[PDF][PDF] Aberrant expression of a non-muscle RBFOX2 isoform triggers cardiac conduction defects in myotonic dystrophy

C Misra, S Bangru, F Lin, K Lam, SN Koenig… - Developmental cell, 2020 - cell.com
C Misra, S Bangru, F Lin, K Lam, SN Koenig, ER Lubbers, J Hedhli, NP Murphy, DJ Parker…
Developmental cell, 2020cell.com
Summary Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic genetic disorder caused by
the CTG repeat expansion in the 3′-untranslated region of DMPK gene. Heart dysfunctions
occur in∼ 80% of DM1 patients and are the second leading cause of DM1-related deaths.
Herein, we report that upregulation of a non-muscle splice isoform of RNA-binding protein
RBFOX2 in DM1 heart tissue—due to altered splicing factor and microRNA activities—
induces cardiac conduction defects in DM1 individuals. Mice engineered to express the non …
Summary
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic genetic disorder caused by the CTG repeat expansion in the 3′-untranslated region of DMPK gene. Heart dysfunctions occur in ∼80% of DM1 patients and are the second leading cause of DM1-related deaths. Herein, we report that upregulation of a non-muscle splice isoform of RNA-binding protein RBFOX2 in DM1 heart tissue—due to altered splicing factor and microRNA activities—induces cardiac conduction defects in DM1 individuals. Mice engineered to express the non-muscle RBFOX240 isoform in heart via tetracycline-inducible transgenesis, or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, reproduced DM1-related cardiac conduction delay and spontaneous episodes of arrhythmia. Further, by integrating RNA binding with cardiac transcriptome datasets from DM1 patients and mice expressing the non-muscle RBFOX2 isoform, we identified RBFOX240-driven splicing defects in voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels, which alter their electrophysiological properties. Thus, our results uncover a trans-dominant role for an aberrantly expressed RBFOX240 isoform in DM1 cardiac pathogenesis.
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