DUX4 activates germline genes, retroelements, and immune mediators: implications for facioscapulohumeral dystrophy

Dev Cell. 2012 Jan 17;22(1):38-51. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2011.11.013. Epub 2011 Dec 29.

Abstract

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common inherited muscular dystrophies. The causative gene remains controversial and the mechanism of pathophysiology unknown. Here we identify genes associated with germline and early stem cell development as targets of the DUX4 transcription factor, a leading candidate gene for FSHD. The genes regulated by DUX4 are reliably detected in FSHD muscle but not in controls, providing direct support for the model that misexpression of DUX4 is a causal factor for FSHD. Additionally, we show that DUX4 binds and activates LTR elements from a class of MaLR endogenous primate retrotransposons and suppresses the innate immune response to viral infection, at least in part through the activation of DEFB103, a human defensin that can inhibit muscle differentiation. These findings suggest specific mechanisms of FSHD pathology and identify candidate biomarkers for disease diagnosis and progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • Biomarkers / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Germ Cells
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / cytology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral / genetics*
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral / immunology*
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral / metabolism
  • Myoblasts / cytology
  • Myoblasts / metabolism
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Retroelements / genetics*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transfection
  • beta-Defensins / genetics*
  • beta-Defensins / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • DEFB1 protein, human
  • DUX4L1 protein, human
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Retroelements
  • beta-Defensins
  • Luciferases