Progress on gene therapy, cell therapy, and pharmacological strategies toward the treatment of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy

Hum Gene Ther. 2015 May;26(5):286-92. doi: 10.1089/hum.2015.014. Epub 2015 May 11.

Abstract

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a muscle-specific, late-onset degenerative disorder whereby muscles of the eyes (causing ptosis), throat (leading to dysphagia), and limbs (causing proximal limb weakness) are mostly affected. The disease is characterized by a mutation in the poly(A)-binding protein nuclear-1 (PABPN1) gene, resulting in a short GCG expansion in the polyalanine tract of PABPN1 protein. Accumulation of filamentous intranuclear inclusions in affected skeletal muscle cells constitutes the pathological hallmark of OPMD. This review highlights the current translational research advances in the treatment of OPMD. In vitro and in vivo disease models are described. Conventional and experimental therapeutic approaches are discussed with emphasis on novel molecular therapies including the use of intrabodies, gene therapy, and myoblast transfer therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Oculopharyngeal / drug therapy
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Oculopharyngeal / genetics*
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Oculopharyngeal / surgery
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Oculopharyngeal / therapy*
  • Mutation
  • Poly(A)-Binding Protein I / genetics

Substances

  • PABPN1 protein, human
  • Poly(A)-Binding Protein I