An autosomal recessive variant in PYGM causes myophosphorylase deficiency in Red Angus composite cattle.

BACKGROUND: Between 2020 and 2022, eight calves in a Nebraska herd (composite Simmental, Red Angus, Gelbvieh) displayed exercise intolerance during forced activity. In some cases, the calves collapsed and did not recover. Available sire pedigrees contained a paternal ancestor within 2-4 generations in all affected calves. Pedigrees of the calves' dams were unavailable, however, the cows were ranch-raised and retained from prior breeding seasons, where bulls used for breeding occasionally had a common ancestor. Therefore, it was hypothesized that a de novo autosomal recessive variant was causative of exercise intolerance in these calves. RESULTS: A genome-wide association analysis utilizing SNP data from 6 affected calves and 715 herd mates, followed by whole-genome sequencing of 2 affected calves led to the identification of a variant in the gene PYGM (BTA29:g.42989581G > A). The variant, confirmed to be present in the skeletal muscle transcriptome, was predicted to produce a premature stop codon (p.Arg650*). The protein product of PYGM, myophosphorylase, breaks down glycogen in skeletal muscle. Glycogen concentrations were fluorometrically assayed as glucose residues demonstrating significantly elevated glycogen concentrations in affected calves compared to cattle carrying the variant and to wild-type controls. The absence of the PYGM protein product in skeletal muscle was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and label-free quantitative proteomics analysis; muscle degeneration was confirmed in biopsy and necropsy samples. Elevated skeletal muscle glycogen persisted after harvest, resulting in a high pH and dark-cutting beef, which is negatively perceived by consumers and results in an economic loss to the industry. Carriers of the variant did not exhibit differences in meat quality or any measures of animal well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Myophosphorylase deficiency poses welfare concerns for affected animals and negatively impacts the final product. The association of the recessive genotype with dark-cutting beef further demonstrates the importance of genetics to not only animal health but to the quality of their product. Although cattle heterozygous for the variant may not immediately affect the beef industry, identifying carriers will enable selection and breeding strategies to prevent the production of affected calves.

Beneficios de la dieta cetogénica en la enfermedad de McArdle: empoderando a un paciente / Benefits of ketogenic diet on McArdle disease: empowering a patient

La enfermedad de almacenamiento de glucógeno tipo V o enfermedad de McArdle, con una prevalencia de 1 entre 167 mil personas, se caracteriza por una incapacidad para la degradación del glucógeno muscular. El síntoma cardinal es la intolerancia al ejercicio, manifestado por fatiga, debilidad muscular, mialgias, disnea y taquicardia, con posible rabdomiolisis. Los pacientes afectos por esta enfermedad presentan un fenómeno patognomónico denominado "segundo aliento". Existe poca evidencia respecto al tratamiento de la enfermedad. Algunos estudios apuntan el posible beneficio de la dieta cetogénica (DC). Se presenta un caso clínico de un varón de 38 años diagnosticado de enfermedad de McArdle que decide, por cuenta propia, llevar a cabo una DC durante un mes. Se realizó la valoración enfermera según las 14 Necesidades de Virginia Henderson y se identificaron los diagnósticos enfermeros: disposición para mejorar la gestión de la propia salud y fatiga, así como las complicaciones potenciales: rabdomiolisis y alteración perfil hepático Se objetivaron una disminución sustancial en los valores enzimas musculares y la desaparición por completo del fenómeno del "segundo aliento", lo que apoya el efecto beneficioso de la DC en estos sujetos. En este caso, el paciente tuvo que tomar una decisión al margen de las recomendaciones terapéuticas. El empoderamiento del paciente lo capacita para escoger de manera adecuada entre las distintas opciones terapéuticas a su alcance

Glycogen storage disease type V or McArdle disease has a prevalence of 1 per 167 thousand persons; it is characterized by the inability to break down muscle glycogen. The main symptom is exercise intolerance, shown by fatigue, muscle weakness, myalgia, dyspnea and tachycardia, with potential rhabdomyolisis. Patients affected by this disease present a pathognomonic phenomenon called "second wind". There is little evidence regarding the treatment of this disease. Some studies point at the potential benefit of ketogenic diet (KD). We present a case report of a 38-year-old male patient diagnosed with McArdle disease who decided on his own to follow a KD during one month. Nursing assessment was conducted according to the 14 Needs by Virginia Henderson, and the nursing diagnoses Willingness to improve the management of his own health and Fatigue were identified, as well as potential complications: rhabdomyolisis and hepatic profile alteration. It was objectively observed that there was a significant reduction in the values of muscle enzymes, and the "second wind" phenomenon disappeared completely; this supports the beneficial effect of KD in these subjects. In this case, the patient had to make a decision outside treatment recommendations. Patient empowerment enables them to choose adequately among the different treatment options available

Genes and exercise intolerance: insights from McArdle disease.

McArdle disease (glycogen storage disease type V) is caused by inherited deficiency of a key enzyme in muscle metabolism, the skeletal muscle-specific isoform of glycogen phosphorylase, "myophosphorylase," which is encoded by the PYGM gene. Here we review the main pathophysiological, genotypic, and phenotypic features of McArdle disease and their interactions. To date, moderate-intensity exercise (together with pre-exercise carbohydrate ingestion) is the only treatment option that has proven useful for these patients. Furthermore, regular physical activity attenuates the clinical severity of McArdle disease. This is quite remarkable for a monogenic disorder that consistently leads to the same metabolic defect at the muscle tissue level, that is, complete inability to use muscle glycogen stores. Further knowledge of this disorder would help patients and enhance understanding of exercise metabolism as well as exercise genomics. Indeed, McArdle disease is a paradigm of human exercise intolerance and PYGM genotyping should be included in the genetic analyses that might be applied in the coming personalized exercise medicine as well as in future research on genetics and exercise-related phenotypes.

The pathogenomics of McArdle disease--genes, enzymes, models, and therapeutic implications.

Numerous biomedical advances have been made since Carl and Gerty Cori discovered the enzyme phosphorylase in the 1940s and the Scottish physician Brian McArdle reported in 1951 a previously 'undescribed disorder characterized by a gross failure of the breakdown in muscle of glycogen'. Today we know that this disorder, commonly known as 'McArdle disease', is caused by inherited deficiency of the muscle isoform of glycogen phosphorylase (GP). Here we review the main aspects of the 'pathogenomics' of this disease including, among others: the spectrum of mutations in the gene (PYGM) encoding muscle GP; the interplay between the different tissue GP isoforms in cellular cultures and in patients; what can we learn from naturally occurring and recently laboratory-generated animal models of the disease; and potential therapies.

Miopatías metabólicas / Metabolic myopathies

Objetivo. Revisar las miopatías metabólicas manifestadas solamente por crisis de mialgias, calambres y rigidez musculares con dificultad para contraer los músculos afectados y el examen neurológico normal entre las crisis en niños y adolescentes. Desarrollo. Estas miopatías metabólicas se deben a déficits enzimáticos heredados en forma autosómica recesiva del metabolismo de los carbohidratos y lípidos. El resultado final es una reducción del trifosfato de adenosina principalmente a través de la fosforilación oxidativa mitocondrial con disminución de la energía disponible para la contracción muscular. Las secundarias a trastornos del metabolismo de los carbohidratos se producen por ejercicios de alta intensidad y breves (< 10 min) y las secundarias a trastornos de los lípidos, por ejercicios de baja intensidad y prolongados (> 10 min). Los déficits enzimáticos en el primer grupo son de miofosforilasa (glucogenosis V), fosfofructocinasa muscular (glucogenosis VII), fosfoglicerato mutasa 1 (glucogenosis X) y beta enolasa (glucogenosis XIII), y en el segundo, de carnitina palmitol transferasa tipo II y de acil-CoA deshidrogenasa de cadena muy larga. Conclusiones. Las características diferenciales de los pacientes en cada grupo y dentro de cada grupo permitirán el diagnóstico clínico presuntivo inicial en la mayoría y solicitar solamente los exámenes necesarios para corroborar el diagnóstico. El tratamiento de las crisis consiste en hidratación, glucosa y alcalinización de la orina. Las medidas preventivas son evitar el tipo de ejercicio que induce las crisis y el ayuno. No existe cura o tratamiento específico. El pronóstico es bueno con la excepción de casos raros de insuficiencia renal aguda debido a la elevación sanguínea de la mioglobina producto de una rabdomiólisis grave (AU)

To review the metabolic myopathies manifested only by crisis of myalgias, cramps and rigidity of the muscles with decreased voluntary contractions and normal inter crisis neurologic examination in children and adolescents. Development. These metabolic myopathies are autosomic recessive inherited enzymatic deficiencies of the carbohydrates and lipids metabolisms. The end result is a reduction of intra muscle adenosine triphosphate, mainly through mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, with decrease of available energy for muscle contraction. The one secondary to carbohydrates intra muscle metabolism disorders are triggered by high intensity brief (< 10 min) exercises. Those secondary to fatty acids metabolism disorders are triggered by low intensity prolonged (> 10 min) exercises. The conditions in the first group in order of decreasing frequency are the deficiencies of myophosforilase (GSD V), muscle phosphofructokinase (GSD VII), phosphoglycerate mutase 1 (GSD X) and beta enolase (GSD XIII). The conditions in the second group in order of decreasing frequency are the deficiencies of carnitine palmitoyl transferase II and very long chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase. Conclusions. The differential characteristics of patients in each group and within each group will allow to make the initial presumptive clinical diagnosis in the majority and then to order only the necessary tests to achieve the final diagnosis. Treatment during the crisis includes hydration, glucose and alkalinization of urine if myoglobin in blood and urine are elevated. Prevention includes avoiding exercise which may induce the crisis and fasting. The prognosis is good with the exception of rare cases of acute renal failure due to hipermyoglobinemia because of severe rabdomyolisis (AU)

[Metabolic myopathies]. / Miopatías metabólicas.

AIM: To review the metabolic myopathies manifested only by crisis of myalgias, cramps and rigidity of the muscles with decreased voluntary contractions and normal inter crisis neurologic examination in children and adolescents. DEVELOPMENT: These metabolic myopathies are autosomic recessive inherited enzymatic deficiencies of the carbohydrates and lipids metabolisms. The end result is a reduction of intra muscle adenosine triphosphate, mainly through mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, with decrease of available energy for muscle contraction. The one secondary to carbohydrates intra muscle metabolism disorders are triggered by high intensity brief (< 10 min) exercises. Those secondary to fatty acids metabolism disorders are triggered by low intensity prolonged (> 10 min) exercises. The conditions in the first group in order of decreasing frequency are the deficiencies of myophosforilase (GSD V), muscle phosphofructokinase (GSD VII), phosphoglycerate mutase 1 (GSD X) and beta enolase (GSD XIII). The conditions in the second group in order of decreasing frequency are the deficiencies of carnitine palmitoyl transferase II and very long chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase. CONCLUSIONS: The differential characteristics of patients in each group and within each group will allow to make the initial presumptive clinical diagnosis in the majority and then to order only the necessary tests to achieve the final diagnosis. Treatment during the crisis includes hydration, glucose and alkalinization of urine if myoglobin in blood and urine are elevated. Prevention includes avoiding exercise which may induce the crisis and fasting. The prognosis is good with the exception of rare cases of acute renal failure due to hipermyoglobinemia because of severe rabdomyolisis.

TITLE: Miopatias metabolicas.Objetivo. Revisar las miopatias metabolicas manifestadas solamente por crisis de mialgias, calambres y rigidez musculares con dificultad para contraer los musculos afectados y el examen neurologico normal entre las crisis en niños y adolescentes. Desarrollo. Estas miopatias metabolicas se deben a deficits enzimaticos heredados en forma autosomica recesiva del metabolismo de los carbohidratos y lipidos. El resultado final es una reduccion del trifosfato de adenosina principalmente a traves de la fosforilacion oxidativa mitocondrial con disminucion de la energia disponible para la contraccion muscular. Las secundarias a trastornos del metabolismo de los carbohidratos se producen por ejercicios de alta intensidad y breves (< 10 min) y las secundarias a trastornos de los lipidos, por ejercicios de baja intensidad y prolongados (> 10 min). Los deficits enzimaticos en el primer grupo son de miofosforilasa (glucogenosis V), fosfofructocinasa muscular (glucogenosis VII), fosfoglicerato mutasa 1 (glucogenosis X) y beta enolasa (glucogenosis XIII), y en el segundo, de carnitina palmitol transferasa tipo II y de acil-CoA deshidrogenasa de cadena muy larga. Conclusiones. Las caracteristicas diferenciales de los pacientes en cada grupo y dentro de cada grupo permitiran el diagnostico clinico presuntivo inicial en la mayoria y solicitar solamente los examenes necesarios para corroborar el diagnostico. El tratamiento de las crisis consiste en hidratacion, glucosa y alcalinizacion de la orina. Las medidas preventivas son evitar el tipo de ejercicio que induce las crisis y el ayuno. No existe cura o tratamiento especifico. El pronostico es bueno con la excepcion de casos raros de insuficiencia renal aguda debido a la elevacion sanguinea de la mioglobina producto de una rabdomiolisis grave.

Clinical and molecular characterization of McArdle's disease in Brazilian patients.

McArdle's disease, a glycogen storage disease type V, is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme myophosphorylase, encoded by the PYGM gene. Worldwide distribution of mutations has revealed interesting data about the prevalence of mutations and population migrations. Currently, more than 100 mutations in the PYGM gene have been described, with some recurrent mutations in the different populations. However, no molecular studies of McArdle's disease were reported in Brazilian patients. Here, we describe the clinical phenotype and genotype of 10 patients from 8 unrelated Brazilian families. Among the 10 patients (3 females, 7 males), eight presented with the typical phenotype, with exercise intolerance, cramps, and myalgia; one patient showed permanent muscle weakness; and one patient showed a mild phenotype. Molecular analysis identified 5 different mutations in the 8 families, both in homozygosis or compound heterozygosis state. Four of them had already been described (p.R50X, p.T692kfs30, p.K609K, and p.G455R), and one, pI513V, is a novel heterozygous mutation. The common nonsense p.R50X mutation was found in 6 of the 8 families, being therefore the commonest mutation in the Brazilian population as well. Other mutations previously reported in European patients were also found in the patients in this study, which was expected considering the European ancestry of the Brazilian population.

Six novel mutations in the myophosphorylase gene in patients with McArdle disease and a family with pseudo-dominant inheritance pattern.

McArdle disease is an autosomal recessive glycogenosis due to deficiency of the enzyme myophosphorylase. It results from homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the gene for this enzyme, PYGM. We report six novel mutations in the PYGM gene based upon sequencing data including three missense mutations (p.D51G, p.P398L, and p.N648Y), one nonsense mutation (p.Y75X), one frame-shift mutation (p.Y114SfsX181), and one amino acid deletion (p.Y53del) in six patients with McArdle disease. We also report on a Caucasian family that appeared to transmit McArdle disease in an autosomal dominant manner. In order to evaluate the potential pathogenicity of the sequence variants, we performed in silico analysis using PolyPhen-2 and SIFT BLink, along with species conservation analysis using UCSC Genome Browser. The above mutations were all predicted to be disease associated with high probability and with at least the same level of certainty as several confirmed mutations. The current data add to the list of pathogenic mutations in the PYGM gene associated with McArdle disease.

Molecular and clinical study of McArdle's disease in a cohort of 123 European patients. Identification of 20 novel mutations.

McArdle's disease is the most common muscle glycogenosis. It is caused by the deficiency of myophosphorylase, encoded by the PYGM gene. We studied 123 patients previously diagnosed with McArdle's disease and we identified 20 novel mutations (10 missense and 3 nonsense mutations, 3 small deletions, 2 gross deletions and 2 small insertions). Most patients of this cohort belong to Spanish and French populations. This allowed us to determine the differences between the allelic frequencies of the common mutations R50X and G205S of these populations. The R50X has an allelic frequency in this cohort of about 61.7%, being 68.5% in French and 53.7% in Spanish patients. The G205S had a higher allelic frequency in the Spanish (10.2%) than in the French population (3.2%). Moreover, a clinical study of 91 patients was performed to establish both genotype-phenotype correlation and gender influence in the severity of the disease. We conclude that no genotype-phenotype correlation is evident and that no gender effect is related to the phenotype.

Clinical and laboratory features of patients with myophosphorylase deficiency (McArdle disease).

Mutations of PYGM, the gene encoding human myophosphorylase, produce a metabolic myopathy characterised by exercise intolerance and, in some patients, myoglobinuria. To illustrate the clinical and laboratory features of myophosphorylase deficiency, we describe 10 patients diagnosed in Auckland, New Zealand, between 1989 and 2009. We review the clinical, biochemical, and histologic features and the results of mutation analysis. All patients reported exercise intolerance since childhood or the teenage years, starting within minutes of moderate or intense exertion. The "second wind" phenomenon, or myoglobinuria, were each reported in about half the patients. The serum creatine kinase concentration was elevated in all patients where this had been measured. Muscle biopsies revealed subsarcolemmal vacuolation and histochemical absence of myophosphorylase. Analysis of PYGM showed mutations in all alleles, most commonly Arg49Ter or Gly204Ser. One patient harbored a novel mutation, Pro488Arg, predicted to seriously disrupt the tertiary structure of the enzyme. Myophosphorylase deficiency produces a fairly uniform set of symptoms, and consistent elevation of the serum creatine kinase concentration. The diagnosis can be confirmed in most patients by mutation analysis using a blood sample.

[Myalgia during warming-up in a 12-year-old boy]. / Spierpijn tijdens warming-up bij een 12-jarige jongen.

INTRODUCTION: McArdle disease is a hereditary myopathy caused by muscle phosphorylase deficiency. Patients experience painful muscle cramps after strenuous exercise; the condition is sometimes associated with rhabdomyolysis, myoglobinuria and resulting acute renal failure. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 12-year-old boy visited the Paediatric and Neurology outpatients' departments with symptoms of leg myalgia, occurring during the warming-up phase of soccer practice, which disappeared after a short rest. Detailed history-taking revealed that he already experienced pain while walking during early childhood. An elevated serum creatine kinase concentration in combination with the typical presentation led to the presumptive diagnosis 'McArdle disease', which was confirmed by molecular genetic analysis. CONCLUSION: There is no effective gene therapy; a multidisciplinary approach by a neurologist, paediatrician, physiotherapist and nutritionist is advised.

Metabolic myopathies: functional evaluation by analysis of oxygen uptake kinetics.

PURPOSE: The aim was to identify additional noninvasive tools allowing to detect and to quantify the metabolic impairment in patients with mitochondrial myopathies (MM) or McArdle's disease (McA). METHODS: Kinetics of adjustment of pulmonary oxygen uptake (VO2 kinetics) during transitions to constant-load moderate-intensity cycle ergometer exercise were determined on 15 MM, 8 McA, 21 patients with signs and/or symptoms of metabolic myopathy but a negative biopsy ("patient controls"; P-CTRL), and 22 healthy untrained controls (CTRL). RESULTS: VO2 kinetics were slower in MM and in McA versus P-CTRL and CTRL, slower in McA versus MM, and not significantly different between P-CTRL and CTRL. The time constants (tau) of the monoexponential function describing the VO2 kinetics were (X +/- SE) 59.2 +/- 8.5 s in MM, 87.6 +/- 16.4 s in McA, 36.9 +/- 3.1 s in P-CTRL, and 35.4 +/- 1.9 s in CTRL. In a subgroup of the patients (eight MM and seven McA), tau of VO2 kinetics were negatively correlated with two variables determined in a previous study (Grassi B, Marzorati M, Lanfranconi F, et al. Impaired oxygen extraction in metabolic myopathies: detection and quantification by near-infrared spectroscopy. Muscle Nerve. 2007;35:510-20): a) a muscle oxygenation index, obtained by near-infrared spectroscopy, estimating the peak capacity of skeletal muscle fractional O2 extraction; and b) VO2 peak. CONCLUSIONS: In MM and McA patients, analysis of pulmonary VO2 kinetics during moderate-intensity exercise allows to identify and to quantify, noninvasively, the impairment of skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism. In these patients, the slower VO2 kinetics can be considered a marker of the impaired exercise tolerance. The present data could be useful for clinicians who need an objective, quantitative, and longitudinal evaluation of the impairment to be used in the follow-up of these patients as well as in the assessment of therapeutic interventions.

[McArdle disease revealed by exercise intolerance associated with severe rhabdomyolysis]. / Révélation d'une maladie de Mc Ardle par une intolérance musculaire à l'effort associée à une rhabdomyolyse sévère.

McArdle's disease (MAD) is a rare hereditary myopathy secondary to a deficit in myophosphorylase, an essential enzyme for the use of muscular glycogen reserves. Exercise intolerance to a variable degree is the fundamental manifestation. Muscular enzymes are usually normal or slightly elevated, except during episodes of rhabdomyolysis. Generally, the electromyogram has poor sensitivity for the diagnosis of exercise myopathies. The muscular biopsy can be misleadingly normal. The role of MRI in the diagnosis of MAD is not well clarified in the literature. We report the case of a 16-year-old patient, hospitalized in July 2008 for exercise intolerance. On admission, he was asymptomatic and the physical examination was non contributive. Serum creatine kinase levels and renal function measures were normal. Cycloergometer exercise testing unmasked the disease. EMG and muscular biopsies were normal. During the second hospitalization, this time for rhabdomyolysis, T2 weighted MRI of the thighs showed high intensity signals from the gracilis muscles. The control MRI, made after 2 weeks of rest, was normal. Right gracilis muscle biopsy demonstrated excess glycogen with myophosphorylase deficiency, establishing the diagnosis of MAD. MAD is a rare metabolic myopathy to consider in patients with a history of exercise intolerance. The muscle biopsy can be misleadingly normal and should be, to our opinion, be guided by MRI findings.

Splice mutations preserve myophosphorylase activity that ameliorates the phenotype in McArdle disease.

Over 100 mutations in the myophosphorylase gene, which cause McArdle disease, are known. All these mutations have resulted in a complete block of muscle glycogenolysis, and accordingly, no genotype-phenotype correlation has been identified in this condition. We evaluated physiologic and genetic features of two patients with a variant form of McArdle disease, associated with unusually high exercise capacity. Physiologic findings were compared to those in 47 patients with typical McArdle disease, and 17 healthy subjects. Subjects performed an ischaemic forearm exercise test to assess lactate and ammonia production. Peak oxidative capacity (VO2max) and cardiac output were determined, using cycle ergometry as the exercise modality. The two patients with atypical McArdle disease carried common mutations on one allele (R50X and G205S), and novel splice mutations in introns 3 [IVS3-26A>G (c.425-26A>G)] and 5 [IVS5-601G>A (c.856-601G>A)] on the other allele. Plasma lactate after ischaemic exercise decreased in all typical McArdle patients, but increased in the two atypical McArdle patients (10% of that in healthy subjects). Peak workload and oxidative capacity were 2-fold higher in patients with atypical McArdle disease compared to typical McArdle patients. Oxygen uptake, relative to cardiac output, was severely impaired in the 47 patients with typical McArdle disease, and partially normalized in the milder affected McArdle patients. These findings identify the first distinct genotype-phenotype relationship in McArdle disease, and indicate that minimal myophosphorylase activity ameliorates the typical McArdle disease phenotype by augmenting muscle oxidative capacity. The milder form of McArdle disease provides important clues to the level of functional myophosphorylase needed to support muscle oxidative metabolism.