DM1 Phenotype Variability and Triplet Repeat Instability: Challenges in the Development of New Therapies

Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jan 10;21(2):457. doi: 10.3390/ijms21020457.

Abstract

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a complex neuromuscular disease caused by an unstable cardiotocography (CTG) repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. This disease is characterized by high clinical and genetic variability, leading to some difficulties in the diagnosis and prognosis of DM1. Better understanding the origin of this variability is important for developing new challenging therapies and, in particular, for progressing on the path of personalized treatments. Here, we reviewed CTG triplet repeat instability and its modifiers as an important source of phenotypic variability in patients with DM1.

Keywords: CTG repeat instability; clinic variability; myotonic dystrophy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Variation, Population*
  • Cardiotocography
  • Humans
  • Myotonic Dystrophy / genetics
  • Myotonic Dystrophy / metabolism*
  • Myotonin-Protein Kinase / genetics
  • Myotonin-Protein Kinase / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Trinucleotide Repeats / genetics
  • Trinucleotide Repeats / physiology*

Substances

  • DMPK protein, human
  • Myotonin-Protein Kinase