Cure MFM13 - The Podcast

In this Journal Club episode, we discuss the publication by Iannibelli, Ruggieri and colleagues investigating the role of aggrephagy - the cellular process responsible for clearing protein aggregates - in a multicentric cohort of 52 MFM patients. We explore how aggrephagy markers are elevated across all MFM subtypes regardless of the mutated gene, what this tells us about shared disease mechanisms, and how these markers correlate with disease severity.

Whether you're a researcher, clinician, patient, or advocate interested in MFMs, protein quality control, and potential therapeutic targets, this episode offers a concise overview of the latest findings.

In this Journal Club episode, we discuss the first comprehensive review dedicated to MFM13. We are proud to share that members of the Cure MFM13 team are co-authors of this landmark paper.

The review covers the known HSPB8 frameshift mutations leading to MFM13, their associated clinical phenotypes and histological findings, the role of HSPB8 in chaperone-assisted selective autophagy (CASA), and current gaps in understanding disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.

This episode is ideal for researchers, clinicians, patients, and advocates interested in MFM13, HSPB8 biology, protein quality control, and the path toward targeted therapies.

In this Journal Club episode, we discuss the publication by Putko et al. (2026), which describes two patients with HSPB8 variants presenting with overlapping features of myopathy and distal motor neuropathy. The study expands the clinical and pathological spectrum of HSPB8-associated disease and provides new insights into how disease-causing variants may affect HSPB8 function.

This episode is ideal for researchers, clinicians, patients, and advocates interested in HSPB8 disorders, myofibrillar myopathy, distal motor neuropathy, and disease mechanisms.

In this episode, we focus on the patient journey in MFM13, sharing real-life stories from individuals affected by HSPB8-related myopathy. Through their experiences, we explore the challenges of early symptoms, delayed diagnosis, disease progression, and the impact on daily life and families.

We also one more time introduce CureMFM13, a patient-driven initiative dedicated to accelerating research, building a strong community, and working toward effective treatments and a cure.

This episode is ideal for patients, families, clinicians, and researchers interested in MFM13, rare neuromuscular diseases, and the real-world impact of living with a progressive myopathy.

This podcast discusses the recent publication by Inoue and Weihl (2025) on myofibrillar myopathies (MFMs), focusing on their redefinition as “Z-disk-opathies.” In this episode we explore how new genetic findings challenge the traditional, histopathology-based classification and highlight key disease mechanisms, including Z-disk disruption and impaired protein homeostasis.

The episode also covers the distinction between so called, true MFMs and other myopathies with similar pathology, as well as the implications for diagnosis and future targeted therapies.

In this Journal Club episode, we review the publication by Yang et al., 2024, which presents the first Chinese case of Myofibrillar Myopathy type 13 with Rimmed Vacuoles (MFM13) in a pediatric patient. Unlike previously reported MFM13 cases, this young patient exhibits axial and limb-girdle muscle involvement, highlighting a novel early-onset presentation.

This episode is ideal for researchers, clinicians, and patients interested in MFM13, HSPB8 myopathy, rare pediatric neuromuscular cases, and autophagy-related mechanisms.

Please note that the article refers to the MFM13 disease as HSPB8-related myopathy.

In this episode, we summarize what is known about Myofibrillar Myopathy type 13 (MFM13), previously referred to as HSPB8 Myopathy. Drawing on nine published case studies, we outline the main clinical features — progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, usually starting in the distal lower limbs and leading to foot drop and steppage gait. In some cases, weakness extends to proximal and axial muscles, occasionally affecting breathing or cardiac function.

We also discuss the characteristic pathological findings seen in muscle biopsies: rimmed vacuoles, myofibrillar disorganization, and accumulation of proteins like HSPB8, BAG3, and TDP-43. MRI scans often reveal selective fatty degeneration of paraspinal and leg muscles.

Finally, we highlight the key discovery that frameshift mutations in HSPB8 result in an abnormal C-terminal peptide extension, creating a toxic gain-of-function mechanism that disrupts autophagy and cellular proteostasis — defining the molecular basis of MFM13.

Learn more about our work at curemfm13.org, and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and Bluesky — just search for CureMFM13.

In this episode, we look at the 2025 study by Tedesco et al., “Novel HSPB8 mutations in severe early-onset myopathy with involvement of respiratory and cardiac muscles cause proteostasis defects in cell models,” published in the European Journal of Human Genetics. The researchers revealed three new mutations in HSPB8 that result in a previously undescribed frameshift. These mutations create a longer C-terminal end of the protein with a different amino acid sequence than those described before. This structural change is linked to an even more severe disease picture: earlier muscle weakness, sometimes combined with reduced involvement, breathing difficulties, and even cardiac problems. The study not only presents detailed case reports but also builds on Tedesco et al., 2023 (Episode 5), which showed how elongated C-terminal mutations disrupt the cell’s clean-up system. In the 2025 work, scientists demonstrate that these new frameshifts also cause toxic aggregation of CASA complex proteins, further impairing the cell’s ability to remove damaged proteins. These results highlight the vulnerability of the HSPB8 gene’s last exon and broaden both the molecular and clinical understanding of HSPB8-related myopathies and neuromyopathies

Episode 6 - What is Myofibrillar Myopathy type 13 (MFM13) with rimmed vacuoles?

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the molecular mechanisms behind Myofibrillar Myopathy type 13 (MFM13) with Rimmed Vacuoles also known as HSPB8 Myopathy —a rare myofibrillar disease caused by frameshift mutations in the HSPB8 gene. Learn how HSPB8 dysfunction disrupts the CASA complex and impairs autophagy, leading to toxic protein aggregation and muscle fiber degeneration. We place HSPB8 Myopathy within the broader context of Myofibrillar Myopathies, discussing shared histological features like rimmed vacuoles and protein aggregates. The episode also explores HSPB8’s role in proteostasis across tissues, its involvement in other neurodegenerative conditions, and available research tools such as patient fibroblasts and iPSCs. Whether you're new to the field or already engaged in neuromuscular disease research, this is your go-to introduction to HSPB8 Myopathy.

Episode 5 – Tedesco et al. 2023: Molecular Insights into HSPB8

In this episode, we dive into the 2023 study by Tedesco et al., titled "HSPB8 frameshift mutant aggregates weaken chaperone-assisted selective autophagy in neuromyopathies," published in Autophagy. The research reveals how frameshift mutations in the HSPB8 gene lead to toxic protein aggregation and disrupt critical protein quality control systems. These mutations result in an elongated C-terminal end of the HSPB8 protein, promoting aggregates that sequester CASA complex components like BAG3 and autophagy markers such as p62—ultimately impairing the cell’s ability to clear damaged proteins. We explore how this toxic mechanism contributes to muscle fiber damage. A must-listen for patients, families, and professionals seeking a clearer understanding of the disease and the importance of genetic testing.