NMJ-related diseases beyond the congenital myasthenic syndromes

Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are a special type of chemical synapse that transmits electrical stimuli from motor neurons (MNs) to their innervating skeletal muscle to induce a motor response. They are an ideal model for the study of synapses, given their manageable size and easy accessibility. Alterations in their morphology or function lead to neuromuscular disorders, such as the congenital myasthenic syndromes, which are caused by mutations in proteins located in the NMJ. In this review, we highlight novel potential candidate genes that may cause or modify NMJs-related pathologies in humans by exploring the phenotypes of hundreds of mouse models available in the literature. We also underscore the fact that NMJs may differ between species, muscles or even sexes. Hence the importance of choosing a good model organism for the study of NMJ-related diseases: only taking into account the specific features of the mammalian NMJ, experimental results would be efficiently translated to the clinic.

Automated summary

Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are specialized chemical synapses that transmit electrical stimuli from motor neurons to skeletal muscle. Disorders in NMJs can be caused by mutations in proteins located in the NMJ. This review highlights potential candidate genes for NMJ-related pathologies in humans by studying mouse models. It also emphasizes the importance of choosing an appropriate model organism to study NMJ-related diseases, as NMJs can vary between species, muscles, or sexes.