The DUX4-HIF1α Axis in Murine and Human Muscle Cells: A Link More Complex Than Expected

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 25; no. 6; p. 3327
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Thuy-Hang, Limpens, Maelle, Bouhmidi, Sihame, Paprzycki, Lise, Legrand, Alexandre, Declèves, Anne-Emilie, Heher, Philipp, Belayew, Alexandra, Banerji, Christopher R S, Zammit, Peter S, Tassin, Alexandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 15.03.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Cell death; Cell Differentiation - genetics; CRISPR; DUX4; Epigenetics; FSHD; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genomes; HIF1α; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Hypoxia; Metabolism; Mice; Muscle Cells - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscles; Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral - genetics; Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral - metabolism; Musculoskeletal system; Myogenesis; Oxidative stress; Protein synthesis; Proteins; Scientific equipment and supplies industry; skeletal muscle; Toxicity; Transcription factors; United States; United Kingdom; FSHD; myogenesis; skeletal muscle; DUX4; HIF1α
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063327

FacioScapuloHumeral muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most prevalent inherited muscle disorders and is linked to the inappropriate expression of the DUX4 transcription factor in skeletal muscles. The deregulated molecular network causing FSHD muscle dysfunction and pathology is not well understood. It has been shown that the hypoxia response factor HIF1α is critically disturbed in FSHD and has a major role in DUX4-induced cell death. In this study, we further explored the relationship between DUX4 and HIF1α. We found that the DUX4 and HIF1α link differed according to the stage of myogenic differentiation and was conserved between human and mouse muscle. Furthermore, we found that HIF1α knockdown in a mouse model of DUX4 local expression exacerbated DUX4-mediated muscle fibrosis. Our data indicate that the suggested role of HIF1α in DUX4 toxicity is complex and that targeting HIF1α might be challenging in the context of FSHD therapeutic approaches.