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In 't Groen SLM, Franken M, Bock T, Krüger M, de Greef JC, Pijnappel WWMP. A knock down strategy for rapid, generic, and versatile modelling of muscular dystrophies in 3D-tissue-engineered-skeletal muscle. Skelet Muscle 2024; 14:3. [PMID: 38389096 PMCID: PMC10882755 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-024-00335-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human iPSC-derived 3D-tissue-engineered-skeletal muscles (3D-TESMs) offer advanced technology for disease modelling. However, due to the inherent genetic heterogeneity among human individuals, it is often difficult to distinguish disease-related readouts from random variability. The generation of genetically matched isogenic controls using gene editing can reduce variability, but the generation of isogenic hiPSC-derived 3D-TESMs can take up to 6 months, thereby reducing throughput. METHODS Here, by combining 3D-TESM and shRNA technologies, we developed a disease modelling strategy to induce distinct genetic deficiencies in a single hiPSC-derived myogenic progenitor cell line within 1 week. RESULTS As proof of principle, we recapitulated disease-associated pathology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A caused by loss of function of DMD and CAPN3, respectively. shRNA-mediated knock down of DMD or CAPN3 induced a loss of contractile function, disruption of tissue architecture, and disease-specific proteomes. Pathology in DMD-deficient 3D-TESMs was partially rescued by a candidate gene therapy treatment using micro-dystrophin, with similar efficacy compared to animal models. CONCLUSIONS These results show that isogenic shRNA-based humanized 3D-TESM models provide a fast, cheap, and efficient tool to model muscular dystrophies and are useful for the preclinical evaluation of novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijn L M In 't Groen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 GE, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 GE, The Netherlands
- Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 GE, The Netherlands
| | - Marnix Franken
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, Netherlands
| | - Theresa Bock
- Institute of Genetics and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marcus Krüger
- Institute of Genetics and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, 2333 ZA, Netherlands
| | - W W M Pim Pijnappel
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 GE, The Netherlands.
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 GE, The Netherlands.
- Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 GE, The Netherlands.
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2
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van der Wal E, Iuliano A, In 't Groen SLM, Bholasing AP, Priesmann D, Sharma P, den Hamer B, Saggiomo V, Krüger M, Pijnappel WWMP, de Greef JC. Highly contractile 3D tissue engineered skeletal muscles from human iPSCs reveal similarities with primary myoblast-derived tissues. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1954-1971. [PMID: 37774701 PMCID: PMC10656354 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle research is transitioning toward 3D tissue engineered in vitro models reproducing muscle's native architecture and supporting measurement of functionality. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offer high yields of cells for differentiation. It has been difficult to differentiate high-quality, pure 3D muscle tissues from hiPSCs that show contractile properties comparable to primary myoblast-derived tissues. Here, we present a transgene-free method for the generation of purified, expandable myogenic progenitors (MPs) from hiPSCs grown under feeder-free conditions. We defined a protocol with optimal hydrogel and medium conditions that allowed production of highly contractile 3D tissue engineered skeletal muscles with forces similar to primary myoblast-derived tissues. Gene expression and proteomic analysis between hiPSC-derived and primary myoblast-derived 3D tissues revealed a similar expression profile of proteins involved in myogenic differentiation and sarcomere function. The protocol should be generally applicable for the study of personalized human skeletal muscle tissue in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik van der Wal
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Alessandro Iuliano
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stijn L M In 't Groen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anjali P Bholasing
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dominik Priesmann
- Institute of Genetics and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Preeti Sharma
- Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bianca den Hamer
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Vittorio Saggiomo
- Department of BioNanoTechnology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WG Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marcus Krüger
- Institute of Genetics and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - W W M Pim Pijnappel
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands.
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3
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Tapia Del Fierro A, den Hamer B, Benetti N, Jansz N, Chen K, Beck T, Vanyai H, Gurzau AD, Daxinger L, Xue S, Ly TTN, Wanigasuriya I, Iminitoff M, Breslin K, Oey H, Krom YD, van der Hoorn D, Bouwman LF, Johanson TM, Ritchie ME, Gouil QA, Reversade B, Prin F, Mohun T, van der Maarel SM, McGlinn E, Murphy JM, Keniry A, de Greef JC, Blewitt ME. SMCHD1 has separable roles in chromatin architecture and gene silencing that could be targeted in disease. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5466. [PMID: 37749075 PMCID: PMC10519958 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40992-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The interplay between 3D chromatin architecture and gene silencing is incompletely understood. Here, we report a novel point mutation in the non-canonical SMC protein SMCHD1 that enhances its silencing capacity at endogenous developmental targets. Moreover, it also results in enhanced silencing at the facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy associated macrosatellite-array, D4Z4, resulting in enhanced repression of DUX4 encoded by this repeat. Heightened SMCHD1 silencing perturbs developmental Hox gene activation, causing a homeotic transformation in mice. Paradoxically, the mutant SMCHD1 appears to enhance insulation against other epigenetic regulators, including PRC2 and CTCF, while depleting long range chromatin interactions akin to what is observed in the absence of SMCHD1. These data suggest that SMCHD1's role in long range chromatin interactions is not directly linked to gene silencing or insulating the chromatin, refining the model for how the different levels of SMCHD1-mediated chromatin regulation interact to bring about gene silencing in normal development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres Tapia Del Fierro
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Bianca den Hamer
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Natalia Benetti
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Natasha Jansz
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kelan Chen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tamara Beck
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Hannah Vanyai
- Crick Advanced Light Microscopy Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Alexandra D Gurzau
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Lucia Daxinger
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shifeng Xue
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thanh Thao Nguyen Ly
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Iromi Wanigasuriya
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Megan Iminitoff
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kelsey Breslin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Harald Oey
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Yvonne D Krom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Dinja van der Hoorn
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Linde F Bouwman
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Timothy M Johanson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Matthew E Ritchie
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Quentin A Gouil
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Bruno Reversade
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Fabrice Prin
- Crick Advanced Light Microscopy Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Timothy Mohun
- Crick Advanced Light Microscopy Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Edwina McGlinn
- EMBL Australia, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - James M Murphy
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Keniry
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marnie E Blewitt
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- The Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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4
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Olie CS, Pinto-Fernández A, Damianou A, Vendrell I, Mei H, den Hamer B, van der Wal E, de Greef JC, Raz V, Kessler BM. USP18 is an essential regulator of muscle cell differentiation and maturation. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:231. [PMID: 37002195 PMCID: PMC10066380 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05725-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitin proteasomal system is a critical regulator of muscle physiology, and impaired UPS is key in many muscle pathologies. Yet, little is known about the function of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) in the muscle cell context. We performed a genetic screen to identify DUBs as potential regulators of muscle cell differentiation. Surprisingly, we observed that the depletion of ubiquitin-specific protease 18 (USP18) affected the differentiation of muscle cells. USP18 depletion first stimulated differentiation initiation. Later, during differentiation, the absence of USP18 expression abrogated myotube maintenance. USP18 enzymatic function typically attenuates the immune response by removing interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) from protein substrates. However, in muscle cells, we found that USP18, predominantly nuclear, regulates differentiation independent of ISG15 and the ISG response. Exploring the pattern of RNA expression profiles and protein networks whose levels depend on USP18 expression, we found that differentiation initiation was concomitant with reduced expression of the cell-cycle gene network and altered expression of myogenic transcription (co) factors. We show that USP18 depletion altered the calcium channel gene network, resulting in reduced calcium flux in myotubes. Additionally, we show that reduced expression of sarcomeric proteins in the USP18 proteome was consistent with reduced contractile force in an engineered muscle model. Our results revealed nuclear USP18 as a critical regulator of differentiation initiation and maintenance, independent of ISG15 and its role in the ISG response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyriel Sebastiaan Olie
- Human Genetics department, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Adán Pinto-Fernández
- Chinese Academy for Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Andreas Damianou
- Chinese Academy for Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Iolanda Vendrell
- Chinese Academy for Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca den Hamer
- Human Genetics department, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Erik van der Wal
- Human Genetics department, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Human Genetics department, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Vered Raz
- Human Genetics department, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Benedikt M Kessler
- Chinese Academy for Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK.
- Target Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK.
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5
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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6
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Stein JM, Arslan U, Franken M, de Greef JC, E Harding S, Mohammadi N, Orlova VV, Bellin M, Mummery CL, van Meer BJ. Software Tool for Automatic Quantification of Sarcomere Length and Organization in Fixed and Live 2D and 3D Muscle Cell Cultures In Vitro. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e462. [PMID: 35789134 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sarcomeres are the structural units of the contractile apparatus in cardiac and skeletal muscle cells. Changes in sarcomere characteristics are indicative of changes in the sarcomeric proteins and function during development and disease. Assessment of sarcomere length, alignment, and organization provides insight into disease and drug responses in striated muscle cells and models, ranging from cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells to adult muscle cells isolated from animals or humans. However, quantification of sarcomere length is typically time consuming and prone to user-specific selection bias. Automated analysis pipelines exist but these often require either specialized software or programming experience. In addition, these pipelines are often designed for only one type of cell model in vitro. Here, we present an easy-to-implement protocol and software tool for automated sarcomere length and organization quantification in a variety of striated muscle in vitro models: Two dimensional (2D) cardiomyocytes, three dimensional (3D) cardiac microtissues, isolated adult cardiomyocytes, and 3D tissue engineered skeletal muscles. Based on an existing mathematical algorithm, this image analysis software (SotaTool) automatically detects the direction in which the sarcomere organization is highest over the entire image and outputs the length and organization of sarcomeres. We also analyzed videos of live cells during contraction, thereby allowing measurement of contraction parameters like fractional shortening, contraction time, relaxation time, and beating frequency. In this protocol, we give a step-by-step guide on how to prepare, image, and automatically quantify sarcomere and contraction characteristics in different types of in vitro models and we provide basic validation and discussion of the limitations of the software tool. © 2022 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol: Staining and analyzing static hiPSC-CMs with SotaTool Alternate Protocol: Sample preparation, acquisition, and quantification of fractional shortening in live reporter hiPSC lines Support Protocol 1: Finding the image resolution Support Protocol 2: Advanced analysis settings Support Protocol 3: Finding sarcomere length in non-aligned cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen M Stein
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ulgu Arslan
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marnix Franken
- 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
| | - Sian E Harding
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Neda Mohammadi
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Valeria V Orlova
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Milena Bellin
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Christine L Mummery
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Applied Stem Cell Technologies, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Berend J van Meer
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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7
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Jagannathan S, de Greef JC, Hayward LJ, Yokomori K, Gabellini D, Mul K, Sacconi S, Arjomand J, Kinoshita J, Harper SQ. Meeting report: the 2021 FSHD International Research Congress. Skelet Muscle 2022; 12:1. [PMID: 35039091 PMCID: PMC8762812 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-022-00287-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is the second most common genetic myopathy, characterized by slowly progressing and highly heterogeneous muscle wasting with a typical onset in the late teens/early adulthood [1]. Although the etiology of the disease for both FSHD type 1 and type 2 has been attributed to gain-of-toxic function stemming from aberrant DUX4 expression, the exact pathogenic mechanisms involved in muscle wasting have yet to be elucidated [2–4]. The 2021 FSHD International Research Congress, held virtually on June 24–25, convened over 350 researchers and clinicians to share the most recent advances in the understanding of the disease mechanism, discuss the proliferation of interventional strategies and refinement of clinical outcome measures, including results from the ReDUX4 trial, a phase 2b clinical trial of losmapimod in FSHD [NCT04003974].
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujatha Jagannathan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lawrence J Hayward
- Department of Neurology and Wellstone Center for FSHD, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA
| | - Kyoko Yokomori
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Davide Gabellini
- Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Karlien Mul
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sabrina Sacconi
- Nice University Hospital/Institute of Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice, Nice, France
| | | | | | - Scott Q Harper
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.
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8
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Bouwman LF, den Hamer B, van den Heuvel A, Franken M, Jackson M, Dwyer CA, Tapscott SJ, Rigo F, van der Maarel SM, de Greef JC. Systemic delivery of a DUX4-targeting antisense oligonucleotide to treat facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2021; 26:813-827. [PMID: 34729250 PMCID: PMC8526479 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most prevalent skeletal muscle dystrophies. Skeletal muscle pathology in individuals with FSHD is caused by inappropriate expression of the transcription factor DUX4, which activates different myotoxic pathways. At the moment there is no molecular therapy that can delay or prevent skeletal muscle wasting in FSHD. In this study, a systemically delivered antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting the DUX4 transcript was tested in vivo in ACTA1-MCM;FLExDUX4 mice that express DUX4 in skeletal muscles. We show that the DUX4 ASO was well tolerated and repressed the DUX4 transcript, DUX4 protein, and mouse DUX4 target gene expression in skeletal muscles. In addition, the DUX4 ASO alleviated the severity of skeletal muscle pathology and partially prevented the dysregulation of inflammatory and extracellular matrix genes. DUX4 ASO-treated ACTA1-MCM;FLExDUX4 mice performed better on a treadmill; however, the hanging grid and four-limb grip strength tests were not improved compared to control ASO-treated ACTA1-MCM;FLExDUX4 mice. This study shows that systemic delivery of ASOs targeting DUX4 is a promising therapeutic strategy for FSHD and strategies that further improve the ASO efficacy in skeletal muscle are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linde F. Bouwman
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Bianca den Hamer
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Anita van den Heuvel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marnix Franken
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Michaela Jackson
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Chrissa A. Dwyer
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stephen J. Tapscott
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Silvère M. van der Maarel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jessica C. de Greef
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
- Corresponding author Jessica C. de Greef, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands.
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Olie CS, van der Wal E, Cikes D, Maton L, de Greef JC, Lin IH, Chen YF, Kareem E, Penninger JM, Kessler BM, Raz V. Author Correction: Cytoskeletal disorganization underlies PABPN1-mediated myogenic disability. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6429. [PMID: 33723339 PMCID: PMC7961016 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85459-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erik van der Wal
- Human Genetics Department, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Domagoj Cikes
- IMBA-Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Loes Maton
- Human Genetics Department, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Human Genetics Department, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - I-Hsuan Lin
- VYM Genome Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Fan Chen
- College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Elsayad Kareem
- Advanced Microscopy Facility, Vienna Biocenter Core Facilities, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Josef M Penninger
- IMBA-Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt M Kessler
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield, Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vered Raz
- Human Genetics Department, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Olie CS, van der Wal E, Cikes D, Maton L, de Greef JC, Lin IH, Chen YF, Kareem E, Penninger JM, Kessler BM, Raz V. Cytoskeletal disorganization underlies PABPN1-mediated myogenic disability. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17621. [PMID: 33077830 PMCID: PMC7572364 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74676-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscle wasting and atrophy are regulated by multiple molecular processes, including mRNA processing. Reduced levels of the polyadenylation binding protein nucleus 1 (PABPN1), a multifactorial regulator of mRNA processing, cause muscle atrophy. A proteomic study in muscles with reduced PABPN1 levels suggested dysregulation of sarcomeric and cytoskeletal proteins. Here we investigated the hypothesis that reduced PABPN1 levels lead to an aberrant organization of the cytoskeleton. MURC, a plasma membrane-associated protein, was found to be more abundant in muscles with reduced PABPN1 levels, and it was found to be expressed at regions showing regeneration. A polarized cytoskeletal organization is typical for muscle cells, but muscle cells with reduced PABPN1 levels (named as shPAB) were characterized by a disorganized cytoskeleton that lacked polarization. Moreover, cell mechanical features and myogenic differentiation were significantly reduced in shPAB cells. Importantly, restoring cytoskeletal stability, by actin overexpression, was beneficial for myogenesis, expression of sarcomeric proteins and proper localization of MURC in shPAB cell cultures and in shPAB muscle bundle. We suggest that poor cytoskeletal mechanical features are caused by altered expression levels of cytoskeletal proteins and contribute to muscle wasting and atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erik van der Wal
- Human Genetics Department, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Domagoj Cikes
- IMBA-Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Loes Maton
- Human Genetics Department, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Human Genetics Department, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - I-Hsuan Lin
- VYM Genome Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Fan Chen
- College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Elsayad Kareem
- Advanced Microscopy Facility, Vienna Biocenter Core Facilities, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Josef M Penninger
- IMBA-Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt M Kessler
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield, Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vered Raz
- Human Genetics Department, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Bouwman LF, den Hamer B, Verveer EP, Lerink LJS, Krom YD, van der Maarel SM, de Greef JC. Dnmt3b regulates DUX4 expression in a tissue-dependent manner in transgenic D4Z4 mice. Skelet Muscle 2020; 10:27. [PMID: 33004076 PMCID: PMC7528343 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-020-00247-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a skeletal muscle disorder that is caused by derepression of the transcription factor DUX4 in skeletal muscle cells. Apart from SMCHD1, DNMT3B was recently identified as a disease gene and disease modifier in FSHD. However, the exact role of DNMT3B at the D4Z4 repeat array remains unknown. METHODS To determine the role of Dnmt3b on DUX4 repression, hemizygous mice with a FSHD-sized D4Z4 repeat array (D4Z4-2.5 mice) were cross-bred with mice carrying an in-frame exon skipping mutation in Dnmt3b (Dnmt3bMommeD14 mice). Additionally, siRNA knockdowns of Dnmt3b were performed in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) derived from the D4Z4-2.5 mouse model. RESULTS In mESCs derived from D4Z4-2.5 mice, Dnmt3b was enriched at the D4Z4 repeat array and DUX4 transcript levels were upregulated after a knockdown of Dnmt3b. In D4Z4-2.5/Dnmt3bMommeD14 mice, Dnmt3b protein levels were reduced; however, DUX4 RNA levels in skeletal muscles were not enhanced and no pathology was observed. Interestingly, D4Z4-2.5/Dnmt3bMommeD14 mice showed a loss of DNA methylation at the D4Z4 repeat array and significantly higher DUX4 transcript levels in secondary lymphoid organs. As these lymphoid organs seem to be more sensitive to epigenetic modifiers of the D4Z4 repeat array, different immune cell populations were quantified in the spleen and inguinal lymph nodes of D4Z4-2.5 mice crossed with Dnmt3bMommeD14 mice or Smchd1MommeD1 mice. Only in D4Z4-2.5/Smchd1MommeD1 mice the immune cell populations were disturbed. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrates that loss of Dnmt3b results in derepression of DUX4 in lymphoid tissues and mESCs but not in myogenic cells of D4Z4-2.5/Dnmt3bMommeD14 mice. In addition, the Smchd1MommeD1 variant seems to have a more potent role in DUX4 derepression. Our studies suggest that the immune system is particularly but differentially sensitive to D4Z4 chromatin modifiers which may provide a molecular basis for the yet underexplored immune involvement in FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linde F Bouwman
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca den Hamer
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Elwin P Verveer
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lente J S Lerink
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne D Krom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Silvère M van der Maarel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a neuromuscular disorder, which is caused by incomplete repression of the transcription factor double homeobox 4 (DUX4) in skeletal muscle. To date, there is no DUX4-targeting treatment to prevent or delay disease progression. In the present review, we summarize developments in therapeutic strategies with the focus on inhibiting DUX4 and DUX4 target gene expression. RECENT FINDINGS Different studies show that DUX4 and its target genes can be repressed with genetic therapies using diverse strategies. Additionally, different small compounds can reduce DUX4 and its target genes in vitro and in vivo. SUMMARY Most studies that show DUX4 repression by genetic therapies have only been tested in vitro. More efforts should be made to test them in vivo for clinical translation. Several compounds have been shown to prevent DUX4 and target gene expression in vitro and in vivo. However, their efficiency and specificity has not yet been shown. With emerging clinical trials, the clinical benefit from DUX4 repression in FSHD will likely soon become apparent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linde F Bouwman
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Muscular dystrophies (MDs) encompass a wide variety of inherited disorders that are characterized by loss of muscle tissue associated with a progressive reduction in muscle function. With a cure lacking for MDs, preclinical developments of therapeutic approaches depend on well-characterized animal models that recapitulate the specific pathology in patients. The mouse is the most widely and extensively used model for MDs, and it has played a key role in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying MD pathogenesis. This has enabled the development of therapeutic strategies. Owing to advancements in genetic engineering, a wide variety of mouse models are available for the majority of MDs. Here, we summarize the characteristics of the most commonly used mouse models for a subset of highly studied MDs, collated into a table. Together with references to key publications describing these models, this brief but detailed overview would be useful for those interested in, or working with, mouse models of MD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike van Putten
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Erin M Lloyd
- The University of Western Australia, School of Human Sciences, Perth 6009, Australia
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Vered Raz
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | | | - Miranda D Grounds
- The University of Western Australia, School of Human Sciences, Perth 6009, Australia
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14
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de Greef JC, Krom YD, den Hamer B, Snider L, Hiramuki Y, van den Akker RFP, Breslin K, Pakusch M, Salvatori DCF, Slütter B, Tawil R, Blewitt ME, Tapscott SJ, van der Maarel SM. Smchd1 haploinsufficiency exacerbates the phenotype of a transgenic FSHD1 mouse model. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 27:716-731. [PMID: 29281018 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, a copy of the DUX4 retrogene is located in each unit of the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat that normally comprises 8-100 units. The D4Z4 repeat has heterochromatic features and does not express DUX4 in somatic cells. Individuals with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) have a partial failure of somatic DUX4 repression resulting in the presence of DUX4 protein in sporadic muscle nuclei. Somatic DUX4 derepression is caused by contraction of the D4Z4 repeat to 1-10 units (FSHD1) or by heterozygous mutations in genes responsible for maintaining the D4Z4 chromatin structure in a repressive state (FSHD2). One of the FSHD2 genes is the structural maintenance of chromosomes hinge domain 1 (SMCHD1) gene. SMCHD1 mutations have also been identified in FSHD1; patients carrying a contracted D4Z4 repeat and a SMCHD1 mutation are more severely affected than relatives with only a contracted repeat or a SMCHD1 mutation. To evaluate the modifier role of SMCHD1, we crossbred mice carrying a contracted D4Z4 repeat (D4Z4-2.5 mice) with mice that are haploinsufficient for Smchd1 (Smchd1MommeD1 mice). D4Z4-2.5/Smchd1MommeD1 mice presented with a significantly reduced body weight and developed skin lesions. The same skin lesions, albeit in a milder form, were also observed in D4Z4-2.5 mice, suggesting that reduced Smchd1 levels aggravate disease in the D4Z4-2.5 mouse model. Our study emphasizes the evolutionary conservation of the SMCHD1-dependent epigenetic regulation of the D4Z4 repeat array and further suggests that the D4Z4-2.5/Smchd1MommeD1 mouse model may be used to unravel the function of DUX4 in non-muscle tissues like the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C de Greef
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne D Krom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca den Hamer
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lauren Snider
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yosuke Hiramuki
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rob F P van den Akker
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kelsey Breslin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Miha Pakusch
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Bram Slütter
- Divisions of Biopharmaceutics & Drug Delivery Technology, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rabi Tawil
- Neuromuscular Disease Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Marnie E Blewitt
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Stephen J Tapscott
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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Thijssen PE, Ito Y, Grillo G, Wang J, Velasco G, Nitta H, Unoki M, Yoshihara M, Suyama M, Sun Y, Lemmers RJLF, de Greef JC, Gennery A, Picco P, Kloeckener-Gruissem B, Güngör T, Reisli I, Picard C, Kebaili K, Roquelaure B, Iwai T, Kondo I, Kubota T, van Ostaijen-Ten Dam MM, van Tol MJD, Weemaes C, Francastel C, van der Maarel SM, Sasaki H. Corrigendum: Mutations in CDCA7 and HELLS cause immunodeficiency-centromeric instability-facial anomalies syndrome. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12003. [PMID: 27328760 PMCID: PMC4917957 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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16
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de Greef JC, Hamlyn R, Jensen BS, O'Campo Landa R, Levy JR, Kobuke K, Campbell KP. Collagen VI deficiency reduces muscle pathology, but does not improve muscle function, in the γ-sarcoglycan-null mouse. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:1357-69. [PMID: 26908621 PMCID: PMC4787905 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophy is characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness and dystrophic muscle exhibits degeneration and regeneration of muscle cells, inflammation and fibrosis. Skeletal muscle fibrosis is an excessive deposition of components of the extracellular matrix including an accumulation of Collagen VI. We hypothesized that a reduction of Collagen VI in a muscular dystrophy model that presents with fibrosis would result in reduced muscle pathology and improved muscle function. To test this hypothesis, we crossed γ-sarcoglycan-null mice, a model of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2C, with a Col6a2-deficient mouse model. We found that the resulting γ-sarcoglycan-null/Col6a2Δex5 mice indeed exhibit reduced muscle pathology compared with γ-sarcoglycan-null mice. Specifically, fewer muscle fibers are degenerating, fiber size varies less, Evans blue dye uptake is reduced and serum creatine kinase levels are lower. Surprisingly, in spite of this reduction in muscle pathology, muscle function is not significantly improved. In fact, grip strength and maximum isometric tetanic force are even lower in γ-sarcoglycan-null/Col6a2Δex5 mice than in γ-sarcoglycan-null mice. In conclusion, our results reveal that Collagen VI-mediated fibrosis contributes to skeletal muscle pathology in γ-sarcoglycan-null mice. Importantly, however, our data also demonstrate that a reduction in skeletal muscle pathology does not necessarily lead to an improvement of skeletal muscle function, and this should be considered in future translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C de Greef
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Neurology and Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Rebecca Hamlyn
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Neurology and Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Braden S Jensen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Neurology and Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Raul O'Campo Landa
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Neurology and Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Jennifer R Levy
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Neurology and Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kazuhiro Kobuke
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Neurology and Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kevin P Campbell
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Neurology and Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Lemmers RJLF, Tawil R, Petek LM, Balog J, Block GJ, Santen GWE, Amell AM, van der Vliet PJ, Almomani R, Straasheijm KR, Krom YD, Klooster R, Sun Y, den Dunnen JT, Helmer Q, Donlin-Smith CM, Padberg GW, van Engelen BGM, de Greef JC, Aartsma-Rus AM, Frants RR, de Visser M, Desnuelle C, Sacconi S, Filippova GN, Bakker B, Bamshad MJ, Tapscott SJ, Miller DG, van der Maarel SM. Digenic inheritance of an SMCHD1 mutation and an FSHD-permissive D4Z4 allele causes facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 2. Nat Genet 2012; 44:1370-4. [PMID: 23143600 PMCID: PMC3671095 DOI: 10.1038/ng.2454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 425] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 10/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is characterized by chromatin relaxation of the D4Z4 macrosatellite array on chromosome 4 and expression of the D4Z4-encoded DUX4 gene in skeletal muscle. The more common form, autosomal dominant FSHD1, is caused by a contraction of the D4Z4 array, whereas the genetic determinants and inheritance of D4Z4 array contraction-independent FSHD2 are unclear. Here we show that mutations in SMCHD1 (structural maintenance of chromosomes flexible hinge domain containing 1) on chromosome 18 reduce SMCHD1 protein levels and segregate with genome-wide D4Z4 CpG hypomethylation in human kindreds. FSHD2 occurs in individuals who inherited both the SMCHD1 mutation and a normal-sized D4Z4 array on a chromosome 4 haplotype permissive for DUX4 expression. Reducing SMCHD1 levels in skeletal muscle results in contraction-independent DUX4 expression. Our study identifies SMCHD1 as an epigenetic modifier of the D4Z4 metastable epiallele and as a causal genetic determinant of FSHD2 and possibly other human diseases subject to epigenetic regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J L F Lemmers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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18
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Balog J, Thijssen PE, de Greef JC, Shah B, van Engelen BGM, Yokomori K, Tapscott SJ, Tawil R, van der Maarel SM. Correlation analysis of clinical parameters with epigenetic modifications in the DUX4 promoter in FSHD. Epigenetics 2012; 7:579-84. [PMID: 22522912 DOI: 10.4161/epi.20001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of our study was to identify relationships between epigenetic parameters correlating with a relaxed chromatin state of the DUX4 promoter region and clinical severity as measured by a clinical severity score or muscle pathologic changes in D4Z4 contraction-dependent (FSHD1) and -independent (FSHD2) facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy patients. Twenty primary fibroblast (5 control, 10 FSHD1 and 5 FSHD2) and 26 primary myoblast (9 control, 12 FSHD1 and 5 FSHD2) cultures originating from patients with FSHD and controls were analyzed. Histone modification levels were determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation. We examined correlations between the chromatin compaction score (ChCS) defined by the H3K9me3:H3K4me2 ratio and an age corrected clinical severity score (CSS) or muscle pathology score (MPS). Possible relationships were investigated using linear regression analysis and significance was tested by Pearson's product-moment coefficient. We found a significant difference of the ChCS between controls and patients with FSHD1 and between controls and patients with FSHD2. Tissue specific differences in ChCS were also observed. We also found a near-significant relationship between ChCS and the age corrected CSS in fibroblasts but not in myoblasts. Surprisingly, we found a strong correlation between the MPS of the vastus lateralis and the CSS. Our results confirm the D4Z4 chromatin relaxation previously shown to be associated with FSHD in a small number of samples. A possible relationship between clinical and epigenetic parameters could be established in patient fibroblasts, but not in myoblasts. The strong correlation between the MPS of the vastus lateralis and the CSS suggests that this muscle can be used to study for surrogate markers of overall disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Balog
- Department of Human Genetics; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden, The Netherlands
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19
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Sacconi S, Camaño P, de Greef JC, Lemmers RJLF, Salviati L, Boileau P, Lopez de Munain Arregui A, van der Maarel SM, Desnuelle C. Patients with a phenotype consistent with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy display genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity. J Med Genet 2011; 49:41-6. [PMID: 21984748 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2011-100101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify the genetic and epigenetic defects in patients presenting with a facioscapulohumeral (FSHD) clinical phenotype without D4Z4 contractions on chromosome 4q35 tested by linear gel electrophoresis and Southern blot analysis. DESIGN AND PATIENTS The authors studied 16 patients displaying an FSHD-like phenotype, with normal cardiovascular and respiratory function, a myopathic pattern on electromyography, and a muscle biopsy being normal or displaying only mild and aspecific dystrophic changes. They sequenced the genes calpain 3 (CAPN3), valosin containing protein (VCP) and four-and-a-half LIM domains protein 1 (FHL1), and they analysed the D4Z4 repeat arrays by extensive genotyping and DNA methylation analysis. RESULTS The authors identified one patient carrying a complex rearrangement in the FSHD locus that masked the D4Z4 contraction associated with FSHD1 in standard genetic testing, one patient with somatic mosaicism for the D4Z4 4q35 contraction, six patients that were diagnosed as having FSHD2, four patients with CAPN3 mutations and two patients with a VCP mutation, No mutations were detected in FHL1, and in two patients, the authors could not identify the genetic defect. CONCLUSIONS In patients presenting with an FSHD-like clinical phenotype with a negative molecular testing for FSHD, consider (1) detailed genetic testing including D4Z4 contraction of permissive hybrid D4Z4 repeat arrays, p13E-11 probe deletions, and D4Z4 hypomethylation in the absence of repeat contraction as observed in FSHD2; (2) mutations in CAPN3 even in the absence of protein deficiency on western blot analysis; and (3) VCP mutations even in the absence of cognitive impairment, Paget disease and typical inclusion in muscle biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Sacconi
- Centre de référence des Maladies neuromusculaires and CNRS UMR6543, Nice University Hospital, Nice, France.
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de Greef JC, Lemmers RJLF, van Engelen BGM, Sacconi S, Venance SL, Frants RR, Tawil R, van der Maarel SM. Common epigenetic changes of D4Z4 in contraction-dependent and contraction-independent FSHD. Hum Mutat 2009; 30:1449-59. [PMID: 19728363 DOI: 10.1002/humu.21091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), caused by partial deletion of the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat on chromosome 4q, has a complex genetic and epigenetic etiology. To develop FSHD, D4Z4 contraction needs to occur on a specific genetic background. Only contractions associated with the 4qA161 haplotype cause FSHD. In addition, contraction of the D4Z4 repeat in FSHD patients is associated with significant D4Z4 hypomethylation. To date, however, the methylation status of contracted repeats on nonpathogenic haplotypes has not been studied. We have performed a detailed methylation study of the D4Z4 repeat on chromosome 4q and on a highly homologous repeat on chromosome 10q. We show that patients with a D4Z4 deletion (FSHD1) have D4Z4-restricted hypomethylation. Importantly, controls with a D4Z4 contraction on a nonpathogenic chromosome 4q haplotype or on chromosome 10q also demonstrate hypomethylation. In 15 FSHD families without D4Z4 contractions but with at least one 4qA161 haplotype (FSHD2), we observed D4Z4-restricted hypomethylation on chromosomes 4q and 10q. This finding implies that a genetic defect resulting in D4Z4 hypomethylation underlies FSHD2. In conclusion, we describe two ways to develop FSHD: (1) contraction-dependent or (2) contraction-independent D4Z4 hypomethylation on the 4qA161 subtelomere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C de Greef
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Zeng W, de Greef JC, Chen YY, Chien R, Kong X, Gregson HC, Winokur ST, Pyle A, Robertson KD, Schmiesing JA, Kimonis VE, Balog J, Frants RR, Ball AR, Lock LF, Donovan PJ, van der Maarel SM, Yokomori K. Specific loss of histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation and HP1gamma/cohesin binding at D4Z4 repeats is associated with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD). PLoS Genet 2009; 5:e1000559. [PMID: 19593370 PMCID: PMC2700282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2008] [Accepted: 06/12/2009] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant muscular dystrophy in which no mutation of pathogenic gene(s) has been identified. Instead, the disease is, in most cases, genetically linked to a contraction in the number of 3.3 kb D4Z4 repeats on chromosome 4q. How contraction of the 4qter D4Z4 repeats causes muscular dystrophy is not understood. In addition, a smaller group of FSHD cases are not associated with D4Z4 repeat contraction (termed "phenotypic" FSHD), and their etiology remains undefined. We carried out chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis using D4Z4-specific PCR primers to examine the D4Z4 chromatin structure in normal and patient cells as well as in small interfering RNA (siRNA)-treated cells. We found that SUV39H1-mediated H3K9 trimethylation at D4Z4 seen in normal cells is lost in FSHD. Furthermore, the loss of this histone modification occurs not only at the contracted 4q D4Z4 allele, but also at the genetically intact D4Z4 alleles on both chromosomes 4q and 10q, providing the first evidence that the genetic change (contraction) of one 4qD4Z4 allele spreads its effect to other genomic regions. Importantly, this epigenetic change was also observed in the phenotypic FSHD cases with no D4Z4 contraction, but not in other types of muscular dystrophies tested. We found that HP1gamma and cohesin are co-recruited to D4Z4 in an H3K9me3-dependent and cell type-specific manner, which is disrupted in FSHD. The results indicate that cohesin plays an active role in HP1 recruitment and is involved in cell type-specific D4Z4 chromatin regulation. Taken together, we identified the loss of both histone H3K9 trimethylation and HP1gamma/cohesin binding at D4Z4 to be a faithful marker for the FSHD phenotype. Based on these results, we propose a new model in which the epigenetic change initiated at 4q D4Z4 spreads its effect to other genomic regions, which compromises muscle-specific gene regulation leading to FSHD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Zeng
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Jessica C. de Greef
- Leiden University Medical Center, Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yen-Yun Chen
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Richard Chien
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Xiangduo Kong
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Heather C. Gregson
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Sara T. Winokur
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - April Pyle
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Keith D. Robertson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - John A. Schmiesing
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Virginia E. Kimonis
- Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, California, United States of America
| | - Judit Balog
- Leiden University Medical Center, Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rune R. Frants
- Leiden University Medical Center, Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander R. Ball
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Leslie F. Lock
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Donovan
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | | | - Kyoko Yokomori
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
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de Greef JC, Frants RR, van der Maarel SM. Epigenetic mechanisms of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Mutat Res 2008; 647:94-102. [PMID: 18723032 PMCID: PMC2650037 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2008.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2008] [Revised: 07/18/2008] [Accepted: 07/23/2008] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) seems to be caused by a complex epigenetic disease mechanism as a result of contraction of the polymorphic macrosatellite repeat D4Z4 on chromosome 4qter. Currently, the exact mechanism causing the FSHD phenotype is still not elucidated. In this review, we discuss the genetic and epigenetic changes observed in patients with FSHD and the possible disease mechanisms that may be associated with FSHD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C. de Greef
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rune R. Frants
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Silvère M. van der Maarel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr. S.M. van der Maarel, Department of Human Genetics, Center for Human and Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Bldg. 2, room S-03-042, Postal zone S-4-P, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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