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Ohkawara B, Kurokawa M, Kanai A, Imamura K, Chen G, Zhang R, Masuda A, Higashi K, Mori H, Suzuki Y, Kurokawa K, Ohno K. Transcriptome profile of subsynaptic myonuclei at the neuromuscular junction in embryogenesis. J Neurochem 2024; 168:342-354. [PMID: 37994470 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16013] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle fiber is a large syncytium with multiple and evenly distributed nuclei. Adult subsynaptic myonuclei beneath the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) express specific genes, the products of which coordinately function in the maintenance of the pre- and post-synaptic regions. However, the gene expression profiles that promote the NMJ formation during embryogenesis remain largely unexplored. We performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) analysis of embryonic and neonatal mouse diaphragms, and found that each myonucleus had a distinct transcriptome pattern during the NMJ formation. Among the previously reported NMJ-constituting genes, Dok7, Chrna1, and Chrnd are specifically expressed in subsynaptic myonuclei at E18.5. In the E18.5 diaphragm, ca. 10.7% of the myonuclei express genes for the NMJ formation (Dok7, Chrna1, and Chrnd) together with four representative β-catenin regulators (Amotl2, Ptprk, Fam53b, and Tcf7l2). Additionally, the temporal gene expression patterns of these seven genes are synchronized in differentiating C2C12 myoblasts. Amotl2 and Ptprk are expressed in the sarcoplasm, where β-catenin serves as a structural protein to organize the membrane-anchored NMJ structure. In contrast, Fam53b and Tcf7l2 are expressed in the myonucleus, where β-catenin serves as a transcriptional coactivator in Wnt/β-catenin signaling at the NMJ. In C2C12 myotubes, knockdown of Amotl2 or Ptprk markedly, and that of Fam53b and Tcf7l2 less efficiently, impair the clustering of acetylcholine receptors. In contrast, knockdown of Fam53b and Tcf7l2, but not of Amotl2 or Ptprk, impairs the gene expression of Slit2 encoding an axonal attractant for motor neurons, which is required for the maturation of motor nerve terminal. Thus, Amotl2 and Ptprk exert different roles at the NM compared to Fam53b and Tcf7l2. Additionally, Wnt ligands originating from the spinal motor neurons and the perichondrium/chondrocyte are likely to work remotely on the subsynaptic nuclei and the myotendinous junctional nuclei, respectively. We conclude that snRNA-seq analysis of embryonic/neonatal diaphragms reveal a novel coordinated expression profile especially in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling that regulate the formation of the embryonic NMJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bisei Ohkawara
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masaomi Kurokawa
- Department of Informatics, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Akinori Kanai
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kiyomi Imamura
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Guiying Chen
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ruchen Zhang
- 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
| | - Koichi Higashi
- Department of Informatics, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Mori
- Department of Informatics, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ken Kurokawa
- Department of Informatics, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kinji Ohno
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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Song J, Duivenvoorde LPM, Grefte S, Kuda O, Martínez-Ramírez F, van der Stelt I, Mastorakou D, van Schothorst EM, Keijer J. Normobaric hypoxia shows enhanced FOXO1 signaling in obese mouse gastrocnemius muscle linked to metabolism and muscle structure and neuromuscular innervation. Pflugers Arch 2023; 475:1265-1281. [PMID: 37656229 PMCID: PMC10567817 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02854-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle relies on mitochondria for sustainable ATP production, which may be impacted by reduced oxygen availability (hypoxia). Compared with long-term hypoxia, the mechanistic in vivo response to acute hypoxia remains elusive. Therefore, we aimed to provide an integrated description of the Musculus gastrocnemius response to acute hypoxia. Fasted male C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice, fed a 40en% fat diet for six weeks, were exposed to 12% O2 normobaric hypoxia or normoxia (20.9% O2) for six hours (n = 12 per group). Whole-body energy metabolism and the transcriptome response of the M. gastrocnemius were analyzed and confirmed by acylcarnitine determination and Q-PCR. At the whole-body level, six hours of hypoxia reduced energy expenditure, increased blood glucose and tended to decreased the respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Whole-genome transcriptome analysis revealed upregulation of forkhead box-O (FOXO) signalling, including an increased expression of tribbles pseudokinase 3 (Trib3). Trib3 positively correlated with blood glucose levels. Upregulated carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A negatively correlated with the RER, but the significantly increased in tissue C14-1, C16-0 and C18-1 acylcarnitines supported that β-oxidation was not regulated. The hypoxia-induced FOXO activation could also be connected to altered gene expression related to fiber-type switching, extracellular matrix remodeling, muscle differentiation and neuromuscular junction denervation. Our results suggest that a six-hour exposure of obese mice to 12% O2 normobaric hypoxia impacts M. gastrocnemius via FOXO1, initiating alterations that may contribute to muscle remodeling of which denervation is novel and warrants further investigation. The findings support an early role of hypoxia in tissue alterations in hypoxia-associated conditions such as aging and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Song
- Human and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Sander Grefte
- Human and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ondrej Kuda
- Laboratory of Metabolism of Bioactive Lipids, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Felipe Martínez-Ramírez
- Laboratory of Metabolism of Bioactive Lipids, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Inge van der Stelt
- Human and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dimitra Mastorakou
- Laboratory of Metabolism of Bioactive Lipids, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220, Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | | | - Jaap Keijer
- Human and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Shao S, Shi G, Bi FF, Huang K. Pharmacological Treatments for Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes Caused by COLQ Mutations. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1594-1605. [PMID: 36703579 PMCID: PMC10472815 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230126145652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) refer to a series of inherited disorders caused by defects in various proteins. Mutation in the collagen-like tail subunit of asymmetric acetylcholinesterase (COLQ) is the second-most common cause of CMS. However, data on pharmacological treatments are limited. OBJECTIVE In this study, we reviewed related reports to determine the most appropriate pharmacological strategy for CMS caused by COLQ mutations. A literature review and meta-analysis were also performed. PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify studies published in English before July 22, 2022. RESULTS A total of 42 studies including 164 patients with CMS due to 72 different COLQ mutations were selected for evaluation. Most studies were case reports, and none were randomized clinical trials. Our meta-analysis revealed evidence that β-adrenergic agonists, including salbutamol and ephedrine, can be used as first-line pharmacological treatments for CMS patients with COLQ mutations, as 98.7% of patients (74/75) treated with β-adrenergic agonists showed positive effects. In addition, AChEIs should be avoided in CMS patients with COLQ mutations, as 90.5% (105/116) of patients treated with AChEIs showed either no or negative effects. CONCLUSION (1) β-adrenergic agonist therapy is the first pharmacological strategy for treating CMS with COLQ mutations. (2) AChEIs should be avoided in patients with CMS with COLQ mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Shao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Guanzhong Shi
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Fang-Fang Bi
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
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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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5
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Huang K, Duan HQ, Li QX, Luo YB, Bi FF, Yang H. Expanding the clinicopathological-genetic spectrum of glycogen storage disease type IXd by a Chinese neuromuscular center. Front Neurol 2022; 13:945280. [PMID: 36034300 PMCID: PMC9406516 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.945280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glycogen storage disease (GSDs) is characterized by abnormally inherited glycogen metabolism. GSD IXd, which is caused by mutations in the PHKA1 gene, is an X-linked rare disease with mild myopathic symptoms. To date, only 13 patients with GSD IXd have been reported. In this study, we aimed to expand the clinicopathological-genetic spectrum of GSD IXd at a neuromuscular center in China. Methods Data on patients diagnosed with GSD IXd at our neuromuscular center were collected retrospectively. Clinical features, electrophysiology, muscle pathology, and genetic information were analyzed. Results Between 2015 and 2021, three patients were diagnosed with GSD IXd based on clinical manifestations, pathological findings, and genetic testing. One patient presented with mitochondrial myopathy. All patients exhibited muscle weakness and elevated levels of creatine kinase. Electromyography-detected myopathic changes were found in two patients, whereas one patient refused to undergo this examination. Pathological examinations in all patients revealed subsarcolemmal accumulation of glycogen under PAS staining. All patients had mutations in the PHKA1 gene and the patient with mitochondrial myopathy also had a mutation in the MT-TL1 gene. Conclusion Our study expands the clinicogenotype and phenotype of GSD IXd in a Chinese population. Our study also expands the known mutation spectrum for GSD IXd, contributing to a better characterization and understanding of this ultrarare neuromuscular disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Huang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Hui-Qian Duan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Qiu-Xiang Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yue-Bei Luo
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Fang-Fang Bi
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- *Correspondence: Huan Yang
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6
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Huang K, Duan HQ, Li QX, Luo YB, Bi FF, Yang H. Clinicopathological-genetic features of congenital myasthenic syndrome from a Chinese neuromuscular centre. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 26:3828-3836. [PMID: 35670010 PMCID: PMC9279597 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) encompasses a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders affecting nerve transmission across the neuromuscular junction. The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical, physiological, pathohistological and genetic features of nine unrelated Chinese patients with CMS from a single neuromuscular centre. A total of nine patients aged from neonates to 34 years were enrolled who exhibited initial symptoms. Physical examinations revealed that all patients exhibited muscle weakness. Muscle biopsies demonstrated multiple myopathological changes, including increased fibre size variation, myofibrillar network disarray, necrosis, myofiber grouping, regeneration, fibre atrophy and angular fibres. Genetic testing revealed six different mutated genes, including AGRN (2/9), CHRNE (1/9), GFPT1 (1/9), GMPPB (1/9), PLEC (3/9) and SCN4A (1/9). In addition, patients exhibited differential responses to pharmacological treatment. Prompt utilization of genetic testing will identify novel variants and expand our understanding of the phenotype of this rare syndrome. Our findings contribute to the clinical, pathohistological and genetic spectrum of congenital myasthenic syndrome in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Huang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine and Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hui-Qian Duan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiu-Xiang Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yue-Bei Luo
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fang-Fang Bi
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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7
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Chen J, Li K, Chen J, Wang X, Ling R, Cheng M, Chen Z, Chen F, He Q, Li S, Zhang C, Jiang Y, Chen Q, Wang A, Chen D. Aberrant translation regulated by METTL1/WDR4-mediated tRNA N7-methylguanosine modification drives head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2022; 42:223-244. [PMID: 35179319 PMCID: PMC8923133 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer cells selectively promote the translation of oncogenic transcripts to stimulate cancer progression. Although growing evidence has revealed that tRNA modifications and related genes participate in this process, their roles in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we sought to investigate the function and mechanisms of the transfer RNA (tRNA) N7‐methylguanosine (m7G) modification in regulating the occurrence and development of HNSCC. Methods Cell lost‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function assays, xenograft models, conditional knockout and knockin mouse models were used to study the physiological functions of tRNA m7G modification in HNSCC tumorigenesis. tRNA modification and expression profiling, mRNA translation profiling and rescue assays were performed to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms. Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) was conducted to explore the tumor microenvironment changes. Results The tRNA m7G methyltransferase complex components Methyltransferase‐like 1 (METTL1)/WD repeat domain 4 (WDR4) were upregulated in HNSCC and associated with a poor prognosis. Functionally, METTL1/WDR4 promoted HNSCC progression and metastasis in cell‐based and transgenic mouse models. Mechanistically, ablation of METTL1 reduced the m7G levels of 16 tRNAs, inhibiting the translation of a subset of oncogenic transcripts, including genes related to the phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signaling pathway. In addition, chemical modulators of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway reversed the effects of Mettl1 in mouse HNSCC. Furthermore, scRNA‐seq results revealed that Mettl1 knockout in mouse tumor cells altered the immune landscape and cell‐cell interaction between the tumor and stromal compartment. Conclusions The tRNA m7G methyltransferase METTL1 was found to promote the development and malignancy of HNSCC through regulating global mRNA translation, including the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, and found to alter immune landscape. METTL1 could be a promising treatment target for HNSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Kang Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Jianwen Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Xiaochen Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Rongsong Ling
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, P. R. China
| | - Maosheng Cheng
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Zhi Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Fangfang Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Qianting He
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Shuai Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Caihua Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Yizhou Jiang
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, P. R. China
| | - Qianming Chen
- School of Stomatology, Cancer Center, and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Clinical Research Center of Oral Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Stomatology Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, P. R. China
| | - Anxun Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Demeng Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
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Graham ZA. Mini-review: Local and downstream responses to the neuromuscular junction: Potential roles for integrins, connexins and ephrins in altering muscle characteristics and function. Neurosci Lett 2022; 768:136359. [PMID: 34813913 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136359] [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: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle develops in a manner directly related to its innervating motor neuron. The formation of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a well-described process that is coordinated to allow for efficient communication between the central nervous system and muscle for muscle contraction and movement. Some of the major mediators of NMJ formation, like muscle-specific kinase, agrin and laminin, have been thoroughly described but there are other important proteins that have an integral role in muscle health that have also been associated with proper NMJ integrity and fiber health and function. This mini-review focuses on integrins, connexin hemichannels and ephrins and their relationship with the NMJin regulating muscle health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A Graham
- Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, United States; Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.
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9
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Findings of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R7 telethonin-related patients from a Chinese neuromuscular center. Neurogenetics 2022; 23:37-44. [PMID: 34982307 DOI: 10.1007/s10048-021-00681-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous neuromuscular disorders. LGMD-R7, which is caused by telethonin gene (TCAP) mutations, is one of the rarest forms of LGMD, and only a small number of LGMD-R7 cases have been described and mostly include patients from Brazil. A total of two LGMD-R7 patients were enrolled at a Chinese neuromuscular center. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Laboratory investigations and electromyography were performed. Routine and immunohistochemistry staining of muscle specimens was performed, and a next-generation sequencing panel array for genes associated with hereditary neuromuscular disorders was used for analysis. The patients exhibited predominant muscle weakness. Electromyography revealed myopathic changes. The muscle biopsy showed myopathic features, such as increased fiber size variation, muscle fiber atrophy and regeneration, slight hyperplasia of the connective tissue, and disarray of the myofibrillar network. Two patients were confirmed to have mutations in the open reading frame of TCAP by next-generation sequencing. One patient had compound heterozygous mutations, and the other patient harbored a novel homozygous mutation. Western blotting analysis of the skeletal muscle lysate confirmed the absence of telethonin in the patients. We described two LGMD-R7 patients presenting a classical LGMD phenotype and a novel homozygous TCAP mutation. Our research expands the spectrum of LGMD-R7 due to TCAP mutations based on patients from a Chinese neuromuscular center.
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Zhang KY, Duan HQ, Li QX, Luo YB, Bi FF, Huang K, Yang H. Expanding the clinicopathological-genetic spectrum of GNE myopathy by a Chinese neuromuscular centre. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:10494-10503. [PMID: 34676965 PMCID: PMC8581342 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
GNE myopathy is a heterogeneous group of ultrarare neuromuscular disorders caused by mutations in the GNE gene. An estimated prevalence of 1~21/1,000,000 leads to a deficiency of data and a lack of availability of samples to conduct clinical research on this neuromuscular disorder. Although GNE, which is the mutated gene responsible for the disease, is well known as the key enzyme in the biosynthesis pathway of sialic acid, the clinicopathological-genetic spectrum of GNE mutant patients is still unclear and expanding. This study presents ten unrelated patients with GNE myopathy, discovering five novel missense mutations. Clinical, electrophysiological, imaging, pathological and genetic data are presented in a retrospective manner. Interestingly, several patients in the cohort were found to have peripheral neuropathy and inflammatory cell infiltration in muscle biopsies, which have seldom been reported. This study, conducted by a neuromuscular centre in China, is the first attempt to highlight these abnormal clinicopathological features and associate them with genetic mutations in GNE myopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Yue Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Clinic Medicine of 8-year Program, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hui-Qian Duan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiu-Xiang Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yue-Bei Luo
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fang-Fang Bi
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine and Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Huang K, Duan HQ, Li QX, Luo YB, Bi FF, Yang H. Clinicopathological features of titinopathy from a Chinese neuromuscular center. Neuropathology 2021; 41:349-356. [PMID: 34553419 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Titin, one of the largest proteins in humans, is a major component of muscle sarcomeres. Pathogenic variants in the titin gene (TTN) have been reported to cause a range of skeletal muscle diseases, collectively known as titinopathy. Titinopathy is a heterogeneous group of disabling diseases characterized by muscle weakness. In our study, we aimed to establish the clinicopathological-genetic spectrum of titinopathy from a single neuromuscular center. Three patients were diagnosed as having definite titinopathy, and additional three patients were diagnosed as having possible titinopathy according to the diagnostic criteria. All the patients showed initial symptoms from age one to 40 years. Physical examination revealed that five patients had muscle weakness, and that one patient experienced behavioral changes. Muscle biopsy specimens obtained from all six patients demonstrated multiple myopathological changes, including increased fiber size variation, muscle fiber hypertrophy or atrophy, formation of centralized cell nuclei, necklace cytoplasmic bodies, and formation of rimmed vacuoles and cores. Genetic testing revealed 11 different TTN alterations, including missense (6/11), nonsense (2/11), frameshift (2/11), and splicing (1/11) mutations. Our study provides further evidence that TTN mutations are more likely to be responsible for an increasing proportion of various myopathies, such as hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure (HMERF), core myopathy, and distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles, than currently recognized mutations. Our findings expand the clinical, pathohistological and genetic spectrum of titinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Huang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hui-Qian Duan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiu-Xiang Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yue-Bei Luo
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fang-Fang Bi
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Huang K, Liu W, Zhou J, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Tang X, Liang J, Bi FF. Repositive RT-PCR test in discharged COVID-19 patients during medical isolation observation. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18:2545-2550. [PMID: 34104085 PMCID: PMC8176169 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.58766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been researched. However, the prevalence of repositivity by real-time PCR for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving 599 discharged patients with COVID-19 in a single medical centre. The clinical features of patients during their hospitalization and 14-day post-discharge quarantine were collected. Results: A total of 122 patients (20.4%) out of 599 patients retested positive after discharge. Specifically, 94 (15.7%) retested positive within 24 h of discharge, and another 28 patients (4.7%) were repositive on day 7 after discharge, although none showed any clinical symptomatic recurrence. Both repositives and non‑repositives have similar patterns of IgG and IgM. Notably, the length of hospitalization of non-repositive patients was longer than that of 24-h repositive patients and 7-day repositive patients. In addition, the length of hospitalization of 24-h repositive patients was shorter than that of 7-day repositive patients, indicating that the length of hospitalization was also a determinant of viral shedding. Conclusion: Our study provides further information for improving the management of recovered and discharged patients, and further studies should be performed to elucidate the infectiveness of individuals with prolonged or RNA repositivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Huang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China
| | - Wen Liu
- Department of laboratory medicine, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Jinxia Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Department of laboratory medicine, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yuxiang Zhang
- Department of laboratory medicine, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xinle Tang
- Department of laboratory medicine, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Jing Liang
- Department of laboratory medicine, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Fang-Fang Bi
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China
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