recent contributions of mouse models to the understanding of neuromuscular aspects of disease, therapy development, and we provide a reflective assessment of our current limitations and pressing questions that remain unanswered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra O Braz
- Laboratory CTGDM, INSERM UMR1163, Paris, France.,Institut Imagine, Université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Julien Acquaire
- Laboratory CTGDM, INSERM UMR1163, Paris, France.,Institut Imagine, Université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Geneviève Gourdon
- Laboratory CTGDM, INSERM UMR1163, Paris, France.,Institut Imagine, Université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Mário Gomes-Pereira
- Laboratory CTGDM, INSERM UMR1163, Paris, France.,Institut Imagine, Université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
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33
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Cerro-Herreros E, Sabater-Arcis M, Fernandez-Costa JM, Moreno N, Perez-Alonso M, Llamusi B, Artero R. miR-23b and miR-218 silencing increase Muscleblind-like expression and alleviate myotonic dystrophy phenotypes in mammalian models. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2482. [PMID: 29946070 PMCID: PMC6018771 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04892-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional depletion of the alternative splicing factors Muscleblind-like (MBNL 1 and 2) is at the basis of the neuromuscular disease myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). We previously showed the efficacy of miRNA downregulation in Drosophila DM1 model. Here, we screen for miRNAs that regulate MBNL1 and MBNL2 in HeLa cells. We thus identify miR-23b and miR-218, and confirm that they downregulate MBNL proteins in this cell line. Antagonists of miR-23b and miR-218 miRNAs enhance MBNL protein levels and rescue pathogenic missplicing events in DM1 myoblasts. Systemic delivery of these "antagomiRs" similarly boost MBNL expression and improve DM1-like phenotypes, including splicing alterations, histopathology, and myotonia in the HSALR DM1 model mice. These mammalian data provide evidence for therapeutic blocking of the miRNAs that control Muscleblind-like protein expression in myotonic dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefania Cerro-Herreros
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.,Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Sabater-Arcis
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.,Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan M Fernandez-Costa
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.,Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nerea Moreno
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.,Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Perez-Alonso
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.,Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Llamusi
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. .,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. .,Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Ruben Artero
- Interdisciplinary Research Structure for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (ERI BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. .,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. .,Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Dr. Moliner 50, E46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
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34
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Thomas JD, Oliveira R, Sznajder ŁJ, Swanson MS. Myotonic Dystrophy and Developmental Regulation of RNA Processing. Compr Physiol 2018; 8:509-553. [PMID: 29687899 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c170002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is a multisystemic disorder caused by microsatellite expansion mutations in two unrelated genes leading to similar, yet distinct, diseases. DM disease presentation is highly variable and distinguished by differences in age-of-onset and symptom severity. In the most severe form, DM presents with congenital onset and profound developmental defects. At the molecular level, DM pathogenesis is characterized by a toxic RNA gain-of-function mechanism that involves the transcription of noncoding microsatellite expansions. These mutant RNAs disrupt key cellular pathways, including RNA processing, localization, and translation. In DM, these toxic RNA effects are predominantly mediated through the modulation of the muscleblind-like and CUGBP and ETR-3-like factor families of RNA binding proteins (RBPs). Dysfunction of these RBPs results in widespread RNA processing defects culminating in the expression of developmentally inappropriate protein isoforms in adult tissues. The tissue that is the focus of this review, skeletal muscle, is particularly sensitive to mutant RNA-responsive perturbations, as patients display a variety of developmental, structural, and functional defects in muscle. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of DM1 and DM2 clinical presentation and pathology as well as the underlying cellular and molecular defects associated with DM disease onset and progression. Additionally, fundamental aspects of skeletal muscle development altered in DM are highlighted together with ongoing and potential therapeutic avenues to treat this muscular dystrophy. © 2018 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 8:509-553, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Thomas
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ruan Oliveira
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Łukasz J Sznajder
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Maurice S Swanson
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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35
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Zhang F, Bodycombe NE, Haskell KM, Sun YL, Wang ET, Morris CA, Jones LH, Wood LD, Pletcher MT. A flow cytometry-based screen identifies MBNL1 modulators that rescue splicing defects in myotonic dystrophy type I. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 26:3056-3068. [PMID: 28535287 PMCID: PMC5886090 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) is a rare genetic disease caused by the expansion of CTG trinucleotide repeats ((CTG)exp) in the 3' untranslated region of the DMPK gene. The repeat transcripts sequester the RNA binding protein Muscleblind-like protein 1 (MBNL1) and hamper its normal function in pre-mRNA splicing. Overexpressing exogenous MBNL1 in the DM1 mouse model has been shown to rescue the splicing defects and reverse myotonia. Although a viable therapeutic strategy, pharmacological modulators of MBNL1 expression have not been identified. Here, we engineered a ZsGreen tag into the endogenous MBNL1 locus in HeLa cells and established a flow cytometry-based screening system to identify compounds that increase MBNL1 level. The initial screen of small molecule compound libraries identified more than thirty hits that increased MBNL1 expression greater than double the baseline levels. Further characterization of two hits revealed that the small molecule HDAC inhibitors, ISOX and vorinostat, increased MBNL1 expression in DM1 patient-derived fibroblasts and partially rescued the splicing defect caused by (CUG)exp repeats in these cells. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of this flow-based cytometry screen to identify both small molecule compounds and druggable targets for MBNL1 upregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicole E Bodycombe
- Medicine Design, Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Keith M Haskell
- Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism - New Chemical Entities, Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer, CT 06340, USA
| | | | - Eric T Wang
- Center for Neurogenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | - Lyn H Jones
- Medicine Design, Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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36
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Chen G, Carter RE, Cleary JD, Reid TS, Ranum LP, Swanson MS, Ebner TJ. Altered levels of the splicing factor muscleblind modifies cerebral cortical function in mouse models of myotonic dystrophy. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 112:35-48. [PMID: 29331264 PMCID: PMC5859959 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is a progressive, multisystem disorder affecting skeletal muscle, heart, and central nervous system. In both DM1 and DM2, microsatellite expansions of CUG and CCUG RNA repeats, respectively, accumulate and disrupt functions of alternative splicing factors, including muscleblind (MBNL) proteins. Grey matter loss and white matter changes, including the corpus callosum, likely underlie cognitive and executive function deficits in DM patients. However, little is known how cerebral cortical circuitry changes in DM. Here, flavoprotein optical imaging was used to assess local and contralateral responses to intracortical motor cortex stimulation in DM-related mouse models. In control mice, brief train stimulation generated ipsilateral and contralateral homotopic fluorescence increases, the latter mediated by the corpus callosum. Single pulse stimulation produced an excitatory response with an inhibitory-like surround response mediated by GABAA receptors. In a mouse model of DM2 (Mbnl2 KO), we observed prolonged and increased responsiveness to train stimulation and loss of the inhibition from single pulse stimulation. Conversely, mice overexpressing human MBNL1 (MBNL1-OE) exhibited decreased contralateral response to train stimulation and reduction of inhibitory-like surround to single pulse stimulation. Therefore, altering levels of two key DM-associated splicing factors modifies functions of local cortical circuits and contralateral responses mediated through the corpus callosum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Russell E Carter
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - John D Cleary
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology and Neurology, College of Medicine, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Tammy S Reid
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology and Neurology, College of Medicine, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Laura P Ranum
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology and Neurology, College of Medicine, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Maurice S Swanson
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology and Neurology, College of Medicine, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Timothy J Ebner
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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37
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Qiang J, Cui YT, Tao FY, Bao WJ, He J, Li XH, Xu P, Sun LY. Physiological response and microRNA expression profiles in head kidney of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to acute cold stress. Sci Rep 2018; 8:172. [PMID: 29317697 PMCID: PMC5760732 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18512-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cold stress has a serious impact on the overwintering survival and yield of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus). Understanding the physiological and molecular regulation mechanisms of low-temperature adaptation is necessary to help breed new tolerant strains. The semi-lethal low temperature of juvenile GIFT at 96 h was determined as 9.4 °C. We constructed and sequenced two small RNA libraries from head kidney tissues, one for the control (CO) group and one for the 9.4 °C-stressed (LTS) group, and identified 1736 and 1481 known microRNAs (miRNAs), and 164 and 152 novel miRNAs in the CO and LTS libraries, respectively. We verify the expression of nine up-regulated miRNAs and eight down-regulation miRNAs by qRT-PCR, and found their expression patterns were consistent with the sequencing results. We found that cold stress may have produced dysregulation of free radical and lipid metabolism, decreased superoxide dismutase activity, reduced respiratory burst and phagocytic activity of macrophages, increased malondialdehyde content, and adversely affected the physiological adaptation of GIFT, eventually leading to death. This study revealed interactions among miRNAs and signal regulated pathways in GIFT under cold stress that may help to understand the pathways involved in cold resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Qiang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, 9 Shanshui East Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214081, China.,Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, 9 Shanshui East Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214081, China
| | - Yan T Cui
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, 9 Shanshui East Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214081, China.,Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, 9 Shanshui East Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214081, China
| | - Fan Y Tao
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, 9 Shanshui East Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214081, China
| | - Wen J Bao
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, 9 Shanshui East Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214081, China
| | - Jie He
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, 9 Shanshui East Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214081, China
| | - Xia H Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, 9 Shanshui East Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214081, China
| | - Pao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, 9 Shanshui East Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214081, China. .,Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, 9 Shanshui East Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214081, China.
| | - Lan Y Sun
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, 9 Shanshui East Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214081, China
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38
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Crawford Parks TE, Ravel-Chapuis A, Bondy-Chorney E, Renaud JM, Côté J, Jasmin BJ. Muscle-specific expression of the RNA-binding protein Staufen1 induces progressive skeletal muscle atrophy via regulation of phosphatase tensin homolog. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:1821-1838. [PMID: 28369467 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Converging lines of evidence have now highlighted the key role for post-transcriptional regulation in the neuromuscular system. In particular, several RNA-binding proteins are known to be misregulated in neuromuscular disorders including myotonic dystrophy type 1, spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this study, we focused on the RNA-binding protein Staufen1, which assumes multiple functions in both skeletal muscle and neurons. Given our previous work that showed a marked increase in Staufen1 expression in various physiological and pathological conditions including denervated muscle, in embryonic and undifferentiated skeletal muscle, in rhabdomyosarcomas as well as in myotonic dystrophy type 1 muscle samples from both mouse models and humans, we investigated the impact of sustained Staufen1 expression in postnatal skeletal muscle. To this end, we generated a skeletal muscle-specific transgenic mouse model using the muscle creatine kinase promoter to drive tissue-specific expression of Staufen1. We report that sustained Staufen1 expression in postnatal skeletal muscle causes a myopathy characterized by significant morphological and functional deficits. These deficits are accompanied by a marked increase in the expression of several atrophy-associated genes and by the negative regulation of PI3K/AKT signaling. We also uncovered that Staufen1 mediates PTEN expression through indirect transcriptional and direct post-transcriptional events thereby providing the first evidence for Staufen1-regulated PTEN expression. Collectively, our data demonstrate that Staufen1 is a novel atrophy-associated gene, and highlight its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for neuromuscular disorders and conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara E Crawford Parks
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Aymeric Ravel-Chapuis
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Emma Bondy-Chorney
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Jean-Marc Renaud
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Jocelyn Côté
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Bernard J Jasmin
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
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Wieben ED, Aleff RA, Tang X, Butz ML, Kalari KR, Highsmith EW, Jen J, Vasmatzis G, Patel SV, Maguire LJ, Baratz KH, Fautsch MP. Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion in the Transcription Factor 4 (TCF4) Gene Leads to Widespread mRNA Splicing Changes in Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2017; 58:343-352. [PMID: 28118661 PMCID: PMC5270622 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.16-20900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To identify RNA missplicing events in human corneal endothelial tissue isolated from Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). Methods Total RNA was isolated and sequenced from corneal endothelial tissue obtained during keratoplasty from 12 patients with FECD and 4 patients undergoing keratoplasty or enucleation for other indications. The length of the trinucleotide repeat (TNR) CTG in the transcription factor 4 (TCF4) gene was determined using leukocyte-derived DNA analyzed by a combination of Southern blotting and Genescan analysis. Commercial statistical software was used to quantify expression of alternatively spliced genes. Validation of selected alternative splicing events was performed by using RT-PCR. Gene sets identified were analyzed for overrepresentation using Web-based analysis system. Results Corneal endothelial tissue from FECD patients containing a CTG TNR expansion sequence in the TCF4 gene revealed widespread changes in mRNA splicing, including a novel splicing event involving FGFR2. Differential splicing of NUMA1, PPFIBP1, MBNL1, and MBNL2 transcripts were identified in all FECD samples containing a TNR expansion. The differentially spliced genes were enriched for products that localize to the cell cortex and bind cytoskeletal and cell adhesion proteins. Conclusions Corneal endothelium from FECD patients harbors a unique signature of mis-splicing events due to CTG TNR expansion in the TCF4 gene, consistent with the hypothesis that RNA toxicity contributes to the pathogenesis of FECD. Changes to the endothelial barrier function, a known event in the development of FECD, was identified as a key biological process influenced by the missplicing events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Wieben
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Ross A Aleff
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Xiaojia Tang
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Malinda L Butz
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Krishna R Kalari
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Edward W Highsmith
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Jin Jen
- Department of Experimental Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - George Vasmatzis
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Sanjay V Patel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Leo J Maguire
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Keith H Baratz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Michael P Fautsch
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
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LOX-1 and Its Splice Variants: A New Challenge for Atherosclerosis and Cancer-Targeted Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18020290. [PMID: 28146073 PMCID: PMC5343826 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18020290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Revised: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is a process in which precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing sites are differentially selected to diversify the protein isoform population. Changes in AS patterns have an essential role in normal development, differentiation and response to physiological stimuli. It is documented that AS can generate both “risk” and “protective” splice variants that can contribute to the pathogenesis of several diseases including atherosclerosis. The main endothelial receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDLs) is LOX-1 receptor protein encoded by the OLR1 gene. When OLR1 undergoes AS events, it generates three variants: OLR1, OLR1D4 and LOXIN. The latter lacks exon 5 and two-thirds of the functional domain. Literature data demonstrate a protective role of LOXIN in pathologies correlated with LOX-1 overexpression such as atherosclerosis and tumors. In this review, we summarize recent developments in understanding of OLR1 AS while also highlighting data warranting further investigation of this process as a novel therapeutic target.
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Derepressing muscleblind expression by miRNA sponges ameliorates myotonic dystrophy-like phenotypes in Drosophila. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36230. [PMID: 27805016 PMCID: PMC5090246 DOI: 10.1038/srep36230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1) originates from alleles of the DMPK gene with hundreds of extra CTG repeats in the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR). CUG repeat RNAs accumulate in foci that sequester Muscleblind-like (MBNL) proteins away from their functional target transcripts. Endogenous upregulation of MBNL proteins is, thus, a potential therapeutic approach to DM1. Here we identify two miRNAs, dme-miR-277 and dme-miR-304, that differentially regulate muscleblind RNA isoforms in miRNA sensor constructs. We also show that their sequestration by sponge constructs derepresses endogenous muscleblind not only in a wild type background but also in a DM1 Drosophila model expressing non-coding CUG trinucleotide repeats throughout the musculature. Enhanced muscleblind expression resulted in significant rescue of pathological phenotypes, including reversal of several mis-splicing events and reduced muscle atrophy in DM1 adult flies. Rescued flies had improved muscle function in climbing and flight assays, and had longer lifespan compared to disease controls. These studies provide proof of concept for a similar potentially therapeutic approach to DM1 in humans.
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Luu LM, Nguyen L, Peng S, Lee J, Lee HY, Wong CH, Hergenrother PJ, Chan HYE, Zimmerman SC. A Potent Inhibitor of Protein Sequestration by Expanded Triplet (CUG) Repeats that Shows Phenotypic Improvements in a Drosophila Model of Myotonic Dystrophy. ChemMedChem 2016; 11:1428-35. [PMID: 27245480 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201600081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy is the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy, originating in a CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. The expanded CUG transcript sequesters MBNL1, a key regulator of alternative splicing, leading to the misregulation of numerous pre-mRNAs. We report an RNA-targeted agent as a possible lead compound for the treatment of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) that reveals both the promise and challenges for this type of small-molecule approach. The agent is a potent inhibitor of the MBNL1-rCUG complex with an inhibition constant (Ki ) of 25±8 nm, and is also relatively nontoxic to HeLa cells, able to dissolve nuclear foci, and correct the insulin receptor splicing defect in DM1 model cells. Moreover, treatment with this compound improves two separate disease phenotypes in a Drosophila model of DM1: adult external eye degeneration and larval crawling defect. However, the compound has a relatively low maximum tolerated dose in mice, and its cell uptake may be limited, providing insight into directions for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long M Luu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Lien Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Shaohong Peng
- Laboratory of Drosophila Research and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - JuYeon Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Hyang Yeon Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Chun-Ho Wong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Paul J Hergenrother
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - H Y Edwin Chan
- Laboratory of Drosophila Research and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China.
| | - Steven C Zimmerman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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Chen G, Masuda A, Konishi H, Ohkawara B, Ito M, Kinoshita M, Kiyama H, Matsuura T, Ohno K. Phenylbutazone induces expression of MBNL1 and suppresses formation of MBNL1-CUG RNA foci in a mouse model of myotonic dystrophy. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25317. [PMID: 27126921 PMCID: PMC4850456 DOI: 10.1038/srep25317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by abnormal expansion of CTG repeats in the 3′ untranslated region of the DMPK gene. Expanded CTG repeats are transcribed into RNA and make an aggregate with a splicing regulator, MBNL1, in the nucleus, which is called the nuclear foci. The nuclear foci sequestrates and downregulates availability of MBNL1. Symptomatic treatments are available for DM1, but no rational therapy is available. In this study, we found that a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), phenylbutazone (PBZ), upregulated the expression of MBNL1 in C2C12 myoblasts as well as in the HSALR mouse model for DM1. In the DM1 mice model, PBZ ameliorated aberrant splicing of Clcn1, Nfix, and Rpn2. PBZ increased expression of skeletal muscle chloride channel, decreased abnormal central nuclei of muscle fibers, and improved wheel-running activity in HSALR mice. We found that the effect of PBZ was conferred by two distinct mechanisms. First, PBZ suppressed methylation of an enhancer region in Mbnl1 intron 1, and enhanced transcription of Mbnl1 mRNA. Second, PBZ attenuated binding of MBNL1 to abnormally expanded CUG repeats in cellulo and in vitro. Our studies suggest that PBZ is a potent therapeutic agent for DM1 that upregulates availability of MBNL1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiying Chen
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Akio Masuda
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Konishi
- Division of Functional Anatomy and Neuroscience, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Bisei Ohkawara
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Mikako Ito
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masanobu Kinoshita
- Department of Frontier Health Sciences, Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kiyama
- Division of Functional Anatomy and Neuroscience, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tohru Matsuura
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Kinji Ohno
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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Ladd AN. New Insights Into the Role of RNA-Binding Proteins in the Regulation of Heart Development. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 324:125-85. [PMID: 27017008 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2015.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The regulation of gene expression during development takes place both at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate pre-mRNA processing, mRNA localization, stability, and translation. Many RBPs are expressed in the heart and have been implicated in heart development, function, or disease. This chapter will review the current knowledge about RBPs in the developing heart, focusing on those that regulate posttranscriptional gene expression. The involvement of RBPs at each stage of heart development will be considered in turn, including the establishment of specific cardiac cell types and formation of the primitive heart tube, cardiac morphogenesis, and postnatal maturation and aging. The contributions of RBPs to cardiac birth defects and heart disease will also be considered in these contexts. Finally, the interplay between RBPs and other regulatory factors in the developing heart, such as transcription factors and miRNAs, will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A N Ladd
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States of America.
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45
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Urbanek MO, Krzyzosiak WJ. RNA FISH for detecting expanded repeats in human diseases. Methods 2015; 98:115-123. [PMID: 26615955 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a widely used technique for detecting transcripts in fixed cells and tissues. Many variants of RNA FISH have been proposed to increase signal strength, resolution and target specificity. The current variants of this technique facilitate the detection of the subcellular localization of transcripts at a single molecule level. Among the applications of RNA FISH are studies on nuclear RNA foci in diseases resulting from the expansion of tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexanucleotide repeats present in different single genes. The partial or complete retention of mutant transcripts forming RNA aggregates within the nucleoplasm has been shown in multiple cellular disease models and in the tissues of patients affected with these atypical mutations. Relevant diseases include, among others, myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) with CUG repeats, Huntington's disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) with CAG repeats, fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) with CGG repeats, myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) with CCUG repeats, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) with GGGGCC repeats and spinocerebellar ataxia type 32 (SCA32) with GGCCUG. In this article, we summarize the results obtained with FISH to examine RNA nuclear inclusions. We provide a detailed protocol for detecting RNAs containing expanded CAG and CUG repeats in different cellular models, including fibroblasts, lymphoblasts, induced pluripotent stem cells and murine and human neuronal progenitors. We also present the results of the first single-molecule FISH application in a cellular model of polyglutamine disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna O Urbanek
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14 Str., 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Wlodzimierz J Krzyzosiak
- Department of Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14 Str., 61-704 Poznan, Poland.
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Sun X, Li PP, Zhu S, Cohen R, Marque LO, Ross CA, Pulst SM, Chan HYE, Margolis RL, Rudnicki DD. Nuclear retention of full-length HTT RNA is mediated by splicing factors MBNL1 and U2AF65. Sci Rep 2015. [PMID: 26218986 PMCID: PMC4517393 DOI: 10.1038/srep12521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. Recent evidence suggests that HD is a consequence of multimodal, non-mutually exclusive mechanisms of pathogenesis that involve both HTT protein- and HTT RNA-triggered mechanisms. Here we provide further evidence for the role of expanded HTT (expHTT) RNA in HD by demonstrating that a fragment of expHTT is cytotoxic in the absence of any translation and that the extent of cytotoxicity is similar to the cytotoxicity of an expHTT protein fragment encoded by a transcript of similar length and with a similar repeat size. In addition, full-length (FL) expHTT is retained in the nucleus. Overexpression of the splicing factor muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1) increases nuclear retention of expHTT and decreases the expression of expHTT protein in the cytosol. The splicing and nuclear export factor U2AF65 has the opposite effect, decreasing expHTT nuclear retention and increasing expression of expHTT protein. This suggests that MBNL1 and U2AF65 play a role in nuclear export of expHTT RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Sun
- 1] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA [2] Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Pan P Li
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shanshan Zhu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rachael Cohen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Leonard O Marque
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher A Ross
- 1] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA [2] Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA [3] Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA [4] Program of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Stefan M Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Ho Yin Edwin Chan
- Laboratory of Drosophila Research, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Russell L Margolis
- 1] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA [2] Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA [3] Program of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Dobrila D Rudnicki
- 1] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA [2] Program of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Du J, Aleff RA, Soragni E, Kalari K, Nie J, Tang X, Davila J, Kocher JP, Patel SV, Gottesfeld JM, Baratz KH, Wieben ED. RNA toxicity and missplicing in the common eye disease fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:5979-90. [PMID: 25593321 PMCID: PMC4358235 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.621607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is an inherited degenerative disease that affects the internal endothelial cell monolayer of the cornea and can result in corneal edema and vision loss in severe cases. FECD affects ∼5% of middle-aged Caucasians in the United States and accounts for >14,000 corneal transplantations annually. Among the several genes and loci associated with FECD, the strongest association is with an intronic (CTG·CAG)n trinucleotide repeat expansion in the TCF4 gene, which is found in the majority of affected patients. Corneal endothelial cells from FECD patients harbor a poly(CUG)n RNA that can be visualized as RNA foci containing this condensed RNA and associated proteins. Similar to myotonic dystrophy type 1, the poly(CUG)n RNA co-localizes with and sequesters the mRNA-splicing factor MBNL1, leading to missplicing of essential MBNL1-regulated mRNAs. Such foci and missplicing are not observed in similar cells from FECD patients who lack the repeat expansion. RNA-Seq splicing data from the corneal endothelia of FECD patients and controls reveal hundreds of differential alternative splicing events. These include events previously characterized in the context of myotonic dystrophy type 1 and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, as well as splicing changes in genes related to proposed mechanisms of FECD pathogenesis. We report the first instance of RNA toxicity and missplicing in a common non-neurological/neuromuscular disease associated with a repeat expansion. The FECD patient population with this (CTG·CAG)n trinucleotide repeat expansion exceeds that of the combined number of patients in all other microsatellite expansion disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jintang Du
- From the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037 and
| | - Ross A Aleff
- the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
| | - Elisabetta Soragni
- From the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037 and
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Joel M Gottesfeld
- From the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037 and
| | | | - Eric D Wieben
- the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
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Chau A, Kalsotra A. Developmental insights into the pathology of and therapeutic strategies for DM1: Back to the basics. Dev Dyn 2015; 244:377-90. [PMID: 25504326 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Revised: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 11/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the most prevalent adult onset muscular dystrophy, is a trinucleotide repeat expansion disease caused by CTG expansion in the 3'-UTR of DMPK gene. This expansion results in the expression of toxic gain-of-function RNA that forms ribonuclear foci and disrupts normal activities of RNA-binding proteins belonging to the MBNL and CELF families. Changes in alternative splicing, translation, localization, and mRNA stability due to sequestration of MBNL proteins and up-regulation of CELF1 are key to DM1 pathology. However, recent discoveries indicate that pathogenic mechanisms of DM1 involves many other factors as well, including repeat associated translation, activation of PKC-dependent signaling pathway, aberrant polyadenylation, and microRNA deregulation. Expression of the toxic repeat RNA culminates in the developmental remodeling of the transcriptome, which produces fetal isoforms of proteins that are unable to fulfill the physiological requirements of adult tissues. This review will describe advances in the understanding of DM1 pathogenesis as well as current therapeutic developments for DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Chau
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois; Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois; Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
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Marcet-Palacios M, Ewen C, Pittman E, Duggan B, Carmine-Simmen K, Fahlman RP, Bleackley RC. Design and characterization of a novel human Granzyme B inhibitor. Protein Eng Des Sel 2014; 28:9-17. [DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzu052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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50
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Batra R, Charizanis K, Manchanda M, Mohan A, Li M, Finn DJ, Goodwin M, Zhang C, Sobczak K, Thornton CA, Swanson MS. Loss of MBNL leads to disruption of developmentally regulated alternative polyadenylation in RNA-mediated disease. Mol Cell 2014; 56:311-322. [PMID: 25263597 PMCID: PMC4224598 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2014.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of muscleblind-like (MBNL) activity due to sequestration by microsatellite expansion RNAs is a major pathogenic event in the RNA-mediated disease myotonic dystrophy (DM). Although MBNL1 and MBNL2 bind to nascent transcripts to regulate alternative splicing during muscle and brain development, another major binding site for the MBNL protein family is the 3' untranslated region of target RNAs. Here, we report that depletion of Mbnl proteins in mouse embryo fibroblasts leads to misregulation of thousands of alternative polyadenylation events. HITS-CLIP and minigene reporter analyses indicate that these polyadenylation switches are a direct consequence of MBNL binding to target RNAs. Misregulated alternative polyadenylation also occurs in skeletal muscle in a mouse polyCUG model and human DM, resulting in the persistence of neonatal polyadenylation patterns. These findings reveal an additional developmental function for MBNL proteins and demonstrate that DM is characterized by misregulation of pre-mRNA processing at multiple levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjan Batra
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Konstantinos Charizanis
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Mini Manchanda
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Apoorva Mohan
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Moyi Li
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Dustin J Finn
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Marianne Goodwin
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Chaolin Zhang
- Department of Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Krzysztof Sobczak
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
| | - Charles A Thornton
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, 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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