Cells of Matter – In Vitro Models for Myotonic Dystrophy

Denis Furling’s team (Pathophysiology & Biotherapy of Myotonic Dystrophy, Myology Centre for Research, Institute of Myology) has just published a review on relevant cellular models to study Myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1 also known as Steinert disease) is a multisystemic disorder mainly characterized by myotonia, progressive muscle weakness and wasting, cognitive impairments, and cardiac defects. This autosomal dominant disease is caused by the expression of nuclear retained RNAs containing pathologic expanded CUG repeats that alter the function of RNA-binding proteins in a tissue-specific manner, leading ultimately to neuromuscular dysfunction and clinical symptoms.

Although considerable knowledge has been gathered on myotonic dystrophy since its first description, the development of novel relevant disease models remains of high importance to investigate pathophysiologic mechanisms and to assess new therapeutic approaches. In addition to animal models, in vitro cell cultures provide a unique resource for both fundamental and translational research.

This review discusses how cellular models broke ground to decipher molecular basis of DM1 and describes currently available cell models, ranging from exogenous expression of the CTG tracts to variable patients’ derived cells.

 

Front Neurol. 2018 May 23;9:361. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00361. eCollection 2018.Cells of Matter-In Vitro Models for Myotonic Dystrophy.Matloka M, Klein AF, Rau F, Furling D