Differential fates of introns in gene expression due to global alternative splicing.

The discovery of introns over four decades ago revealed a new vision of genes and their interrupted arrangement. Throughout the years, it has appeared that introns play essential roles in the regulation of gene expression. Unique processing of excised introns through the formation of lariats suggests a widespread role for these molecules in the structure and function of cells. In addition to rapid destruction, these lariats may linger on in the nucleus or may even be exported to the cytoplasm, where they remain stable circular RNAs (circRNAs). Alternative splicing (AS) is a source of diversity in mature transcripts harboring retained introns (RI-mRNAs). Such RNAs may contain one or more entire retained intron(s) (RIs), but they may also have intron fragments resulting from sequential excision of smaller subfragments via recursive splicing (RS), which is characteristic of long introns. There are many potential fates of RI-mRNAs, including their downregulation via nuclear and cytoplasmic surveillance systems and the generation of new protein isoforms with potentially different functions. Various reports have linked the presence of such unprocessed transcripts in mammals to important roles in normal development and in disease-related conditions. In certain human neurological-neuromuscular disorders, including myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2), frontotemporal dementia/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTD/ALS) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), peculiar processing of long introns has been identified and is associated with their pathogenic effects. In this review, we discuss different mechanisms involved in the processing of introns during AS and the functions of these large sections of the genome in our biology.

CDK12 inhibition reduces abnormalities in cells from patients with myotonic dystrophy and in a mouse model.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an RNA-based disease with no current treatment. It is caused by a transcribed CTG repeat expansion within the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene. Mutant repeat expansion transcripts remain in the nuclei of patients' cells, forming distinct microscopically detectable foci that contribute substantially to the pathophysiology of the condition. Here, we report small-molecule inhibitors that remove nuclear foci and have beneficial effects in the HSALR mouse model, reducing transgene expression, leading to improvements in myotonia, splicing, and centralized nuclei. Using chemoproteomics in combination with cell-based assays, we identify cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) as a druggable target for this condition. CDK12 is a protein elevated in DM1 cell lines and patient muscle biopsies, and our results showed that its inhibition led to reduced expression of repeat expansion RNA. Some of the inhibitors identified in this study are currently the subject of clinical trials for other indications and provide valuable starting points for a drug development program in DM1.

An Overview of Circular RNAs and Their Implications in Myotonic Dystrophy.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of single-stranded covalently closed RNA rings. Biogenesis of circRNAs, which may occur co-transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally via a back-splicing mechanism, requires the presence of complementary and/or inverted repeat sequences in introns flanking back-spliced exons and is facilitated by RNA-binding proteins. CircRNAs are abundant across eukaryotes; however, their biological functions remain largely speculative. Recently, they have been emerging as new members of a gene regulatory network and contributing factors in various human diseases including cancer, neurological, muscular and cardiovascular disorders. In this review, we present an overview of the current knowledge about circRNAs biogenesis and their aberrant expression in various human disorders. In particular, we focus on the latest discovery of circRNAs global upregulation in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) skeletal muscles and the role these prospective biomarkers might have for prognosis and therapeutic response in DM1.

Global Increase in Circular RNA Levels in Myotonic Dystrophy.

Splicing aberrations induced as a consequence of the sequestration of muscleblind-like splicing factors on the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase transcript, which contains expanded CUG repeats, present a major pathomechanism of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). As muscleblind-like factors may also be important factors involved in the biogenesis of circular RNAs (circRNAs), we hypothesized that the level of circRNAs would be decreased in DM1. To test this hypothesis, we selected 20 well-validated circRNAs and analyzed their levels in several experimental systems (e.g., cell lines, DM muscle tissues, and a mouse model of DM1) using droplet digital PCR assays. We also explored the global level of circRNAs using two RNA-Seq datasets of DM1 muscle samples. Contrary to our original hypothesis, our results consistently showed a global increase in circRNA levels in DM1, and we identified numerous circRNAs that were increased in DM1. We also identified many genes (including muscle-specific genes) giving rise to numerous (>10) circRNAs. Thus, this study is the first to show an increase in global circRNA levels in DM1. We also provided preliminary results showing the association of circRNA level with muscle weakness and alternative splicing changes that are biomarkers of DM1 severity.

Quantitative Methods to Monitor RNA Biomarkers in Myotonic Dystrophy.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) are human neuromuscular disorders associated with mutations of simple repetitive sequences in affected genes. The abnormal expansion of CTG repeats in the 3'-UTR of the DMPK gene elicits DM1, whereas elongated CCTG repeats in intron 1 of ZNF9/CNBP triggers DM2. Pathogenesis of both disorders is manifested by nuclear retention of expanded repeat-containing RNAs and aberrant alternative splicing. The precise determination of absolute numbers of mutant RNA molecules is important for a better understanding of disease complexity and for accurate evaluation of the efficacy of therapeutic drugs. We present two quantitative methods, Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification and droplet digital PCR, for studying the mutant DMPK transcript (DMPKexpRNA) and the aberrant alternative splicing in DM1 and DM2 human tissues and cells. We demonstrate that in DM1, the DMPKexpRNA is detected in higher copy number than its normal counterpart. Moreover, the absolute number of the mutant transcript indicates its low abundance with only a few copies per cell in DM1 fibroblasts. Most importantly, in conjunction with fluorescence in-situ hybridization experiments, our results suggest that in DM1 fibroblasts, the vast majority of nuclear RNA foci consist of a few molecules of DMPKexpRNA.

Body composition and clinical outcome measures in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common form of adult onset muscular dystrophy. In this study we compared body composition in DM1 and matched controls and evaluated the relationship between these parameters and clinical outcome measures in DM1 patients. In addition we established the sensitivity to change of these measures in a prospective 18 month longitudinal study of the DM1 patient cohort. Clinical data, manual muscle testing (MMT), quantitative muscle testing (QMT) of ankle dorsiflexion, bilateral grip dynamometry, 6 minute walk test and a DM1 functional rating scale (DM1-Activ) were collected at baseline (n = 38) and 18 month follow-up (n = 36). The case-control analysis was performed comparing baseline data with 31 anthropometrically matched controls. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to obtain regional measurements of fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) and demonstrated significant reduction of FFMI in the legs (left p = 0.004; right p = 0.017) and trunk (p < 0.0001) and increased FMI localised to the trunk (p < 0.0001) in DM1 patients compared to controls. Regional left and right arm FFMI and FMI significantly positively and negatively correlated with grip strength and both total FFMI (p = 0.0009) and FMI (p = 0.02) decreased and increased by 0.38 kg/m2 and 0.31 kg/m2 respectively after 18 month follow-up. DEXA is likely to provide a useful secondary outcome measurement of disease progression in addition to muscle strength and timed functional tasks in clinical trials.

The use of aminopyridines in neurological disorders.

Aminopyridines are members of a family of monoamino and diamino derivatives of pyridine, and their principal mechanism of action is dose-dependent blockade of voltage-gated potassium channels, in particular, fast voltage-gated potassium channels. To date, only 2 main broad-spectrum potassium channel blockers, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP), have been used as investigational new drugs in various neurological diseases. More recently, licensed versions of these compounds including dalfampridine extended release (Fampyra, Biogen Idec) for the improvement of walking in adult patients with multiple sclerosis, and amifampridine (Firdapse, Biomarin Europe Ltd) for the treatment of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome have been released, and the costs associated with using these new products highlights the importance of evaluating the clinically meaningful treatment effects of these drugs.The current review summarizes the evidence of aminopyridine use in neurological conditions and in particular presents a systematic review of all randomized trials of 3,4-DAP in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome to determine the efficacy of this treatment using meta-analysis of clinical and electrophysiological end points.

Treatment for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is an autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular transmission. Treatments attempt to overcome the harmful autoimmune process, or improve residual neuromuscular transmission OBJECTIVES: The objective was to examine the efficacy of treatment in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Specialized Register (12 October 2010), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (12 October 2010, Issue 4 2010 in the Cochrane Library), MEDLINE (January 1966 to September 2010) and EMBASE (January 1980 to September 2010). SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised or quasi-randomised trials of adults and children with a diagnosis of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, with or without small-cell lung cancer, receiving any form of pharmacological or physical treatment. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: All authors independently assessed studies for inclusion and extracted data. Study authors were contacted for missing information when possible. MAIN RESULTS: Four controlled trials of 3,4-diaminopyridine compared with placebo in a total of 54 participants with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome were eligible: three cross-over trials and one parallel group. Two were added at this update. One of these trials also assessed pyridostigmine in conjunction with 3,4-diaminopyridine. A further cross-over trial compared intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) to placebo in nine participants.Four trials of 3,4-diaminopyridine reported significant improvement in the primary outcome, muscle strength score, or myometric limb measurement for between hours and a week following treatment, and significant improvement in resting compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude following 3,4-diaminopyridine, compared with placebo.A meta-analysis of the primary endpoint showed Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) muscle score assessed between three and eight days was likely to improve by a mean of 2.44 points (95% confidence interval 3.6 to 1.22). Meta-analysis of the secondary endpoint CMAP amplitude also showed a mean improvement of 1.36 mV (95% confidence interval 0.99 to 1.72) over the same period. The risk of bias was determined to be low, and quality of evidence moderate to high.A single cross-over trial reported significant improvement in myometric limb strength and non-significant improvement in mean resting CMAP amplitude with IVIg compared to placebo. Clinical improvement lasted for up to eight weeks. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Limited but moderate to high quality evidence from randomised controlled trials showed that over days 3,4-diaminopyridine, or for up to 8 weeks IVIg, improved muscle strength scores and CMAP amplitudes in participants with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. There are insufficient data at present to quantify this effect. Other possible treatments have not been tested in randomised controlled trials.

Reversible hypomagnesaemia-induced subacute cerebellar syndrome.

Magnesium is the second most abundant intracellular cation and is a fundamental cofactor in a multitude of cellular enzymatic reactions. Magnesium deficiency causes diverse clinical features predominantly due to cardio- and neurotoxicity. We describe a case of severe hypomagnesaemia associated with intermittent downbeat nystagmus, cerebellar ataxia, generalised convulsions and a supraventricular tachycardia. On MRI imaging, a transient lesion of the cerebellar nodulus was observed, which has not, to our knowledge, been previously described in isolated hypomagnesaemia.

Horner's syndrome with an ipsilateral X nerve palsy following presumed shingles.

Herpes zoster is a common clinical problem but its complications, apart from post-herpetic neuralgia, are comparatively rare. We describe a case of Horner's syndrome and ipsilateral vagal paresis following likely herpes zoster of the third and fourth cervical roots. This unusual combination has not, to our knowledge, been previously described.