At the initiative of professors R. Whalen and S. Takeda, a first conference organized in 1995 concerning gene therapy of neuromuscular diseases aimed to promote collaborations between France and Japan. Since then, researchers from the two countries gather every two years, alternatively between France and Japan, and discuss myology themes and therapeutic possibilities for neuromuscular diseases.

 

Chaired jointly by professors H. Sugita and M. Fardeau, the 7th edition of the Franco- Japanese conference gathered 70 researchers and doctors involved in the latest developments of myology and molecular therapies of muscular dystrophies.

 

 

The colloquium was launched by the opening conference given by Professor O. Nureki, specialist in the structural bases of dynamic mechanisms of protein function. The crystallographic analysis of selenoprotein N (SePN), involved in two types of muscular dystrophies, was presented and is the result of a close Franco-Japanese collaboration.

 

In the first part of the conference, work carried out in France and Japan concerning the physiopathology of various neuromuscular diseases was presented. In particular, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, congenital myasthenia syndromes and myasthenia gravis, congenital muscular dystrophies, as well as distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (DMRV), centronuclear myopathy and muscular atrophy were on the program.

 

After presentations relating to the evaluation of motor function in patients affected by muscular dystrophies, the second part of the colloquium was dedicated to molecular therapy of the muscular dystrophies. Research carried out in Japan and France on gene, cell and pharmacological therapy using myostatin inhibition were successively discussed before terminating the colloquium with short speeches from Professors M. Fiszman and S. Takeda.

 

The colloquium was also the opportunity for exchanges concerning the clinical management of patients affected by Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy. In particular, indications for surgical operations for scoliosis and the importance of follow-up during the first postoperative year were discussed.

 

Moreover, the need for a consortium related to evaluation tools for muscular dystrophy in patients was underlined and it was concluded that an international symposium concerning this topic would be very useful.

 

Discussions between Japanese and French researchers outside of the plenary meetings made it possible to facilitate already established collaborations, for example in the fields of nuclear envelopathies and congenital muscular dystrophies to quote just a few, and to stimulate new interactions between laboratories from the two countries.

 

 

To conclude, more than ten years after the first Franco-Japanese colloquium, the collaborations between research teams from the two countries aimed at a better understanding of neuromuscular diseases and development of therapies remains as dynamic. The participation of more young Japanese and French researchers in upcoming conferences was encouraged.