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Jørgensen LH, Blain A, Greally E, Laval SH, Blamire AM, Davison BJ, Brinkmeier H, MacGowan GA, Schrøder HD, Bushby K, Straub V, Lochmüller H. Long-term blocking of calcium channels in mdx mice results in differential effects on heart and skeletal muscle. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2010; 178:273-83. [PMID: 21224064 PMCID: PMC3016598 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2010.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2010] [Revised: 08/19/2010] [Accepted: 09/21/2010] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The disease mechanisms underlying dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy are complex, involving not only muscle membrane fragility, but also dysregulated calcium homeostasis. Specifically, it has been proposed that calcium channels directly initiate a cascade of pathological events by allowing calcium ions to enter the cell. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of chronically blocking calcium channels with the aminoglycoside antibiotic streptomycin from onset of disease in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Treatment in utero onwards delayed onset of dystrophic symptoms in the limb muscle of young mdx mice, but did not prevent degeneration and regeneration events occurring later in the disease course. Long-term treatment had a positive effect on limb muscle pathology, reduced fibrosis, increased sarcolemmal stability, and promoted muscle regeneration in older mice. However, streptomycin treatment did not show positive effects in diaphragm or heart muscle, and heart pathology was worsened. Thus, blocking calcium channels even before disease onset does not prevent dystrophy, making this an unlikely treatment for DMD. These findings highlight the importance of analyzing several time points throughout the life of the treated mice, as well as analyzing many tissues, to get a complete picture of treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise H. Jørgensen
- Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre of Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Alison Blain
- Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre of Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Greally
- Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre of Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Steve H. Laval
- Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre of Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew M. Blamire
- Institute of Cellular Medicine and Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin J. Davison
- Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre of Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Heinrich Brinkmeier
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Karlsburg, Germany
| | - Guy A. MacGowan
- Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre of Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Department of Cardiology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Henrik D. Schrøder
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Kate Bushby
- Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre of Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Volker Straub
- Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre of Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Hanns Lochmüller
- Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre of Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Address reprint requests to Professor Hanns Lochmüller, MD, Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom
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