Lessons learned from a muscle study in nail-patella syndrome

Abstract Background Nail-patella (NPS) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the LMX1B gene and manifests with involvement of kidneys, nails, eyes as well as skeletal musculature. NPS shows some clinical similarities with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. However, thus f...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Luisa Paul, Anne Schänzer, Christel Depienne, Andreas Hentschel, Nicolai Kohlschmidt, Ulrike Schara-Schmidt, Christopher Jannik Nelke, Andreas Roos, Heike Kölbel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-025-03911-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849761274170179584
author Luisa Paul
Anne Schänzer
Christel Depienne
Andreas Hentschel
Nicolai Kohlschmidt
Ulrike Schara-Schmidt
Christopher Jannik Nelke
Andreas Roos
Heike Kölbel
author_facet Luisa Paul
Anne Schänzer
Christel Depienne
Andreas Hentschel
Nicolai Kohlschmidt
Ulrike Schara-Schmidt
Christopher Jannik Nelke
Andreas Roos
Heike Kölbel
author_sort Luisa Paul
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Nail-patella (NPS) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the LMX1B gene and manifests with involvement of kidneys, nails, eyes as well as skeletal musculature. NPS shows some clinical similarities with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. However, thus far human muscle tissue has not been analysed in the context of NPS to precisely clarify the muscular involvement in this multi-systemic disease. Methods To study the effects of a missense variant in LMX1B on human skeletal muscle, histological, immunofluorescence and ultra-structural studies were performed on a deltoid muscle biopsy performed at the age of 2 aiming to analyse potential pathologies in muscle fibres in addition to unbiased proteomic profiling to identify dysregulated proteins. Results Microscopic work-up of the muscle biopsy revealed no striking pathologies, except for some atrophic fibres. The proteomic analyses unveiled a clustered number of dysregulated keratin proteins among the downregulated proteins. Conclusion Although NPS can also present with a muscular phenotype indicated by muscular weakness of the upper extremities, elevated CK levels and contractures of the elbow joint, there is no evidence of primary muscular involvement due to expression of mutant LMX1B. The examination of human skeletal muscle tissue confirmed the findings from the animal models showing that the skeletal muscle symptoms of NPS may be the result of a developmental disorder of the extremities that leads to impaired muscle mobilisation.
format Article
id doaj-art-bc5e33166de046dc8b208bf0d50085a9
institution DOAJ
issn 1750-1172
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
spelling doaj-art-bc5e33166de046dc8b208bf0d50085a92025-08-20T03:06:05ZengBMCOrphanet Journal of Rare Diseases1750-11722025-07-0120111010.1186/s13023-025-03911-0Lessons learned from a muscle study in nail-patella syndromeLuisa Paul0Anne Schänzer1Christel Depienne2Andreas Hentschel3Nicolai Kohlschmidt4Ulrike Schara-Schmidt5Christopher Jannik Nelke6Andreas Roos7Heike Kölbel8Department of Pediatric Neurology, Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital EssenInstitute of Neuropathology, Justus-Liebig-University GiessenInstitute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-EssenLeibniz Institute für Analytische Wissenschaften – ISAS – e.V.Institute of Clinical Genetics and Tumour GeneticsDepartment of Pediatric Neurology, Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital EssenInstitute of Neurology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfDepartment of Pediatric Neurology, Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital EssenDepartment of Pediatric Neurology, Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Centre for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital EssenAbstract Background Nail-patella (NPS) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the LMX1B gene and manifests with involvement of kidneys, nails, eyes as well as skeletal musculature. NPS shows some clinical similarities with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. However, thus far human muscle tissue has not been analysed in the context of NPS to precisely clarify the muscular involvement in this multi-systemic disease. Methods To study the effects of a missense variant in LMX1B on human skeletal muscle, histological, immunofluorescence and ultra-structural studies were performed on a deltoid muscle biopsy performed at the age of 2 aiming to analyse potential pathologies in muscle fibres in addition to unbiased proteomic profiling to identify dysregulated proteins. Results Microscopic work-up of the muscle biopsy revealed no striking pathologies, except for some atrophic fibres. The proteomic analyses unveiled a clustered number of dysregulated keratin proteins among the downregulated proteins. Conclusion Although NPS can also present with a muscular phenotype indicated by muscular weakness of the upper extremities, elevated CK levels and contractures of the elbow joint, there is no evidence of primary muscular involvement due to expression of mutant LMX1B. The examination of human skeletal muscle tissue confirmed the findings from the animal models showing that the skeletal muscle symptoms of NPS may be the result of a developmental disorder of the extremities that leads to impaired muscle mobilisation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-025-03911-0Nail-patella syndromeElbow contracturesEmery dreyfuss muscle dystrophyLMX1BMuscle proteomics
spellingShingle Luisa Paul
Anne Schänzer
Christel Depienne
Andreas Hentschel
Nicolai Kohlschmidt
Ulrike Schara-Schmidt
Christopher Jannik Nelke
Andreas Roos
Heike Kölbel
Lessons learned from a muscle study in nail-patella syndrome
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
Nail-patella syndrome
Elbow contractures
Emery dreyfuss muscle dystrophy
LMX1B
Muscle proteomics
title Lessons learned from a muscle study in nail-patella syndrome
title_full Lessons learned from a muscle study in nail-patella syndrome
title_fullStr Lessons learned from a muscle study in nail-patella syndrome
title_full_unstemmed Lessons learned from a muscle study in nail-patella syndrome
title_short Lessons learned from a muscle study in nail-patella syndrome
title_sort lessons learned from a muscle study in nail patella syndrome
topic Nail-patella syndrome
Elbow contractures
Emery dreyfuss muscle dystrophy
LMX1B
Muscle proteomics
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-025-03911-0
work_keys_str_mv AT luisapaul lessonslearnedfromamusclestudyinnailpatellasyndrome
AT anneschanzer lessonslearnedfromamusclestudyinnailpatellasyndrome
AT christeldepienne lessonslearnedfromamusclestudyinnailpatellasyndrome
AT andreashentschel lessonslearnedfromamusclestudyinnailpatellasyndrome
AT nicolaikohlschmidt lessonslearnedfromamusclestudyinnailpatellasyndrome
AT ulrikescharaschmidt lessonslearnedfromamusclestudyinnailpatellasyndrome
AT christopherjanniknelke lessonslearnedfromamusclestudyinnailpatellasyndrome
AT andreasroos lessonslearnedfromamusclestudyinnailpatellasyndrome
AT heikekolbel lessonslearnedfromamusclestudyinnailpatellasyndrome