Distinct Pathological Signatures in Human Cellular Models of Myotonic Dystrophy Subtypes
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ABSTRACT: Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is the most common autosomal dominant muscular dystrophy and encompasses both skeletal muscle and cardiac complications. Myotonic dystrophy is nucleotide repeat expansion disorder in which type 1 (DM1) is due to a trinucleotide repeat expansion on chromosome 19 and type 2 (DM2) arises from a tetranucleotide repeat expansion on chromosome 3. Developing representative models of myotonic dystrophy in animals has been challenging due to instability of nucleotide repeat expansions, especially for DM2 which is characterized by nucleotide repeat expansions often greater than 5000 copies. To investigate mechanisms of human DM, we generated cellular models of DM1 and DM2. We used regulated MyoD expression to reprogram urine-derived cells into myotubes. In this cell model, we found impaired dystrophin expression, MBNL foci, and aberrant splicing in DM1 but not in DM2 cells. We generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from healthy controls, DM1 and DM2 subjects and differentiated these into cardiomyocytes. DM1 and DM2 cells displayed an increase in RNA foci concomitant with cellular differentiation. IPSC-derived cardiomyocytes from DM1 but not DM2 had aberrant splicing and MBNL sequestration. High resolution imaging revealed tight association between MBNL clusters and RNA FISH foci in DM1. Ca2+ transients differed between DM1 and DM2 IPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and from healthy control cells. RNA-sequencing from DM1 and DM2 iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes both altered gene expression as well as distinct splicing patterns as differential between DM1 and DM2. Together these data support that DM1 and DM2, despite some shared clinical and molecular features, have distinct pathological signatures.
Project description:In this Study, we used RNA-targeting Cas9 (RCas9) to reverse characteristic Myotonic Dystrophy (DM1) cellular phenotypes such as elimination of RNA foci, MBNL relocalization, and reversal of transcriptome-wide splicing in a mouse model of myotonic Dystrophy (DM1). Furthermore we show that gene expression is not altered with RCas9 treatment in WT mice with or without treatment with immunosuppression
Project description:In this Study, we used RNA-targeting Cas9 (RCas9) to reverse characteristic Myotonic Dystrophy (DM1) cellular phenotypes such as elimination of RNA foci, MBNL relocalization, and reversal of transcriptome-wide splicing.
Project description:For some neurological disorders, disease is primarily RNA-mediated due to expression of non-coding microsatellite expansion RNAs (RNAexp). Toxicity is thought to result from enhanced binding of proteins to these expansions and depletion from their normal cellular targets. However, experimental evidence for this sequestration model is lacking. Here, we use HITS-CLIP and pre-mRNA processing analysis of human control versus myotonic dystrophy (DM) brains to provide compelling evidence for this RNA toxicity model. MBNL2 binds directly to DM repeat expansions in the brain resulting in depletion from its normal RNA targets with downstream effects on alternative splicing and polyadenylation. Similar RNA processing defects were detected in Mbnl compound knockout mice, highlighted by dysregulation of Mapt splicing and fetal tau isoform expression in adults. These results demonstrate that MBNL proteins are directly sequestered by RNAexp in the DM brain and introduce a powerful experimental tool to evaluate RNA-mediated toxicity in other expansion diseases. HITS-CLIP analysis was performed to identify RNA binding sites of MBNL2 in control, DM type 1 (DM1), and DM type 2 (DM2) autopsy-derived brain (n=3). Two regions of the brain selected for the study included the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Libraries were sequenced and wiggle files were generated for each biological replicate as well as three pooled biological replicates (3BRs) per group (control, DM1, and DM2). In addition, differential CLIP analysis (dCLIP) was performed to normalize binding data between groups and identify statistically significant changes in binding. The dCLIP analysis generated bedgraph files representing normalized binding profiles of MBNL2 in each group (control, DM1, and DM2) for visualization and comparative analysis. PolyA-seq was performed on control, DM1, and DM2 autopsy-derived brain samples (hippocampus and frontal cortex, n=3) as well as wild-type (WT) and Mbnl1; Mbnl2 conditional double knockout (Mbnl1-/-; Mbnl2c/c; Nestin-Cre+/- or DKO) brain (n=3). Libraries were sequenced and the resultant files were processed and aligned to the reference genomes (hg19 and mm10). Further computational processing was performed to remove internal oligo(dT) mis-priming events, identify valid polyA sites, and trim to the exact polyA sites. BedGraph files were generated for each group in human (control, DM1, and DM2) and mouse (WT and Mbnl DKO) for comparative visualization.
Project description:Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by a CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. The expanded CUG repeat RNA (CUGexp RNA) transcribed from the mutant allele sequesters the muscleblind-like (MBNL) family of RNA-binding proteins, causing their loss of function and disrupting regulated pre-mRNA processing. We used a DM1 heart mouse model that inducibly expresses CUGexp RNA to test the contribution of MBNL loss to DM1 cardiac abnormalities and explore MBNL restoration as a potential therapy. AAV9-mediated overexpression of MBNL1 and/or MBNL2 significantly rescued DM1 cardiac phenotypes including conduction delays, contractile dysfunction, hypertrophy, and mis-regulated alternative splicing and gene expression. While robust, rescue was partial compared to reduced CUGexp RNA and plateaued with increased exogenous MBNL expression. These findings demonstrate that MBNL loss is a major contributor to DM1 cardiac manifestations, and suggest that additional mechanisms play a role, highlighting the complex nature of DM1 pathogenesis.
Project description:Transcription of expanded microsatellite repeats is associated with multiple human diseases, including myotonic dystrophy, Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy, and C9orf72-ALS/FTD. Eliminating or reducing production of RNA and proteins arising from these expanded loci holds therapeutic benefit. Here, we tested the hypothesis that a deactivated form of the Cas9 enzyme impedes transcription across expanded microsatellites. We observed a repeat length-, PAM-, and strand-dependent reduction in the abundance of repeat-containing RNAs upon targeting dCas9 directly to repeat sequences. Aberrant splicing patterns were rescued in DM1 cells, and production of RAN peptides characteristic of DM1, DM2, and C9orf72-ALS/FTD cells was drastically decreased. Systemic delivery of dCas9/gRNA by adeno-associated virus led to reductions in pathological RNA foci, rescue of chloride channel 1 protein expression, and decreased myotonia. These observations suggest that transcription of microsatellite repeat-containing RNAs is more sensitive to perturbation than transcription of other RNAs, indicating potentially viable strategies for therapeutic intervention.
Project description:Myotonic dystrophy (dystrophia myotonica, DM) is caused by expansions of CTG (type 1; DM1) or CCTG (type 2; DM2) repeats in the non-coding regions of the DMPK and CNBP genes, and patients with DM1 or DM2 often suffer from sudden cardiac death due to lethal arrhythmia. Specific molecular changes that underlie DM cardiac pathology have been linked to repeat-associated depletion of Muscleblind-like (MBNL) 1 and 2 proteins and upregulation of CUGBP Elav-like family member 1. Aims: We aim to create an Mbnl KO mouse model recapitulating DM cardiogenic death not under anesthesia, since none of the DM mouse models have reached this goal. Besides, it is unclear whether dysfunction of cardiomyocytes, among other cell types in the heart, can solely drive phenotypes. Methods and Results: We generated Myh6-Cre DKO (Mbnl1-/-; Mbnl2cond/cond; Myh6-Cre+/-) mice that completely eliminate Mbnl1/2 expression in cardiomyocytes. In this model, we found increased myocardial fibrosis, dilated cardiomyopathy and various arrhythmias. Importantly, we observed spontaneous lethal arrhythmic events in the context of shortened lifespan. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed mis-splicing events involving sarcomeric structure, mitochondrial dynamics and vesicular trafficking that mimics DM hearts. Gene expression changes were also noted by RNA-seq, and confirmed by qPCR. Notably, immunoblotting revealed a nearly 6-fold increase of Calsequestrin 1 and 50% reduction of epidermal growth factor proteins. Conclusion: These results showed that complete elimination of MBNL1/2 in mouse cardiomyocytes is sufficient to elicit a full spectrum of DM cardiac phenotypes including cardiac-related sudden death, and therefore these mice could serve as a useful model for studying DM heart pathogenesis and related translational research.
Project description:Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy and is caused by an repeat expansion [r(CUG)exp] located in the 3' untranslated region of the DMPK gene. Symptoms include skeletal and cardiac muscle dysfunction and fibrosis. In DM1, there is a lack of established biomarkers in routine clinical practice. Thus, we aimed to identify a blood biomarker with relevance for DM1-pathophysiology and clinical presentation.
Project description:The prevailing patho-mechanistic paradigm for myotonic dystrophy (DM) is that the aberrant presence of embryonic isoforms is responsible for many, if not most, aspects of the pleiotropic disease phenotype. In order to identify such aberrantly expressed isoforms in skeletal muscle of DM type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) patients, we utilized the Affymetrix exon array to characterize the largest collection of DM samples analyzed to date, and included non-DM dystrophic muscle samples (NMD) as disease controls. For the exon array profiling on the Human Exon 1.0 ST array (Affymetrix Santa Clara, CA) we used a panel of 28 skeletal muscle biopsies from DM1 (n=8), DM2 (n=10), Becker muscular dystrophy, BMD, (n=3), Duchenne muscular dystrophy, DMD (n=1), Tibial muscular dystrophy, TMD, (n=2) and normal skeletal muscle (n=4). Normal control RNAs were purchased commercially. .CEL files were generated with a pre-commercial version of the Affymetrix processing software, and the headers might be non-standard. In our lab, users of the Partek software could use them, whereas users of GeneSpring had to modify the header information.
Project description:Mapping MBNL-regulated genome-wide alternative polyadenylation: We report that depletion of Mbnl proteins in mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs), DM mouse model quadriceps muscle, and DM-autopsy muscle tissue leads to mis-regulation of alternative polyadenylation We compared WT, Mbnl1/2KO, Mbnl1/2KO/3siRNA, and Mbnl1/2KO/scrambled siRNA MEFs (n=2 for each group) to evaluate alternative polyadenylation shifts that occur due to progressive loss of Mbnl proteins. We also compared WT (1 day old, and 4 months old, n=2 each) and HSALR mouse model (4 months old, n=2) of myotonic dystrophy for developmental alternative polyadenylation defects in myotonic dystrophy. Finally, we compared control and DM1 autopsy muscle tissues (n=3) for changes in alternative polyadenylation. We performed HITS-CLIP analysis of binding sites of Mbnl1, Mbnl2 and Mbnl3 in MEFs (n=3 each). We also performed HITS-CLIP analysis for major skeletal muscle Mbnl protein, Mbnl1 in FVB WT adult muscle (4 months, n=3). Finally we performed HITS-CLIP analysis for CPSF6 in WT and Mbnl1/2 KO MEFs (n=3 each) Please note that the 'readme_Table.txt' describes the contents of 'Table S*.xlsx' files, and the readme_method.txt include additional details about experiemenal procedures.
Project description:Myotonic Dystrophy Type-2 (DM2) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by the expansion of a CCTG tetraplet repeat. It is a multisystemic disorder, affecting skeletal muscles, the heart, the eye, the central nervous system and the endocrine system. Whole mRNAs expression was measured in the muscle of DM2 patients and compared it to controls.We identified distinct genes modulated in DM2 patients compared to controls.