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Mocciaro E, Giambruno R, Micheloni S, Cernilogar FM, Andolfo A, Consonni C, Pannese M, Ferri G, Runfola V, Schotta G, Gabellini D. WDR5 is required for DUX4 expression and its pathological effects in FSHD muscular dystrophy. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:5144-5161. [PMID: 37021550 PMCID: PMC10250208 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most prevalent neuromuscular disorders. The disease is linked to copy number reduction and/or epigenetic alterations of the D4Z4 macrosatellite on chromosome 4q35 and associated with aberrant gain of expression of the transcription factor DUX4, which triggers a pro-apoptotic transcriptional program leading to muscle wasting. As today, no cure or therapeutic option is available to FSHD patients. Given its centrality in FSHD, blocking DUX4 expression with small molecule drugs is an attractive option. We previously showed that the long non protein-coding RNA DBE-T is required for aberrant DUX4 expression in FSHD. Using affinity purification followed by proteomics, here we identified the chromatin remodeling protein WDR5 as a novel DBE-T interactor and a key player required for the biological activity of the lncRNA. We found that WDR5 is required for the expression of DUX4 and its targets in primary FSHD muscle cells. Moreover, targeting WDR5 rescues both cell viability and myogenic differentiation of FSHD patient cells. Notably, comparable results were obtained by pharmacological inhibition of WDR5. Importantly, WDR5 targeting was safe to healthy donor muscle cells. Our results support a pivotal role of WDR5 in the activation of DUX4 expression identifying a druggable target for an innovative therapeutic approach for FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Mocciaro
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Roberto Giambruno
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefano Micheloni
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Filippo M Cernilogar
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Annapaola Andolfo
- ProMeFa, Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Cristina Consonni
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Pannese
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Giulia Ferri
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Valeria Runfola
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Gunnar Schotta
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Davide Gabellini
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
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Tihaya MS, Mul K, Balog J, de Greef JC, Tapscott SJ, Tawil R, Statland JM, van der Maarel SM. Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: the road to targeted therapies. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:91-108. [PMID: 36627512 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-022-00762-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Advances in the molecular understanding of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) have revealed that FSHD results from epigenetic de-repression of the DUX4 gene in skeletal muscle, which encodes a transcription factor that is active in early embryonic development but is normally silenced in almost all somatic tissues. These advances also led to the identification of targets for disease-altering therapies for FSHD, as well as an improved understanding of the molecular mechanism of the disease and factors that influence its progression. Together, these developments led the FSHD research community to shift its focus towards the development of disease-modifying treatments for FSHD. This Review presents advances in the molecular and clinical understanding of FSHD, discusses the potential targeted therapies that are currently being explored, some of which are already in clinical trials, and describes progress in the development of FSHD-specific outcome measures and assessment tools for use in future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara S Tihaya
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karlien Mul
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judit Balog
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen J Tapscott
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rabi Tawil
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Statland
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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Palo A, Patel SA, Sahoo B, Chowdary TK, Dixit M. FRG1 is a direct transcriptional regulator of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay genes. Genomics 2023; 115:110539. [PMID: 36521634 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
FRG1 is the primary candidate gene for Fascioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. So far, its role has been reported in muscle development, vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis. Mechanistically studies suggest FRG1's role in RNA biogenesis which may have implications in multiple physiological processes and diseases, including tumorigenesis. Its probable role as hnRNP and association with NMD-related genes prompted us to look into FRG1's effect on NMD gene expression and the mechanism. Using microarray profiling in cell lines, we found that FRG1 altered the mRNA surveillance pathway and associated pathways, such as RNA transport and spliceosome machinery molecules. Multiple sequence alignment of core factors, namely, UPF1, UPF3B, and SMG1, showed conserved stretches of nucleotide sequence 'CTGGG'. Structural modeling followed by EMSA, ChIP-qPCR, and luciferase reporter assays showed 'CTGGG' as a FRG1 binding site. Analysis of the publicly available datasets showed that the expression of FRG1 correlates with NMD genes in different tissue types. We validated the effect of FRG1 on NMD gene transcription by qRT-PCR. Overall, FRG1 might be a transcriptional regulator of NMD genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Palo
- National Institute of Science Education and Research, School of Biological Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 752050, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Saket Awadhesbhai Patel
- National Institute of Science Education and Research, School of Biological Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 752050, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Bibekananda Sahoo
- National Institute of Science Education and Research, School of Biological Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 752050, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Tirumala Kumar Chowdary
- National Institute of Science Education and Research, School of Biological Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 752050, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Manjusha Dixit
- National Institute of Science Education and Research, School of Biological Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 752050, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India.
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Banerji CRS, Zammit PS. Pathomechanisms and biomarkers in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: roles of DUX4 and PAX7. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e13695. [PMID: 34151531 PMCID: PMC8350899 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202013695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is characterised by progressive skeletal muscle weakness and wasting. FSHD is linked to epigenetic derepression of the subtelomeric D4Z4 macrosatellite at chromosome 4q35. Epigenetic derepression permits the distal-most D4Z4 unit to transcribe DUX4, with transcripts stabilised by splicing to a poly(A) signal on permissive 4qA haplotypes. The pioneer transcription factor DUX4 activates target genes that are proposed to drive FSHD pathology. While this toxic gain-of-function model is a satisfying "bottom-up" genotype-to-phenotype link, DUX4 is rarely detectable in muscle and DUX4 target gene expression is inconsistent in patients. A reliable biomarker for FSHD is suppression of a target gene score of PAX7, a master regulator of myogenesis. However, it is unclear how this "top-down" finding links to genomic changes that characterise FSHD and to DUX4. Here, we explore the roles and interactions of DUX4 and PAX7 in FSHD pathology and how the relationship between these two transcription factors deepens understanding via the immune system and muscle regeneration. Considering how FSHD pathomechanisms are represented by "DUX4opathy" models has implications for developing therapies and current clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular BiophysicsKing's College LondonLondonUK
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5
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Lim KRQ, Yokota T. Genetic Approaches for the Treatment of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:642858. [PMID: 33776777 PMCID: PMC7996372 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.642858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by progressive, asymmetric muscle weakness at the face, shoulders, and upper limbs, which spreads to the lower body with age. It is the third most common inherited muscular disorder worldwide. Around 20% of patients are wheelchair-bound, and some present with extramuscular manifestations. FSHD is caused by aberrant expression of the double homeobox protein 4 (DUX4) gene in muscle. DUX4 codes for a transcription factor which, in skeletal muscle, dysregulates numerous signaling activities that culminate in cytotoxicity. Potential treatments for FSHD therefore aim to reduce the expression of DUX4 or the activity of its toxic protein product. In this article, we review how genetic approaches such as those based on oligonucleotide and genome editing technologies have been developed to achieve these goals. We also outline the challenges these therapies are facing on the road to translation, and discuss possible solutions and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Rowel Q. Lim
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Toshifumi Yokota
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- The Friends of Garrett Cumming Research and Muscular Dystrophy Canada, HM Toupin Neurological Science Research Chair, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Type 1 FSHD with 6-10 Repeated Units: Factors Underlying Severity in Index Cases and Disease Penetrance in Their Relatives Attention. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062221. [PMID: 32210100 PMCID: PMC7139460 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular defects in type 1 facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) are caused by a heterozygous contraction of the D4Z4 repeat array from 1 to 10 repeat units (RUs) on 4q35. This study compared (1) the phenotype and severity of FSHD1 between patients carrying 6–8 vs. 9–10 RUs, (2) the amount of methylation in different D4Z4 regions between patients with FSHD1 with different clinical severity scores (CSS). This cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted to measure functional scales and for genetic analysis. Patients were classified into two categories according to RUs: Group 1, 6–8; Group 2, 9–10. Methylation analysis was performed in 27 patients. A total of 99 carriers of a contracted D4Z4 array were examined. No significant correlations between RUs and CSS (r = 0.04, p = 0.73) and any of the clinical outcome scales were observed between the two groups. Hypomethylation was significantly more pronounced in patients with high CSS (>3.5) than those with low CSS (<1.5) (in DR1 and 5P), indicating that the extent of hypomethylation might modulate disease severity. In Group 1, the disease severity is not strongly correlated with the allele size and is mostly correlated with the methylation of D4Z4 regions.
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DUX4 Signalling in the Pathogenesis of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21030729. [PMID: 31979100 PMCID: PMC7037115 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a disabling inherited muscular disorder characterized by asymmetric, progressive muscle weakness and degeneration. Patients display widely variable disease onset and severity, and sometimes present with extra-muscular symptoms. There is a consensus that FSHD is caused by the aberrant production of the double homeobox protein 4 (DUX4) transcription factor in skeletal muscle. DUX4 is normally expressed during early embryonic development, and is then effectively silenced in all tissues except the testis and thymus. Its reactivation in skeletal muscle disrupts numerous signalling pathways that mostly converge on cell death. Here, we review studies on DUX4-affected pathways in skeletal muscle and provide insights into how understanding these could help explain the unique pathogenesis of FSHD.
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8
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Engineering an Environment for the Study of Fibrosis: A 3D Human Muscle Model with Endothelium Specificity and Endomysium. Cell Rep 2018; 25:3858-3868.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.11.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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9
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Integrating clinical and genetic observations in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Curr Opin Neurol 2018; 29:606-13. [PMID: 27389814 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000000360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review gives an overview of the currently known key clinical and (epi)genetic aspects of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and provides perspectives to facilitate future research. RECENT FINDINGS Clinically, imaging studies have contributed to a detailed characterization of the FSHD phenotype, and a model is proposed with five stages of disease progression. A number of clinical trials have been conducted regarding exercise and diet aiming to reduce symptoms. Genetically, at least two different mechanisms (FSHD1 and FSHD2) lead to double homeobox 4 (DUX4) expression in skeletal myocytes, which is expected to be necessary for the disease. Disease severity is most likely determined by a combination of the D4Z4 repeat size and its epigenetic state. SUMMARY FSHD is one of the most common muscular dystrophies and is characterized by a typical distribution of muscle weakness. Progress has been made on clinical as well as on (epi)genetic aspects of the disease. Currently, there is no cure available for FSHD. For successful development of new treatments targeting the disease process, integration of clinical and pathogenetic knowledge is essential. A clinical trial toolbox that consists of patient registries, biomarkers and clinical outcome measures will be required to effectively conduct future clinical trials.
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10
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Potikanond S, Nimlamool W, Noordermeer J, Fradkin LG. Muscular Dystrophy Model. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1076:147-172. [PMID: 29951819 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-0529-0_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of muscle weakness disease involving in inherited genetic conditions. MD is caused by mutations or alteration in the genes responsible for the structure and functioning of muscles. There are many different types of MD which have a wide range from mild symptoms to severe disability. Some types involve the muscles used for breathing which eventually affect life expectancy. This chapter provides an overview of the MD types, its gene mutations, and the Drosophila MD models. Specifically, the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the most common form of MD, will be thoroughly discussed including Dystrophin genes, their isoforms, possible mechanisms, and signaling pathways of pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saranyapin Potikanond
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
| | - Wutigri Nimlamool
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Jasprien Noordermeer
- Department of Molecular Biology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lee G Fradkin
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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11
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Hirata Y, Katagiri K, Nagaoka K, Morishita T, Kudoh Y, Hatta T, Naguro I, Kano K, Udagawa T, Natsume T, Aoki J, Inada T, Noguchi T, Ichijo H, Matsuzawa A. TRIM48 Promotes ASK1 Activation and Cell Death through Ubiquitination-Dependent Degradation of the ASK1-Negative Regulator PRMT1. Cell Rep 2017; 21:2447-2457. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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DeSimone AM, Pakula A, Lek A, Emerson CP. Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy. Compr Physiol 2017; 7:1229-1279. [PMID: 28915324 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c160039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy is a common form of muscular dystrophy that presents clinically with progressive weakness of the facial, scapular, and humeral muscles, with later involvement of the trunk and lower extremities. While typically inherited as autosomal dominant, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) has a complex genetic and epigenetic etiology that has only recently been well described. The most prevalent form of the disease, FSHD1, is associated with the contraction of the D4Z4 microsatellite repeat array located on a permissive 4qA chromosome. D4Z4 contraction allows epigenetic derepression of the array, and possibly the surrounding 4q35 region, allowing misexpression of the toxic DUX4 transcription factor encoded within the terminal D4Z4 repeat in skeletal muscles. The less common form of the disease, FSHD2, results from haploinsufficiency of the SMCHD1 gene in individuals carrying a permissive 4qA allele, also leading to the derepression of DUX4, further supporting a central role for DUX4. How DUX4 misexpression contributes to FSHD muscle pathology is a major focus of current investigation. Misexpression of other genes at the 4q35 locus, including FRG1 and FAT1, and unlinked genes, such as SMCHD1, has also been implicated as disease modifiers, leading to several competing disease models. In this review, we describe recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology of FSHD, including the application of MRI as a research and diagnostic tool, the genetic and epigenetic disruptions associated with the disease, and the molecular basis of FSHD. We discuss how these advances are leading to the emergence of new approaches to enable development of FSHD therapeutics. © 2017 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 7:1229-1279, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec M DeSimone
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anna Pakula
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Angela Lek
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Genetics at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Charles P Emerson
- Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Program, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
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Hansda AK, Tiwari A, Dixit M. Current status and future prospect of FSHD region gene 1. J Biosci 2017; 42:345-353. [PMID: 28569257 DOI: 10.1007/s12038-017-9681-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
FSHD region gene 1 (FRG1), as the name suggests, is the primary candidate gene for fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy disease. It seemingly affects muscle physiology in normal individuals but in FSHD, where it is found to be highly upregulated, might be involved in disruption of face, scapula and humeral skeletal muscle. Literature on FRG1, reviewed from 1996 to 2016, reveals that it is primarily associated with muscle development and maintenance. Approximately 75% of FSHD patients also show vascular abnormalities indicating that FRG1 might have some part to play in these abnormalities. Research involving vasculature in X. laevis larvae shows that FRG1 positively affects normal vasculature. Few of the well-established angiogenic regulators seem to get affected by abnormal expression level of FRG1. Its primary localization in sub nuclear structures like Cajal bodies and nuclear speckles indicates regulation of the above-mentioned factors by transcriptional and post-transcriptional machineries, but in-depth studies need to be done to conclude a clear statement. In this review, we have attempted to present all the work done on FRG1, all the lacunas which need to be unraveled, and hypothesized a model for our readers to get an insight into its molecular mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arman Kunwar Hansda
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Khurda 752 050 Odisha, India
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Knopp P, Krom YD, Banerji CRS, Panamarova M, Moyle LA, den Hamer B, van der Maarel SM, Zammit PS. DUX4 induces a transcriptome more characteristic of a less-differentiated cell state and inhibits myogenesis. J Cell Sci 2016; 129:3816-3831. [PMID: 27744317 PMCID: PMC5087662 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.180372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle wasting in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) results in substantial morbidity. On a disease-permissive chromosome 4qA haplotype, genomic and/or epigenetic changes at the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat allows transcription of the DUX4 retrogene. Analysing transgenic mice carrying a human D4Z4 genomic locus from an FSHD-affected individual showed that DUX4 was transiently induced in myoblasts during skeletal muscle regeneration. Centromeric to the D4Z4 repeats is an inverted D4Z4 unit encoding DUX4c. Expression of DUX4, DUX4c and DUX4 constructs, including constitutively active, dominant-negative and truncated versions, revealed that DUX4 activates target genes to inhibit proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells, but that it also downregulates target genes to suppress myogenic differentiation. These transcriptional changes elicited by DUX4 in mouse have significant overlap with genes regulated by DUX4 in man. Comparison of DUX4 and DUX4c transcriptional perturbations revealed that DUX4 regulates genes involved in cell proliferation, whereas DUX4c regulates genes engaged in angiogenesis and muscle development, with both DUX4 and DUX4c modifing genes involved in urogenital development. Transcriptomic analysis showed that DUX4 operates through both target gene activation and repression to orchestrate a transcriptome characteristic of a less-differentiated cell state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Knopp
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Yvonne D Krom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Christopher R S Banerji
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK Centre of Mathematics and Physics in the Life Sciences and Experimental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Maryna Panamarova
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Louise A Moyle
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Bianca den Hamer
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Silvère M van der Maarel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, The Netherlands
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, New Hunt's House, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
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Gaillard MC, Puppo F, Roche S, Dion C, Campana ES, Mariot V, Chaix C, Vovan C, Mazaleyrat K, Tasmadjian A, Bernard R, Dumonceaux J, Attarian S, Lévy N, Nguyen K, Magdinier F, Bartoli M. Segregation between SMCHD1 mutation, D4Z4 hypomethylation and Facio-Scapulo-Humeral Dystrophy: a case report. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2016; 17:66. [PMID: 27634379 PMCID: PMC5025538 DOI: 10.1186/s12881-016-0328-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background The main form of Facio-Scapulo-Humeral muscular Dystrophy is linked to copy number reduction of the 4q D4Z4 macrosatellite (FSHD1). In 5 % of cases, FSHD phenotype appears in the absence of D4Z4 reduction (FSHD2). In 70-80 % of these patients, variants of the SMCHD1 gene segregate with 4qA haplotypes and D4Z4 hypomethylation. Case presentation We report a family presenting with neuromuscular symptoms reminiscent of FSHD but without D4Z4 copy reduction. We characterized the 4q35 region using molecular combing, searched for mutation in the SMCHD1 gene and determined D4Z4 methylation level by sodium bisulfite sequencing. We further investigated the impact of the SMCHD1 mutation at the protein level and on the NMD-dependent degradation of transcript. In muscle, we observe moderate but significant reduction in D4Z4 methylation, not correlated with DUX4-fl expression. Exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous insertion of 7 bp in exon 37 of the SMCHD1 gene producing a loss of frame with premature stop codon 4 amino acids after the insertion (c.4614-4615insTATAATA). Both wild-type and mutated transcripts are detected. Conclusion The truncated protein is absent and the full-length protein level is similar in patients and controls indicating that in this family, FSHD is not associated with SMCHD1 haploinsufficiency. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12881-016-0328-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Camille Dion
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, GMGF, Marseille, France
| | - Emmanuelle Salort Campana
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, GMGF, Marseille, France.,APHM, Centre de Référence des Maladies Neuromusculaires et de la SLA, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, 13385, France
| | - Virginie Mariot
- Center of Research in Myology/ Institut de Myologie UMR974 - UPMC Université Paris 6/ Inserm /FRE3617- CNRS, Groupement Hospitalier de la Pitié Salpétrière, Paris, Cedex 13, France
| | - Charlene Chaix
- APHM, Laboratoire de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, 13385, France
| | - Catherine Vovan
- APHM, Laboratoire de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, 13385, France
| | | | | | - Rafaelle Bernard
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, GMGF, Marseille, France.,APHM, Laboratoire de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, 13385, France
| | - Julie Dumonceaux
- Center of Research in Myology/ Institut de Myologie UMR974 - UPMC Université Paris 6/ Inserm /FRE3617- CNRS, Groupement Hospitalier de la Pitié Salpétrière, Paris, Cedex 13, France
| | - Shahram Attarian
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, GMGF, Marseille, France.,APHM, Centre de Référence des Maladies Neuromusculaires et de la SLA, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, 13385, France
| | - Nicolas Lévy
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, GMGF, Marseille, France.,APHM, Laboratoire de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, 13385, France
| | - Karine Nguyen
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, GMGF, Marseille, France.,APHM, Laboratoire de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, 13385, France
| | | | - Marc Bartoli
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, GMGF, Marseille, France.,APHM, Laboratoire de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, 13385, France
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16
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Visone R, Gilardi M, Marsano A, Rasponi M, Bersini S, Moretti M. Cardiac Meets Skeletal: What's New in Microfluidic Models for Muscle Tissue Engineering. Molecules 2016; 21:E1128. [PMID: 27571058 PMCID: PMC6274098 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21091128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Revised: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last few years microfluidics and microfabrication technique principles have been extensively exploited for biomedical applications. In this framework, organs-on-a-chip represent promising tools to reproduce key features of functional tissue units within microscale culture chambers. These systems offer the possibility to investigate the effects of biochemical, mechanical, and electrical stimulations, which are usually applied to enhance the functionality of the engineered tissues. Since the functionality of muscle tissues relies on the 3D organization and on the perfect coupling between electrochemical stimulation and mechanical contraction, great efforts have been devoted to generate biomimetic skeletal and cardiac systems to allow high-throughput pathophysiological studies and drug screening. This review critically analyzes microfluidic platforms that were designed for skeletal and cardiac muscle tissue engineering. Our aim is to highlight which specific features of the engineered systems promoted a typical reorganization of the engineered construct and to discuss how promising design solutions exploited for skeletal muscle models could be applied to improve cardiac tissue models and vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Visone
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico Di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy.
| | - Mara Gilardi
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano 20161, Italy.
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, PhD School in Life Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano 20126, Italy.
| | - Anna Marsano
- Departments of Surgery and Biomedicine, University Basel, University Hospital Basel, Basel 4065, Switzerland.
| | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico Di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy.
| | - Simone Bersini
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano 20161, Italy.
| | - Matteo Moretti
- Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano 20161, Italy.
- Regenerative Medicine Technologies Lab, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano 6900, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Lugano 6900, Switzerland.
- Cardiocentro Ticino, Lugano 6900, Switzerland.
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17
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Jones TI, Parilla M, Jones PL. Transgenic Drosophila for Investigating DUX4 and FRG1, Two Genes Associated with Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD). PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150938. [PMID: 26942723 PMCID: PMC4778869 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is typically an adult onset dominant myopathy. Epigenetic changes in the chromosome 4q35 region linked to both forms of FSHD lead to a relaxation of repression and increased somatic expression of DUX4-fl (DUX4-full length), the pathogenic alternative splicing isoform of the DUX4 gene. DUX4-fl encodes a transcription factor expressed in healthy testis and pluripotent stem cells; however, in FSHD, increased levels of DUX4-fl in myogenic cells lead to aberrant regulation of target genes. DUX4-fl has proven difficult to study in vivo; thus, little is known about its normal and pathogenic roles. The endogenous expression of DUX4-fl in FSHD-derived human muscle and myogenic cells is extremely low, exogenous expression of DUX4-fl in somatic cells rapidly induces cytotoxicity, and, due in part to the lack of conservation beyond primate lineages, viable animal models based on DUX4-fl have been difficult to generate. By contrast, the FRG1 (FSHD region gene 1), which is linked to FSHD, is evolutionarily conserved from invertebrates to humans, and has been studied in several model organisms. FRG1 expression is critical for the development of musculature and vasculature, and overexpression of FRG1 produces a myopathic phenotype, yet the normal and pathological functions of FRG1 are not well understood. Interestingly, DUX4 and FRG1 were recently linked when the latter was identified as a direct transcriptional target of DUX4-FL. To better understand the pathways affected in FSHD by DUX4-fl and FRG1, we generated transgenic lines of Drosophila expressing either gene under control of the UAS/GAL4 binary system. Utilizing these lines, we generated screenable phenotypes recapitulating certain known consequences of DUX4-fl or FRG1 overexpression. These transgenic Drosophila lines provide resources to dissect the pathways affected by DUX4-fl or FRG1 in a genetically tractable organism and may provide insight into both muscle development and pathogenic mechanisms in FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takako I. Jones
- The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Megan Parilla
- The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Peter L. Jones
- The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America
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18
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Bäumer D, Hammans S. An overview of muscle diseases presenting in adulthood. Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 2015; 76:576-82. [DOI: 10.12968/hmed.2015.76.10.576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Patients with muscle disease present not only to neurologists, but also to rheumatologists and general physicians. This article provides a framework of how to approach patients with suspected muscle disease, and reviews the clinical features of the most frequently encountered acquired and genetic conditions in adult practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon Hammans
- Consultant Neurologist at the Wessex Neurological Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD
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19
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Lek A, Rahimov F, Jones PL, Kunkel LM. Emerging preclinical animal models for FSHD. Trends Mol Med 2015; 21:295-306. [PMID: 25801126 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2015.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Revised: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is a unique and complex genetic disease that is not entirely solved. Recent advances in the field have led to a consensus genetic premise for the disorder, enabling researchers to now pursue the design of preclinical models. In this review we explore all available FSHD models (DUX4-dependent and -independent) for their utility in therapeutic discovery and potential to yield novel disease insights. Owing to the complex nature of FSHD, there is currently no single model that accurately recapitulates the genetic and pathophysiological spectrum of the disorder. Existing models emphasize only specific aspects of the disease, highlighting the need for more collaborative research and novel paradigms to advance the translational research space of FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Lek
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Wellstone Program, Departments of Neurology and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
| | - Fedik Rahimov
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Wellstone Program, Departments of Neurology and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Peter L Jones
- The Wellstone Program, Departments of Neurology and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), Worcester, MA 01655, USA; The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIHCD) Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Louis M Kunkel
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Wellstone Program, Departments of Neurology and Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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20
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Feeney SJ, McGrath MJ, Sriratana A, Gehrig SM, Lynch GS, D’Arcy CE, Price JT, McLean CA, Tupler R, Mitchell CA. FHL1 reduces dystrophy in transgenic mice overexpressing FSHD muscular dystrophy region gene 1 (FRG1). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117665. [PMID: 25695429 PMCID: PMC4335040 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal-dominant disease with no effective treatment. The genetic cause of FSHD is complex and the primary pathogenic insult underlying the muscle disease is unknown. Several disease candidate genes have been proposed including DUX4 and FRG1. Expression analysis studies of FSHD report the deregulation of genes which mediate myoblast differentiation and fusion. Transgenic mice overexpressing FRG1 recapitulate the FSHD muscular dystrophy phenotype. Our current study selectively examines how increased expression of FRG1 may contribute to myoblast differentiation defects. We generated stable C2C12 cell lines overexpressing FRG1, which exhibited a myoblast fusion defect upon differentiation. To determine if myoblast fusion defects contribute to the FRG1 mouse dystrophic phenotype, this strain was crossed with skeletal muscle specific FHL1-transgenic mice. We previously reported that FHL1 promotes myoblast fusion in vitro and FHL1-transgenic mice develop skeletal muscle hypertrophy. In the current study, FRG1 mice overexpressing FHL1 showed an improvement in the dystrophic phenotype, including a reduced spinal kyphosis, increased muscle mass and myofiber size, and decreased muscle fibrosis. FHL1 expression in FRG1 mice, did not alter satellite cell number or activation, but enhanced myoblast fusion. Primary myoblasts isolated from FRG1 mice showed a myoblast fusion defect that was rescued by FHL1 expression. Therefore, increased FRG1 expression may contribute to a muscular dystrophy phenotype resembling FSHD by impairing myoblast fusion, a defect that can be rescued by enhanced myoblast fusion via expression of FHL1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra J. Feeney
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Meagan J. McGrath
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Absorn Sriratana
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Stefan M. Gehrig
- Basic and Clinical Myology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Gordon S. Lynch
- Basic and Clinical Myology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Colleen E. D’Arcy
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - John T. Price
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, 8001, Australia
| | - Catriona A. McLean
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, 3004, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Rossella Tupler
- Program in Gene Function and Expression, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01655, United States of America
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Universita di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Christina A. Mitchell
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- * E-mail:
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