DAB2 in LGMD R2: a molecular link between disease progression and lipid dysregulation

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R2 (LGMD R2) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by dysferlin deficiency, leading to progressive muscle weakness and wasting. The lack of reliable clinical biomarkers has limited disease monitoring and therapeutic evaluation. Here, we identified Disabled-2 (DAB2) as a molecular and clinical indicator of disease state in LGMD R2. Transcriptomic profiling revealed a significant upregulation of DAB2 in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived (iPSC-derived) myotubes from patients, a finding validated in muscle biopsies from 14 dysferlin-deficient individuals and in dysferlin-deficient Bla/J mice, where DAB2 levels increased with disease progression. Importantly, AAV-mediated expression of full-length dysferlin restored DAB2 levels, supporting its value as a dynamic readout of disease activity for both disease monitoring and therapeutic response. Given the established role of DAB2 in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, particularly in LDL receptor internalization and cholesterol homeostasis, and the pathological lipid accumulation reported in LGMD R2, we investigated its contribution to lipid dysregulation. High DAB2 expression paralleled lipid deposition in patient muscles, iPSC-derived myotubes, and mouse tissue, whereas siRNA-mediated DAB2 knockdown reduced lipid accumulation in LGMD R2 myotubes. Collectively, these findings suggest that DAB2 functions as a mechanistic link between dysferlin deficiency, altered lipid handling, and disease severity, and they highlight its potential as a prognostic marker and therapeutic response measure for LGMD R2.