Human miRNA miR-675 inhibits DUX4 expression and may be exploited as a potential treatment for Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

Abstract

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is a myopathy caused by aberrant de-repression of the DUX4 gene. Here, the authors show that miR-675 inhibits DUX4 expression and protects muscles from DUX4-mediated cell death when administered to mice using AAV, and that upregulation of miR-675 via small molecules inhibits DUX4 and DUX4-associated biomarkers in myotubes derived from patients.