The DUX4-HIF1α Axis in Murine and Human Muscle Cells: A Link More Complex Than Expected

FacioScapuloHumeral Dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most frequent inherited muscle disorders, and is linked to the inappropriate expression of the DUX4 transcription factor in adult muscles. The deregulated molecular network causing FSHD skeletal muscle dysfunction and pathology is still not well understood. It has been shown that the hypoxia response factor HIF1α is critically disturbed in FSHD and has a major role in DUX4 induced cell death. In this study, we further explore the relationship between DUX4 and HIF1α. We found that the DUX4 and HIF1α link differed according to the stage of myogenic differentiation and was conserved between human and mouse muscle. Finally, we found that HIF1α knock-down in an FSHD mouse model exacerbated DUX4-mediated muscle damages. Our data indicate that the suggested role of HIF1α in DUX4 toxicity is complex and that targeting HIF1α might be challenging in the context of FSHD therapeutic approaches.