An 18-month Prospective Natural History Study to Gain Insight Into FSHD2 Pathophysiology and Disease Progression

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common inherited myopathies in adults. It is associated with genetic and epigenetic deregulation of the D4Z4 locus on the sub-telomeric region of chromosome 4q35, resulting in abnormal expression of DUX4p. Type 1 FSHD (FSHD1) is the most common form of the disease and accounts for 95% of cases, while Type 2 FSHD (FSHD2) accounts for only 5% of all FSHD cases. FSHD1 and FSHD2 are closely related in terms of genetic and epigenetic foundations, pathophysiology and clinical manifestations. Although initially described as distinct entities based on their genetics, recent information suggests that both forms of myopathy may represent the opposite ends of a spectrum of molecular diseases in which alteration of the genetic and epigenetic factors that govern DUX4 suppression in skeletal muscle have a different impact in both forms of the disease. FSHD1 and FSHD2 are both associated with re-expression of DUX4 leading to muscle atrophy, but the genetics underlying this re-expression are different, depending on whether it is type 1 or type 2. For FSHD1, it is associated with a critical contraction of the D4Z4 region and the 4qA permissive allele, leading to the expression of DUX4. In contrast, FSHD2 is caused by the inheritance of two independent genetic variations. A heterozygous mutation, mainly located on the SMCHD1 (Structural Maintenance of Chromosome flexible Hinge Domain containing 1) gene, results in a loss of funct…

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Sabrina SACCONI  ·  0492035757  ·  sacconi.s@chu-nice.fr

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