Genetics and pathophysiology of neuromuscular disorders linked to the extracellular matrix and to the nucleus
Genetics and pathophysiology of neuromuscular disorders linked to the extracellular matrix and to the nucleus
Our research interests focus on two groups of neuromuscular disorders (NMD): myopathies due to abnormalities of the myomatrix and of the nucleus. The long-term objective of our work is to propose relevant therapeutic options based on our knowledge of the genetic basis and of the underlying pathomechanisms at play in these rare diseases.
Research Project: Genetics and pathophysiology of neuromuscular disorders linked to the extracellular matrix and to the nucleus
Our team focuses on 2 groups of neuromuscular disorders: myopathies due to the defective myomatrix (collagen VI and other components of the extracellular matrix) and to defects of the myonucleus (Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and other striated muscle laminopathies due to mutations in the laminA/C gene or genes encoding components of nuclear membrane). These myopathies share some clinical features, notably prominent contractures, and constitute differential diagnosis[in1] .
These disorders are highly heterogeneous, clinically and genetically, and to date no treatment is available. Our previous work led us to identify the involvement of various genetic alterations and to develop tools (cellular and animal models) that are crucial for deciphering pathomechanisms, understanding the molecular defects and unveiling therapeutic targets.
We are still facing several challenges and bottlenecks: 1) a number of patients are still awaiting molecular diagnosis; 2) relevant biomarkers are scarce; 3) functions of the involved proteins and underlying pathomechanisms are still poorly understood … We previously have and continue to tackle several transverse processes (e.g. contractile dysfunction, defective mechanosensing, fibrosis …) using our specific expertise (nuclear envelop, nucleoplasm, extracellular matrix…).
Current research axes:
- Definition of genetic and clinical spectrum and delineation of natural history of these NMDs,
- Development of new tools to validate genetic variants identified through NGS (next generation sequencing),
- Deciphering pathomechanisms that affect skeletal and/or cardiac muscle, with the overall goal of identifying and assessing therapeutic options for these disorders.
Our work is carried out on biological material derived from patients (DNA, RNA cultured cells, or muscle biopsies), and on animal models developed in the team (mouse, zebrafish).
Noyau-MEC ©Astrid Brull
| Name | Position | ORCID |
|---|
- Gisèle Bonne. TREATABOLOME, A RARE DISEASES’ TREATMENT AWARENESS PROJECT. 9ème Journée nationale BRAIN -TEAM, Filière nationale de Santé Maladies rares du système nerveux central, Mar 2024, Paris, France. ⟨hal-04522201⟩
- Gorka Fernández-Eulate, Girolamo Alfieri, Marco Spinazzi, Isabelle Ackermann-Bonan, Fanny Duval, et al.. Phenotype variability and natural history of X-linked myopathy with excessive autophagy. Journal of Neurology, 2024, ⟨10.1007/s00415-024-12298-0⟩. ⟨hal-04546595⟩
- Hubert Smeets, Bram Verbrugge, Xavier Bulbena, Liliya Hristova, Julia Vogt, et al.. European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases workshop: LAMA2-muscular dystrophy: paving the road to therapy March 17–19, 2023, Barcelona, Spain. European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases workshop: LAMA2-muscular dystrophy: paving the road to therapy, Neuromuscular Disorders, 36, pp.16-22, 2024, ⟨10.1016/j.nmd.2024.01.001⟩. ⟨hal-04475094⟩
- Gisèle Bonne. ERDERA and opportunities for French genetics teams. 3rd Thursday of Clinical Genetics - “2025 France Genomic Medicine Initiative” (PFMG 2025) and the International Context, Feb 2024, Paris, France. ⟨hal-04460541⟩
- Sanzana Hoque, Marie Sjögren, Valérie Allamand, Kinga Gawlik, Naomi Franke, et al.. Skeletal muscle regeneration is altered in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington’s disease. 2024. ⟨hal-04433140⟩
- Hubert Smeets, Bram Verbrugge, Xavier Bulbena, Liliya Hristova, Julia Vogt, et al.. European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases workshop: LAMA2-muscular dystrophy: paving the road to therapy March 17–19, 2023, Barcelona, Spain. LAMA2-muscular dystrophy: paving the road to therapy, Neuromuscular Disorders, 36, pp.16 - 22, 2024, ⟨10.1016/j.nmd.2024.01.001⟩. ⟨hal-04546346⟩
- Louise Benarroch, Gisèle Bonne, Francois Rivier, Dalil Hamroun. The 2024 version of the gene table of neuromuscular disorders (nuclear genome). Neuromuscular Disorders, 2024, 34, pp.126 - 170. ⟨10.1016/j.nmd.2023.12.007⟩. ⟨hal-04423642⟩
- Gisèle Bonne. Comment résoudre les impasses diagnostiques des maladies rares : partage systématique des données paneuropéennes et analyse collaborative : le projet Solve-RD. Journée thématique sur l'errance et l'impasse diagnostiques - Filière Filnemus, Filnemus, Dec 2023, Paris, France. ⟨hal-04319087⟩
- Kourtzas D, Rocio Nur Villar Quiles, Gartioux C, Allamand V. ECM characterization in novel cellular models for COL6-RD. Collagen VI International Research Summit, Fundacion Noelia, Nov 2023, San Sebastian, Spain. ⟨hal-04475051⟩
- Valérie Allamand, Soledad Monges, Corine Gartioux, Taratuto Ana Lia, Alix De Becdelièvre, et al.. A complex COL6A3 mutation identification: it takes an international village. Collagen VI International Research Summit, Fundacion Noelia, Nov 2023, San Sebastian, Spain. ⟨hal-04475082⟩
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Our last work on the OJRD
A guide to writing systematic reviews of rare disease treatments to generate FAIRcompliant datasets: building a Treatabolome