Molecular and Pathological Diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophies.
- Author:
Young Chul CHOI
1
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ycchoi@yumc.yumc.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
muscular dystrophy;
dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC);
limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD);
facioscapulohemeral dystrophy;
myotonic dystrophy
- MeSH:
Classification;
Diagnosis*;
DNA;
Dystroglycans;
Dystrophin;
Humans;
Membranes;
Molecular Biology;
Muscle Weakness;
Muscular Diseases;
Muscular Dystrophies*;
Myotonic Dystrophy;
Necrosis;
Regeneration;
Sarcoglycans;
Sarcolemma
- From:Hanyang Medical Reviews
2006;26(1):77-93
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The muscular dystrophies are a diverse group of inherited muscle disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness and wasting with characteristic histologic abnormalities such as degeneration, necrosis, and regeneration of muscle fibers. With progress in molecular genetics methods, new discoveries of dystrophin and related molecules have dramatically changed the understanding and diagnosis of a large group of muscular dystrophy patients. Dystrophin and its related molecular associates are tightly associated and form an essential cytoskeletal system (dystrophin-glycoprotein complex) at the muscle fiber surface membrane, which is critical for maintaining the integrity of the sarcolemma and muscle fibers. Deficiency of one of these sarcolemmal proteins, including dystrophin, dystroglycans, sarcoglycans, and laminin-2, leads to the breakdown and instability of muscle fibers and to clinically observed progressive muscle weakness. Identification of the molecular cause of muscular dystrophies would allow a genetic oriented classification and diagnosis using DNA or protein analysis. However, definition of the molecular pathogenesis of muscular dystrophies has not been completely possible until now. Future advances in this field should allow the exact diagnosis and treatment of muscular dystrophies.
