Objective: Reliable, circulating biomarkers for Duchenne, Becker and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophies (DBMD and FSHD) remain unvalidated. Here, we investigated the plasma extracellular vesicle (EV) proteome to identify disease-specific biomarkers that could accelerate therapy approvals.
Methods: We extracted EVs from the plasma of DBMD and FSHD patients and healthy controls using size-exclusion chromatography, conducted mass spectrometry on the extracted EV proteins, and performed comparative analysis to identify disease-specific biomarkers. We correlated the levels of these biomarkers with clinical outcome measures and confounding factors.
Results: The muscle-associated proteins PYGM, MYOM3, FLNC, MYH2 and TTN were exclusively present in DBMD EVs. PYGM, MYOM3, and TTN negatively correlated with age. PYGM and MYOM3 levels were elevated in patients without cardiomyopathy, and PYGM levels were specifically elevated in ambulatory DMD patients. On the other hand, female FSHD patients displayed significantly higher MBL2 and lower GPLD1 levels. However, male FSHD patients exhibited higher C9 and lower C4BPB levels. Additionally, desmosome proteins JUP and DSP were uniquely found in FSHD males. MBL2 positively correlated with age and C4BPB negatively correlated with FSHD severity in male patients.
Interpretation: Our findings underscore the sensitivity of analyzing circulating EV content to identify disease-specific protein biomarkers for DBMD and FSHD. Our results also emphasize the potential of EV-based biomarker discovery as a promising approach to monitor disease progression as well as effectiveness of therapies in muscular dystrophy, potentially contributing to their approval. Further research with larger cohorts is needed to validate these biomarkers and explore their clinical implications.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.29.24317861 | DOI Listing |
Neuromuscul Disord
December 2024
The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre (JWMDRC), Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Desmoid tumours, also known as aggressive fibromatosis, are rare tumours derived from mesenchymal stem cells, accounting for only 0.03 % of all tumours. While 85-90 % of cases are sporadic, desmoid tumours can occasionally be associated with Gardner syndrome (or Familial Adenomatous Polyposis), which is linked to variants in the tumour suppressor gene, APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) gene on chromosome 5.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Neurodegener
December 2024
Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
Background: The gene C9orf72 harbors a non-coding hexanucleotide repeat expansion known to cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. While previous studies have estimated the length of this repeat expansion in multiple tissues, technological limitations have impeded researchers from exploring additional features, such as methylation levels.
Methods: We aimed to characterize C9orf72 repeat expansions using a targeted, amplification-free long-read sequencing method.
Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis
December 2024
National Institute of Science Education and Research, School of Biological Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 752050, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India. Electronic address:
Maintaining precise levels of FRG1 is vital. It's over-expression is tied to muscular dystrophy, while reduced levels are linked to tumorigenesis. Despite extensive efforts to characterize FRG1 expression and downstream molecular signaling, a comprehensive understanding of its regulation has remained elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSemin Respir Crit Care Med
December 2024
Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Neuromuscular disorders can cause respiratory impairment by affecting the muscle fibers, neuromuscular junction, or innervation of respiratory muscles, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Over the past few years, new disease-modifying therapies have been developed and made available for treating different neuromuscular disorders. Some of these therapies have remarkable effectiveness, resulting in the prevention and reduction of respiratory complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDysphagia
December 2024
Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC, J1H 5N4, Canada.
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare late-onset muscle disease with progressive dysphagia as a major symptom. The Dysphagiameter is a newly developed patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) to assess the severity of dysphagia and its impact in patients with OPMD. This article reports on item reduction and a first assessment of the Dysphagiameter's psychometrics properties, in a French and English-speaking population of individuals with OPMD.
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