Myo-granules Connect Physiology and Pathophysiology.

A hallmark of many neuromuscular diseases including Alzheimer disease, inclusion body myositis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal lobar dementia, and ocular pharyngeal muscular dystrophy is large cytoplasmic aggregates containing the RNA-binding protein, TDP-43. Despite acceptance that cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregation is pathological, cytoplasmic TDP-43 assemblies form in healthy regenerating muscle. These recently discovered ribonucleoprotein assemblies, termed myo-granules, form in healthy muscle following injury and are readily cleared as the myofibers mature.