1
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Waters EA, Haney CR, Vaught LA, McNally EM, Demonbreun AR. Distribution of MRI-derived T2 values as a biomarker for in vivo rapid screening of phenotype severity in mdx mice. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0310551. [PMID: 39298449 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pathology in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by degenerating muscle fibers, inflammation, fibro-fatty infiltrate, and edema, and these pathological processes replace normal healthy muscle tissue. The mdx mouse model is one of the most commonly used preclinical models to study DMD. Mounting evidence has emerged illustrating that muscle disease progression varies considerably in mdx mice, with inter-animal differences as well as intra-muscular differences in pathology in individual mdx mice. This variation is important to consider when conducting assessments of drug efficacy and in longitudinal studies. We developed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) segmentation and analysis pipeline to rapidly and non-invasively measure the severity of muscle disease in mdx mice. METHODS Wildtype and mdx mice were imaged with MRI and T2 maps were obtained axially across the hindlimbs. A neural network was trained to rapidly and semi-automatically segment the muscle tissue, and the distribution of resulting T2 values was analyzed. Interdecile range and Pearson Skew were identified as biomarkers to quickly and accurately estimate muscle disease severity in mice. RESULTS The semiautomated segmentation tool reduced image processing time approximately tenfold. Measures of Pearson skew and interdecile range based on that segmentation were repeatable and reflected muscle disease severity in healthy wildtype and diseased mdx mice based on both qualitative observation of images and correlation with Evans blue dye uptake. CONCLUSION Use of this rapid, non-invasive, semi-automated MR image segmentation and analysis pipeline has the potential to transform preclinical studies, allowing for pre-screening of dystrophic mice prior to study enrollment to ensure more uniform muscle disease pathology across treatment groups, improving study outcomes.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Mice, Inbred mdx
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods
- Mice
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/diagnostic imaging
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/metabolism
- Biomarkers/metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal/diagnostic imaging
- Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal/pathology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Phenotype
- Severity of Illness Index
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Waters
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Chad R Haney
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Lauren A Vaught
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth M McNally
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Alexis R Demonbreun
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States of America
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2
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Roger AL, Biswas DD, Huston ML, Le D, Bailey AM, Pucci LA, Shi Y, Robinson-Hamm J, Gersbach CA, ElMallah MK. Respiratory characterization of a humanized Duchenne muscular dystrophy mouse model. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2024; 326:104282. [PMID: 38782084 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2024.104282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common X-linked disease. DMD is caused by a lack of dystrophin, a critical structural protein in striated muscle. Dystrophin deficiency leads to inflammation, fibrosis, and muscle atrophy. Boys with DMD have progressive muscle weakness within the diaphragm that results in respiratory failure in the 2nd or 3rd decade of life. The most common DMD mouse model - the mdx mouse - is not sufficient for evaluating genetic medicines that specifically target the human DMD (hDMD) gene sequence. Therefore, a novel transgenic mouse carrying the hDMD gene with an exon 52 deletion was created (hDMDΔ52;mdx). We characterized the respiratory function and pathology in this model using whole body plethysmography, histology, and immunohistochemistry. At 6-months-old, hDMDΔ52;mdx mice have reduced maximal respiration, neuromuscular junction pathology, and fibrosis throughout the diaphragm, which worsens at 12-months-old. In conclusion, the hDMDΔ52;mdx exhibits moderate respiratory pathology, and serves as a relevant animal model to study the impact of novel genetic therapies, including gene editing, on respiratory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela L Roger
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Davina Le
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Aidan M Bailey
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Logan A Pucci
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yihan Shi
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Mai K ElMallah
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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3
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Oliver T, Nguyen NY, Tully CB, McCormack NM, Sun CM, Fiorillo AA, Heier CR. The glucocorticoid receptor acts locally to protect dystrophic muscle and heart during disease. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050397. [PMID: 38770680 PMCID: PMC11139035 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Absence of dystrophin results in muscular weakness, chronic inflammation and cardiomyopathy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Pharmacological corticosteroids are the DMD standard of care; however, they have harsh side effects and unclear molecular benefits. It is uncertain whether signaling by physiological corticosteroids and their receptors plays a modifying role in the natural etiology of DMD. Here, we knocked out the glucocorticoid receptor (GR, encoded by Nr3c1) specifically in myofibers and cardiomyocytes within wild-type and mdx52 mice to dissect its role in muscular dystrophy. Double-knockout mice showed significantly worse phenotypes than mdx52 littermate controls in measures of grip strength, hang time, inflammatory pathology and gene expression. In the heart, GR deletion acted additively with dystrophin loss to exacerbate cardiomyopathy, resulting in enlarged hearts, pathological gene expression and systolic dysfunction, consistent with imbalanced mineralocorticoid signaling. The results show that physiological GR functions provide a protective role during muscular dystrophy, directly contrasting its degenerative role in other disease states. These data provide new insights into corticosteroids in disease pathophysiology and establish a new model to investigate cell-autonomous roles of nuclear receptors and mechanisms of pharmacological corticosteroids.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Mice
- Cardiomyopathies/pathology
- Cardiomyopathies/metabolism
- Dystrophin/metabolism
- Dystrophin/genetics
- Dystrophin/deficiency
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred mdx
- Mice, Knockout
- Muscle, Skeletal/pathology
- Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/metabolism
- Myocardium/pathology
- Myocardium/metabolism
- Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism
- Myocytes, Cardiac/pathology
- Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects
- Phenotype
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Trinitee Oliver
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, West Hollywood, CA 90048, USA
| | - Nhu Y. Nguyen
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Christopher B. Tully
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Nikki M. McCormack
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Christina M. Sun
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Alyson A. Fiorillo
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
- Center for Inherited Muscle Research, Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Christopher R. Heier
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
- Center for Inherited Muscle Research, Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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4
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Earl CC, Javier AJ, Richards AM, Markham LW, Goergen CJ, Welc SS. Functional cardiac consequences of β-adrenergic stress-induced injury in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.15.589650. [PMID: 38659739 PMCID: PMC11042272 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.15.589650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), however, in the mdx mouse model of DMD, the cardiac phenotype differs from that seen in DMD-associated cardiomyopathy. Although some have used pharmacologic stress to enhance the cardiac phenotype in the mdx model, many methods lead to high mortality, variable cardiac outcomes, and do not recapitulate the structural and functional cardiac changes seen in human disease. Here, we describe a simple and effective method to enhance the cardiac phenotype model in mdx mice using advanced 2D and 4D high-frequency ultrasound to monitor cardiac dysfunction progression in vivo. For our study, mdx and wild-type (WT) mice received daily low-dose (2 mg/kg/day) isoproterenol injections for 10 days. Histopathologic assessment showed that isoproterenol treatment increased myocyte injury, elevated serum cardiac troponin I levels, and enhanced fibrosis in mdx mice. Ultrasound revealed reduced ventricular function, decreased wall thickness, increased volumes, and diminished cardiac reserve in mdx mice compared to wild-type. Our findings highlight the utility of low-dose isoproterenol in mdx mice as a valuable model for exploring therapies targeting DMD-associated cardiac complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conner C. Earl
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN, USA
- Indiana University School of Medicine, IN, USA
| | - Areli J. Javier
- Musculoskeletal Health Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Alyssa M. Richards
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN, USA
| | - Larry W. Markham
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Riley Children’s Hospital at Indiana University Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Craig J. Goergen
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN, USA
- Indiana University School of Medicine, IN, USA
| | - Steven S. Welc
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Riley Children’s Hospital at Indiana University Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis IN, USA
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5
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Dort J, Orfi Z, Fiscaletti M, Campeau PM, Dumont NA. Gpr18 agonist dampens inflammation, enhances myogenesis, and restores muscle function in models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1187253. [PMID: 37645248 PMCID: PMC10461444 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1187253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Muscle wasting in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is caused by myofiber fragility and poor regeneration that lead to chronic inflammation and muscle replacement by fibrofatty tissue. Our recent findings demonstrated that Resolvin-D2, a bioactive lipid derived from omega-3 fatty acids, has the capacity to dampen inflammation and stimulate muscle regeneration to alleviate disease progression. This therapeutic avenue has many advantages compared to glucocorticoids, the current gold-standard treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. However, the use of bioactive lipids as therapeutic drugs also faces many technical challenges such as their instability and poor oral bioavailability. Methods: Here, we explored the potential of PSB-KD107, a synthetic agonist of the resolvin-D2 receptor Gpr18, as a therapeutic alternative for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Results and discussion: We showed that PSB-KD107 can stimulate the myogenic capacity of patient iPSC-derived myoblasts in vitro. RNAseq analysis revealed an enrichment in biological processes related to fatty acid metabolism, lipid biosynthesis, small molecule biosynthesis, and steroid-related processes in PSB-KD107-treated mdx myoblasts, as well as signaling pathways such as Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, AMP-activated protein kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin, and sphingolipid signaling pathways. In vivo, the treatment of dystrophic mdx mice with PSB-KD107 resulted in reduced inflammation, enhanced myogenesis, and improved muscle function. The positive impact of PSB-KD107 on muscle function is similar to the one of Resolvin-D2. Overall, our findings provide a proof-of concept that synthetic analogs of bioactive lipid receptors hold therapeutic potential for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junio Dort
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Zakaria Orfi
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Melissa Fiscaletti
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Philippe M. Campeau
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nicolas A. Dumont
- CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
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6
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Waters EA, Haney CR, Vaught LA, McNally EM, Demonbreun AR. New semi-automated tool for the quantitation of MR imaging to estimate in vivo muscle disease severity in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.23.541310. [PMID: 37293050 PMCID: PMC10245844 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.23.541310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The pathology in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by degenerating muscle fibers, inflammation, fibro-fatty infiltrate, and edema, and these pathological processes replace normal healthy muscle tissue. The mdx mouse model is one of the most commonly used preclinical models to study DMD. Mounting evidence has emerged illustrating that muscle disease progression varies considerably in mdx mice, with inter-animal differences as well as intra-muscular differences in pathology in individual mdx mice. This variation is important to consider when conducting assessments of drug efficacy and in longitudinal studies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method that can be used qualitatively or quantitatively to measure muscle disease progression in the clinic and in preclinical models. Although MR imaging is highly sensitive, image acquisition and analysis can be time intensive. The purpose of this study was to develop a semi-automated muscle segmentation and quantitation pipeline that can quickly and accurately estimate muscle disease severity in mice. Herein, we show that the newly developed segmentation tool accurately divides muscle. We show that measures of skew and interdecile range based on segmentation sufficiently estimate muscle disease severity in healthy wildtype and diseased mdx mice. Moreover, the semi-automated pipeline reduced analysis time by nearly 10-fold. Use of this rapid, non-invasive, semi-automated MR imaging and analysis pipeline has the potential to transform preclinical studies, allowing for pre-screening of dystrophic mice prior to study enrollment to ensure more uniform muscle disease pathology across treatment groups, improving study outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A. Waters
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Chad R. Haney
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lauren. A Vaught
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. McNally
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Alexis R. Demonbreun
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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7
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Sato M, Goto M, Yamanouchi K, Sakurai H. A new immunodeficient Duchenne muscular dystrophy rat model to evaluate engraftment after human cell transplantation. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1094359. [PMID: 37101699 PMCID: PMC10123282 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1094359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked fatal muscular disease, affecting one in 3,500 live male births worldwide. Currently, there is no cure for this disease, except for steroid-based treatment to attenuate disease progression. Cell transplantation therapy is a promising therapeutic approach, however, there is a lack of appropriate animal models to conduct large-scale preclinical studies using human cells, including biochemical and functional tests. Here, we established an immunodeficient DMD rat model and performed exhaustive pathological analysis and transplantation efficiency evaluation to assess its suitability to study DMD. Our DMD rat model exhibited histopathological characteristics similar to those observed in human patients with DMD. Human myoblasts demonstrated successful engraftment following transplantation into these rats. Therefore, this immunodeficient DMD rat model would be useful in preclinical studies to develop cellular transplantation therapies for DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masae Sato
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Megumi Goto
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Keitaro Yamanouchi
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Sakurai
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- *Correspondence: Hidetoshi Sakurai,
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8
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Korokin MV, Kuzubova EV, Radchenko AI, Deev RV, Yakovlev IA, Deikin AV, Zhunusov NS, Krayushkina AM, Pokrovsky VM, Puchenkova OA, Chaprov KD, Ekimova NV, Bardakov SN, Chernova ON, Emelin AM, Limaev IS. В6.А-DYSFPRMD/GENEJ MICE AS A GENETIC MODEL OF DYSFERLINOPATHY. PHARMACY & PHARMACOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.19163/2307-9266-2022-10-5-483-496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the work was behavioral and pathomorphological phenotyping of the mice knockout for the DYSF gene, which plays an important role in the development and progression of dysferlinopathy.Materials and methods. A B6.A-Dysfprmd/GeneJ (Bla/J) mice subline was used in the work. During the study, a muscle activity was determined basing on the following tests: “Inverted grid”, “Grip strength”, “Wire Hanging”, “Weight-loaded swimming”, Vertical Pole”. Histological and immunofluorescent examinations of skeletal muscles (m. gastrocnemius, m. tibialis) were performed. The presence and distribution of the dysferlin protein was assessed, and general histological changes in the skeletal muscle characteristics of mice at the age of 12 and 24 weeks, were described. A morphometric analysis with the determination of the following parameters was performed: the proportion of necrotic muscle fibers; the proportion of fibers with centrally located nuclei; the mean muscle fiber diameter.Results. The “Grip strength” test and the “Weight-loaded swimming” test revealed a decrease in the strength of the forelimbs and endurance in the studied mice of the Bla/J subline compared to the control line. The safety of physical performance was checked using the “Wire Hanging” test and the “Vertical Pole” test, which showed a statistically significant difference between the studied mice and control. The coordination of movements and muscle strength of the limbs examined in the “Inverted Grid” test did not change in these age marks. Decreased grip strength of the forelimbs, decreased physical endurance with age, reflects the progression of the underlying muscular disease. Histological methods in the skeletal muscles revealed signs of a myopathic damage pattern: necrotic muscle fibers, moderate lympho-macrophage infiltration, an increase in the proportion of fibers with centrally located nuclei, and an increase in the average fiber diameter compared to the control. The dysferlin protein was not found out in the muscle tissues.Conclusion. Taking into account the results of the tests performed, it was shown that the absence of Dysf-/- gene expressionin Bla/J subline mice led to muscular dystrophy with the onset of the development of phenotypic disease manifestations at the age of 12 weeks and their peak at 24 weeks. Histopathological phenotypic manifestations of the disease are generally nonspecific and corresponded to the data of intravital pathoanatomical examination in diferlinopathy patients. The mice of the studied subline Bla/J are a representative model of dysferlinopathy and can be used to evaluate new therapeutic agents for the treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - R. V. Deev
- North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov;
PJSC “Human Stem Cells Institute”
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - K. D. Chaprov
- Belgorod State National Research University;
Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences (IPAC RAS)
| | | | | | - O. N. Chernova
- North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov
| | - A. M. Emelin
- Belgorod State National Research University;
North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov
| | - I. S. Limaev
- North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov
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9
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Zhang L, Du G, Teng B, Shi X, He X, Li N, Chen Y, Xu R. Vascular anatomy-based localization of intervertebral discs assisting needle puncture for constructing a mouse model of mechanical injury-induced lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 634:196-202. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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10
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Park S, Jeong S, Nam YH, Yum Y, Jung SC. Transplantation of Differentiated Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorates Murine Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy via Autophagy Activation. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2022; 19:1283-1294. [PMID: 36318366 PMCID: PMC9679082 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-022-00489-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Skeletal muscles play many important roles in the human body and any malfunction or disorder of the skeletal muscles can lead to a reduced quality of life. Some skeletal dysfunctions are acquired, such as sarcopenia but others are congenital. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is one of the most common forms of hereditary muscular dystrophy and is caused by a deficiency of the protein, Dystrophin. Currently, there is no clear treatment for DMD, there are only methods that can alleviate the symptoms of the disease. Mesenchymal stem cells, including tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs) have been shown to differentiate into skeletal muscle cells (TMSC-myocyte) and can be one of the resources for the treatment of DMD. Skeletal muscle cell characteristics of TMSC-myocytes have been confirmed through changes in morphology and expression of skeletal muscle markers such as Myogenin, Myf6, and MYH families after differentiation. MEOTHDS Based on these characteristics, TMSC-myocytes have been transplanted into mdx mice, a mouse model of DMD, to investigate whether they can help improve the symptoms of DMD. The red fluorescent protein gene was transduced into TMSC (TMSC-R) for tracking transplanted cells. RESULTS Prior to transplantation (TP), it was confirmed whether TMSC-R-myocytes had the same differentiation potential as TMSC-myocytes. Increased expression of dystrophin and autophagy markers in the TP group compared with the sham group was confirmed in the gastrocnemius muscle 12 weeks after TP. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate muscle regeneration and functional recovery of mdx via autophagy activation following TMSC-myocyte TP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeyoung Park
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 07804, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyeon Jeong
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 07804, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu Hwa Nam
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 07804, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 07804, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonji Yum
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 07804, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Chul Jung
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 07804, Republic of Korea.
- Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 07804, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Lin C, Han G, Jia L, Zhao Y, Song J, Ran N, Yokota T, Seow Y, Yin H. Cardio-respiratory and phenotypic rescue of dystrophin/utrophin-deficient mice by combination therapy. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e53955. [PMID: 35393769 PMCID: PMC9171417 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202153955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a systemic progressive muscular disease caused by frame-disrupting mutations in the DMD gene. Although exon-skipping antisense oligonucleotides (AOs) are clinically approved and can correct DMD, insufficient muscle delivery limits efficacy. If AO activity can be enhanced by safe dietary supplements, clinical trials for efficacy can be undertaken rapidly to benefit patients. We showed previously that intravenous glycine enhanced phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) delivery to peripheral muscles in mdx mice. Here, we demonstrate that the combination of oral glycine and metformin with intravenous PMO enhances PMO activity, dystrophin restoration, extends lifespan, and improves body-wide function and phenotypic rescue of dystrophin /utrophin double knock-out (DKO) mice without any overt adverse effects. The DKO mice treated with the combination without altering the approved administration protocol of PMO show improved cardio-respiratory and behavioral functions. Metformin and glycine individually are ineffective in DMD patients, but the combination of PMO with clinically-approved oral glycine and metformin might improve the efficacy of the treatment also in DMD patients. Our data suggest that this combination therapy might be an attractive therapy for DMD and potentially other muscle diseases requiring systemic treatment with AOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caorui Lin
- The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical EpigeneticsSchool of Medical Technology & School of Basic Medical SciencesTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Gang Han
- The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical EpigeneticsSchool of Medical Technology & School of Basic Medical SciencesTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Lulu Jia
- The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical EpigeneticsSchool of Medical Technology & School of Basic Medical SciencesTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Yiwen Zhao
- The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical EpigeneticsSchool of Medical Technology & School of Basic Medical SciencesTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Jun Song
- The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical EpigeneticsSchool of Medical Technology & School of Basic Medical SciencesTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Ning Ran
- The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical EpigeneticsSchool of Medical Technology & School of Basic Medical SciencesTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Toshifumi Yokota
- Department of Medical GeneticsFaculty of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Yiqi Seow
- Institute of Bioengineering and BioimagingSingapore CitySingapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell BiologySingapore CitySingapore
| | - HaiFang Yin
- The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical EpigeneticsSchool of Medical Technology & School of Basic Medical SciencesTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
- Department of Clinical LaboratoryTianjin Medical University General HospitalTianjinChina
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12
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Bittel DC, Sreetama SC, Chandra G, Ziegler R, Nagaraju K, Van der Meulen JH, Jaiswal JK. Secreted acid sphingomyelinase as a potential gene therapy for limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2B. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:e141295. [PMID: 34981776 PMCID: PMC8718136 DOI: 10.1172/jci141295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient sarcolemmal repair is required for muscle cell survival, with deficits in this process leading to muscle degeneration. Lack of the sarcolemmal protein dysferlin impairs sarcolemmal repair by reducing secretion of the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), and causes limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2B (LGMD2B). The large size of the dysferlin gene poses a challenge for LGMD2B gene therapy efforts aimed at restoring dysferlin expression in skeletal muscle fibers. Here, we present an alternative gene therapy approach targeting reduced ASM secretion, the consequence of dysferlin deficit. We showed that the bulk endocytic ability is compromised in LGMD2B patient cells, which was addressed by extracellularly treating cells with ASM. Expression of secreted human ASM (hASM) using a liver-specific adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector restored membrane repair capacity of patient cells to healthy levels. A single in vivo dose of hASM-AAV in the LGMD2B mouse model restored myofiber repair capacity, enabling efficient recovery of myofibers from focal or lengthening contraction-induced injury. hASM-AAV treatment was safe, attenuated fibro-fatty muscle degeneration, increased myofiber size, and restored muscle strength, similar to dysferlin gene therapy. These findings elucidate the role of ASM in dysferlin-mediated plasma membrane repair and to our knowledge offer the first non-muscle-targeted gene therapy for LGMD2B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C. Bittel
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sen Chandra Sreetama
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Goutam Chandra
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Robin Ziegler
- Rare and Neurologic Diseases Research, Sanofi, Framingham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, SUNY Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | | | - Jyoti K. Jaiswal
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
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13
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Rutledge AM, Guo LJ, Lord LE, Leal AR, Deramus J, López SM, Russell A, Nghiem PP. Comprehensive assessment of physical activity correlated with muscle function in canine Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Ann Phys Rehabil Med 2021; 65:101611. [PMID: 34844013 DOI: 10.1016/j.rehab.2021.101611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis M Rutledge
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458
| | - Lee-Jae Guo
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458
| | - Laney E Lord
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458
| | - Amanda R Leal
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458
| | - John Deramus
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458
| | - Sara Mata López
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458
| | - Alan Russell
- Edgewise Therapeutics, 3415 Colorado Ave, Boulder, CO 80303
| | - Peter P Nghiem
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458.
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14
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Benny Klimek ME, Vila MC, Edwards K, Boehler J, Novak J, Zhang A, Van der Meulen J, Tatum K, Quinn J, Fiorillo A, Burki U, Straub V, Lu QL, Hathout Y, van Den Anker J, Partridge TA, Morales M, Hoffman E, Nagaraju K. Effects of Chronic, Maximal Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino Oligomer (PMO) Dosing on Muscle Function and Dystrophin Restoration in a Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. J Neuromuscul Dis 2021; 8:S369-S381. [PMID: 34569970 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-210701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO)-mediated exon skipping is currently used in clinical development to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), with four exon-skipping drugs achieving regulatory approval. Exon skipping elicits a truncated, but semi-functional dystrophin protein, similar to the truncated dystrophin expressed in patients with Becker Muscular dystrophy (BMD) where the disease phenotype is less severe than DMD. Despite promising results in both dystrophic animal models and DMD boys, restoration of dystrophin by exon skipping is highly variable, leading to contradictory functional outcomes in clinical trials. OBJECTIVE To develop optimal PMO dosing protocols that result in increased dystrophin and improved outcome measures in preclinical models of DMD. METHODS Tested effectiveness of multiple chronic, high dose PMO regimens using biochemical, histological, molecular, and imaging techniques in mdx mice. RESULTS A chronic, monthly regimen of high dose PMO increased dystrophin rescue in mdx mice and improved specific force in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle. However, monthly high dose PMO administration still results in variable dystrophin expression localized throughout various muscles. CONCLUSIONS High dose monthly PMO administration restores dystrophin expression and increases muscle force; however, the variability of dystrophin expression at both the inter-and intramuscular level remains. Additional strategies to optimize PMO uptake including increased dosing frequencies or combination treatments with other yet-to-be-defined therapies may be necessary to achieve uniform dystrophin restoration and increases in muscle function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Candida Vila
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA.,The George Washington University, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Katie Edwards
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Jessica Boehler
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA.,The George Washington University, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - James Novak
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Aiping Zhang
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jack Van der Meulen
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kathleen Tatum
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - James Quinn
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alyson Fiorillo
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Umar Burki
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Volker Straub
- The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases at Newcastle, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Qi Long Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Neuromuscular/ALS Center, Department of Neurology, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Yetrib Hathout
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA.,The George Washington University, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.,School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - John van Den Anker
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA.,Center for Translational Science, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Terence A Partridge
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA.,The George Washington University, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Melissa Morales
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Eric Hoffman
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA.,The George Washington University, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.,School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA.,The George Washington University, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.,School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
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15
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Li N, Parkes JE, Spathis R, Morales M, Mcdonald J, Kendra RM, Ott EM, Brown KJ, Lawlor M, Nagaraju K. The Effect of Immunomodulatory Treatments on Anti-Dystrophin Immune Response After AAV Gene Therapy in Dystrophin Deficient mdx Mice. J Neuromuscul Dis 2021; 8:S325-S340. [PMID: 34569971 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-210706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AAV-based gene therapy is an attractive approach to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. Although the long-term consequences of a gene therapy approach for DMD are unknown, there is evidence in both DMD patients and animal models that dystrophin replacement by gene therapy leads to an anti-dystrophin immune response that is likely to limit the long-term use of these therapeutic strategies. OBJECTIVE Our objective is to test whether the anti-dystrophin immune response is affected by immunomodulatory drugs in mdx mice after rAAV gene therapy. METHODS mdx mice were treated with rAAV microdystrophin alone or in combination with immunomodulatory drugs. Dystrophin expression in skeletal muscle was assessed by mass spectrometry. Immune responses were assessed by immunophenotyping, western blot for anti-dystrophin antibodies and flow cytometry assays for antigen-specific T-cell cytokine expression. The impact on muscle was measured by grip strength assessment, in vivo torque, optical imaging for inflammation and H&E staining of sections to assess muscle damage. RESULTS We found that AAV-9-microdystrophin gene therapy induced expression of microdystrophin, anti-dystrophin antibodies, and T-cell cytokine responses. Immunomodulatory treatments, rituximab and VBP-6 completely abrogated the anti-dystrophin antibody response. Prednisolone, CTLA4-Ig, and Eplerenone showed variable efficacy in blocking the anti-dystrophin immune response. In contrast, none of the drugs completely abrogated the antigen specific IFN-γ response. AAV-microdystrophin treatment significantly reduced inflammation in both forelimbs and hindlimbs, and the addition of prednisolone and VBP6 further reduced muscle inflammation. Treatment with immunomodulatory drugs, except eplerenone, enhanced the beneficial effects of AAV-microdystrophin therapy in terms of force generation. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that AAV-microdystrophin treatment results in anti-dystrophin antibody and T-cell responses, and immunomodulatory treatments have variable efficacy on these responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Li
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Joanna E Parkes
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Rita Spathis
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Melissa Morales
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - John Mcdonald
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Ryan M Kendra
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
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16
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Murphy AP, Greally E, O'Hogain D, Blamire A, Caravan P, Straub V. Use of EP3533-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Measure of Disease Progression in Skeletal Muscle of mdx Mice. Front Neurol 2021; 12:636719. [PMID: 34220666 PMCID: PMC8248789 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.636719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As putative treatments are developed for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), sensitive, non-invasive measures are increasingly important to quantify disease progression. Fibrosis is one of the histological hallmarks of muscular dystrophy and has been directly linked to prognosis. EP3533 is a novel contrast agent with an affinity to collagen 1 that has demonstrated a significant and high correlation to ex vivo fibrosis quantification. Halofuginone is an established anti-fibrotic compound shown to reduce collagen skeletal muscle fibrosis in murine models of DMD. This experiment explored whether EP3533 could be used to detect signal change in skeletal muscle of mdx mice before and after a 12 week course of halofuginone compared to controls. Four age-matched groups of treated and untreated mice were evaluated: 2 groups of mdx (n = 8 and n = 13, respectively), and 2 groups of BL10 mice (n = 5 and n = 3, respectively). Treated mice received an intraperitoneal injection with halofuginone three times per week for 12 weeks, with the remaining mice being given vehicle. Both mdx groups and the untreated BL10 were scanned at baseline, then all groups were scanned on week 13. All subjects were scanned using a 7T Varian scanner before and after administration of EP3533 using a T1 mapping technique. Mice underwent grip testing in week 13 prior to dissection. Skeletal muscle was used for Masson's trichrome quantification, hydroxyproline assay, and immunofluorescent antibody staining. Untreated mdx mice demonstrated a significant increase in R1 signal from pre- to post-treatment scan in three out of four muscles (gastrocnemius p = 0.04, hamstrings p = 0.009, and tibialis anterior p = 0.01), which was not seen in either the treated mdx or the BL10 groups. Histological quantification of fibrosis also demonstrated significantly higher levels in the untreated mdx mice with significant correlation seen between histology and EP3533 signal change. Forelimb weight adjusted-grip strength was significantly lower in the untreated mdx group, compared to the treated group. EP3533 can be used over time as an outcome measure to quantify treatment effect of an established anti-fibrotic drug. Further studies are needed to evaluate the use of this contrast agent in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Peter Murphy
- The Institute of Cancer and Genomics, Birmingham University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Institute of Translational and Clinical Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Greally
- The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Institute of Translational and Clinical Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Dara O'Hogain
- Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Blamire
- Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Caravan
- Department of Radiology, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Volker Straub
- The Institute of Cancer and Genomics, Birmingham University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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17
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Ban J, Beqaj B, Phillips WD. Vector-mediated expression of muscle specific kinase restores specific force to muscles in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Exp Physiol 2021; 106:1794-1805. [PMID: 34114278 DOI: 10.1113/ep089439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? The (dystrophin-deficient) muscles of mdx mice generate less contractile force per cross-sectional area (specific force) than those of healthy wild-type mice: what is the influence of muscle specific kinase (MuSK) upon the properties of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle in mdx mice? What is the main finding and its importance? Injection of adeno-associated viral vector encoding MuSK into the TA muscle of young mdx mice increased the specific force of the muscle, suggesting the MuSK signalling system has the potential to restore healthy growth to dystrophin-deficient muscles. ABSTRACT In the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, muscle fibres are fragile and prone to injury and degeneration. Compared to wild-type mice, muscles of mdx mice also develop less specific force (contractile force/cross-sectional area). We recently reported that injecting adeno-associated viral vector encoding muscle specific kinase (AAV-MuSK) into muscles of mdx mice increased utrophin expression and made the muscles more resistant to acute stretch-induced injury. Here we injected AAV-MuSK unilaterally into the tibialis anterior muscle of mdx mice at a younger age (4 weeks), and recorded contraction force from the muscles in situ at 12 weeks of age. Compared to contralateral empty-vector control muscles, muscles injected with AAV-MuSK produced 28% greater specific force (P = 0.0005). They did not undergo the compensatory hypertrophy that normally occurs in muscles of mdx mice. Injection of AAV encoding rapsyn (a downstream effector of MuSK signalling) caused no such improvement in muscle strength. Muscles injected with AAV-MuSK displayed a 10% reduction in the number of fibres with centralized nuclei (P = 0.0015). Our results in mdx mice suggest that elevating the expression of MuSK can reduce the incidence of muscle fibre regeneration and improve the strength of dystrophin-deficient muscles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Ban
- Physiology and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Besa Beqaj
- Physiology and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - William D Phillips
- Physiology and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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18
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Gaina G, Popa (Gruianu) A. Muscular dystrophy: Experimental animal models and therapeutic approaches (Review). Exp Ther Med 2021; 21:610. [PMID: 33936267 PMCID: PMC8082581 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The muscular dystrophies are a heterogeneous group of genetically inherited diseases characterized by muscle weakness and progressive wasting, which can cause premature death in severe forms. Although >30 years have passed since the identification of the first protein involved in a type of muscular dystrophy, there is no effective treatment for these disabling disorders. In the last decade, several novel therapeutic approaches have been developed and investigated as promising therapeutic approaches aimed to ameliorate the dystrophic phenotype either by restoring dystrophin expression or by compensating for dystrophin deficiency. Concurrently, with the development of therapeutic approaches, in addition to naturally occurring animal models, a wide range of genetically engineered animal models has been generated. The use of animals as models of muscular dystrophies has greatly improved the understanding of the pathogenicity of these diseases and has proven useful in gene therapy studies. In this review, we summarize these latest innovative therapeutic approaches to muscular dystrophies and the usefulness of the various most common experimental animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisela Gaina
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Experimental Myology, ‘Victor Babes’ National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alexandra Popa (Gruianu)
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Experimental Myology, ‘Victor Babes’ National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Animal Production and Public Health, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
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19
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Sadler KJ, Gatta PAD, Naim T, Wallace MA, Lee A, Zaw T, Lindsay A, Chung RS, Bello L, Pegoraro E, Lamon S, Lynch GS, Russell AP. Striated muscle activator of Rho signalling (STARS) overexpression in the mdx mouse enhances muscle functional capacity and regulates the actin cytoskeleton and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. Exp Physiol 2021; 106:1597-1611. [PMID: 33963617 DOI: 10.1113/ep089253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? Striated muscle activator of rho signalling (STARS) is an actin-binding protein that regulates transcriptional pathways controlling muscle function, growth and myogenesis, processes that are impaired in dystrophic muscle: what is the regulation of the STARS pathway in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)? What is the main finding and its importance? Members of the STARS signalling pathway are reduced in the quadriceps of patients with DMD and in mouse models of muscular dystrophy. Overexpression of STARS in the dystrophic deficient mdx mouse model increased maximal isometric specific force and upregulated members of the actin cytoskeleton and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. Regulating STARS may be a therapeutic approach to enhance muscle health. ABSTRACT Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterised by impaired cytoskeleton organisation, cytosolic calcium handling, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. This results in progressive muscle damage, wasting and weakness and premature death. The striated muscle activator of rho signalling (STARS) is an actin-binding protein that activates the myocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTFA)/serum response factor (SRF) transcriptional pathway, a pathway regulating cytoskeletal structure and muscle function, growth and repair. We investigated the regulation of the STARS pathway in the quadriceps muscle from patients with DMD and in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle from the dystrophin-deficient mdx and dko (utrophin and dystrophin null) mice. Protein levels of STARS, SRF and RHOA were reduced in patients with DMD. STARS, SRF and MRTFA mRNA levels were also decreased in DMD muscle, while Stars mRNA levels were decreased in the mdx mice and Srf and Mrtfa mRNAs decreased in the dko mice. Overexpressing human STARS (hSTARS) in the TA muscles of mdx mice increased maximal isometric specific force by 13% (P < 0.05). This was not associated with changes in muscle mass, fibre cross-sectional area, fibre type, centralised nuclei or collagen deposition. Proteomics screening followed by pathway enrichment analysis identified that hSTARS overexpression resulted in 31 upregulated and 22 downregulated proteins belonging to the actin cytoskeleton and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. These pathways are impaired in dystrophic muscle and regulate processes that are vital for muscle function. Increasing the STARS protein in dystrophic muscle improves muscle force production, potentially via synergistic regulation of cytoskeletal structure and energy production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate J Sadler
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul A Della Gatta
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Timur Naim
- Department of Physiology, Centre for Muscle Research, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marita A Wallace
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Albert Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thiri Zaw
- Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Angus Lindsay
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Roger S Chung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Luca Bello
- Department of Neurosciences, ERN Neuromuscular Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Pegoraro
- Department of Neurosciences, ERN Neuromuscular Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Séverine Lamon
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gordon S Lynch
- Department of Physiology, Centre for Muscle Research, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Aaron P Russell
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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20
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Debattisti V, Horn A, Singh R, Seifert EL, Hogarth MW, Mazala DA, Huang KT, Horvath R, Jaiswal JK, Hajnóczky G. Dysregulation of Mitochondrial Ca 2+ Uptake and Sarcolemma Repair Underlie Muscle Weakness and Wasting in Patients and Mice Lacking MICU1. Cell Rep 2020; 29:1274-1286.e6. [PMID: 31665639 PMCID: PMC7007691 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.09.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscle function is regulated by Ca2+, which mediates excitation-contraction coupling, energy metabolism, adaptation to exercise, and sarcolemmal repair. Several of these actions rely on Ca2+ delivery to the mitochondrial matrix via the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter, the pore of which is formed by mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU). MCU's gatekeeping and cooperative activation are controlled by MICU1. Loss-of-protein mutation in MICU1 causes a neuromuscular disease. To determine the mechanisms underlying the muscle impairments, we used MICU1 patient cells and skeletal muscle-specific MICU1 knockout mice. Both these models show a lower threshold for MCU-mediated Ca2+ uptake. Lack of MICU1 is associated with impaired mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake during excitation-contraction, aerobic metabolism impairment, muscle weakness, fatigue, and myofiber damage during physical activity. MICU1 deficit compromises mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake during sarcolemmal injury, which causes ineffective repair of the damaged myofibers. Thus, dysregulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake hampers myofiber contractile function, likely through energy metabolism and membrane repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Debattisti
- MitoCare Center for Mitochondrial Imaging Research and Diagnostics, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Adam Horn
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20010, USA; Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Raghavendra Singh
- MitoCare Center for Mitochondrial Imaging Research and Diagnostics, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Erin L Seifert
- MitoCare Center for Mitochondrial Imaging Research and Diagnostics, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marshall W Hogarth
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20010, USA; Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Davi A Mazala
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20010, USA; Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Kai Ting Huang
- MitoCare Center for Mitochondrial Imaging Research and Diagnostics, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rita Horvath
- Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jyoti K Jaiswal
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20010, USA; Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
| | - György Hajnóczky
- MitoCare Center for Mitochondrial Imaging Research and Diagnostics, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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21
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Garbincius JF, Merz LE, Cuttitta AJ, Bayne KV, Schrade S, Armstead EA, Converso-Baran KL, Whitesall SE, D'Alecy LG, Michele DE. Enhanced dimethylarginine degradation improves coronary flow reserve and exercise tolerance in Duchenne muscular dystrophy carrier mice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2020; 319:H582-H603. [PMID: 32762558 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00333.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked disease caused by null mutations in dystrophin and characterized by muscle degeneration. Cardiomyopathy is common and often prevalent at similar frequency in female DMD carriers irrespective of whether they manifest skeletal muscle disease. Impaired muscle nitric oxide (NO) production in DMD disrupts muscle blood flow regulation and exaggerates postexercise fatigue. We show that circulating levels of endogenous methylated arginines including asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), which act as NO synthase inhibitors, are elevated by acute necrotic muscle damage and in chronically necrotic dystrophin-deficient mice. We therefore hypothesized that excessive ADMA impairs muscle NO production and diminishes exercise tolerance in DMD. We used transgenic expression of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH), which degrades methylated arginines, to investigate their contribution to exercise-induced fatigue in DMD. Although infusion of exogenous ADMA was sufficient to impair exercise performance in wild-type mice, transgenic DDAH expression did not rescue exercise-induced fatigue in dystrophin-deficient male mdx mice. Surprisingly, DDAH transgene expression did attenuate exercise-induced fatigue in dystrophin-heterozygous female mdx carrier mice. Improved exercise tolerance was associated with reduced heart weight and improved cardiac β-adrenergic responsiveness in DDAH-transgenic mdx carriers. We conclude that DDAH overexpression increases exercise tolerance in female DMD carriers, possibly by limiting cardiac pathology and preserving the heart's responses to changes in physiological demand. Methylated arginine metabolism may be a new target to improve exercise tolerance and cardiac function in DMD carriers or act as an adjuvant to promote NO signaling alongside therapies that partially restore dystrophin expression in patients with DMD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) carriers are at risk for cardiomyopathy. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is released from damaged muscle in DMD and impairs exercise performance. Transgenic expression of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase to degrade ADMA prevents cardiac hypertrophy, improves cardiac function, and improves exercise tolerance in DMD carrier mice. These findings highlight the relevance of ADMA to muscular dystrophy and have important implications for therapies targeting nitric oxide in patients with DMD and DMD carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne F Garbincius
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Lauren E Merz
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Ashley J Cuttitta
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kaitlynn V Bayne
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Sara Schrade
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Emily A Armstead
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | - Steven E Whitesall
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Physiology Phenotyping Core, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Louis G D'Alecy
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Physiology Phenotyping Core, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Daniel E Michele
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Physiology Phenotyping Core, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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22
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Rodgers BD, Bishaw Y, Kagel D, Ramos JN, Maricelli JW. Micro-dystrophin Gene Therapy Partially Enhances Exercise Capacity in Older Adult mdx Mice. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2020; 17:122-132. [PMID: 31909085 PMCID: PMC6939027 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2019.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Micro-dystrophin (μDys) gene therapeutics can improve striated muscle structure and function in different animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Most studies, however, used young mdx mice that lack a pronounced dystrophic phenotype, short treatment periods, and limited muscle function tests. We, therefore, determined the relative efficacy of two previously described μDys gene therapeutics (rAAV6:μDysH3 and rAAV6:μDys5) in 6-month-old mdx mice using a 6-month treatment regimen and forced exercise. Forelimb and hindlimb grip strength, metabolic rate (VO2 max), running efficiency (energy expenditure), and serum creatine kinase levels similarly improved in mdx mice treated with either vector. Both vectors produced nearly identical dose-responses in all assays. They also partially prevented the degenerative effects of repeated high-intensity exercise on muscle histology, although none of the metrics examined was restored to normal wild-type levels. Moreover, neither vector had any consistent effect on respiration while exercising. These data together suggest that, although μDys gene therapy can improve isolated and systemic muscle function, it may be only partially effective when dystrophinopathies are advanced or when muscle structure is significantly challenged, as with high-intensity exercise. This further suggests that restoring muscle function to near-normal levels will likely require ancillary or combinatorial treatments capable of enhancing muscle strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buel D. Rodgers
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington Center for Muscle Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Yemeserach Bishaw
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington Center for Muscle Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Denali Kagel
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington Center for Muscle Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Julian N. Ramos
- Department of Neurology, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joseph W. Maricelli
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington Center for Muscle Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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23
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Liu CW, Huang CC, Hsu CF, Li TH, Tsai YL, Lin MW, Tsai HC, Huang SF, Yang YY, Hsieh YC, Lee TY, Tsai CY, Huang YH, Hou MC, Lin HC. SIRT1-dependent mechanisms and effects of resveratrol for amelioration of muscle wasting in NASH mice. BMJ Open Gastroenterol 2020; 7:bmjgast-2020-000381. [PMID: 32371503 PMCID: PMC7228468 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgast-2020-000381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), muscle wasting was an aggravating factor for the progression of hepatic steatosis. This study explores the potential benefits of chronic treatment with resveratrol, a strong activator of SIRT1 on the muscle wasting of NASH mice. Methods In vivo and in vitro study, we evaluate the SIRT1-dependent mechanisms and effects of resveratrol administration for 6 weeks with high-fat-methionine and choline deficient diet-induced NASH mice and palmitate-pretreated C2C12 myoblast cells. Results Resveratrol treatment improved grip strength and muscle mass of limbs, increased running distance and time on exercise wheels in NASH mice. There is a negative correlation between muscular SIRT1 activity and 3-nitrotyrosine levels of NASH and NASH-resv mice. The SIRT1-dependent effect of muscle wasting was associated with the suppression of oxidative stress, upregulation of antioxidants, inhibition of protein degradation, activation of autophagy, suppression of apoptotic activity, upregulation of lipolytic genes and the reduction of fatty infiltration in limb muscles of NASH mice. In vitro, resveratrol alleviated palmitate acid-induced oxidative stress, lipid deposition, autophagy dysfunction, apoptotic signals, and subsequently reduced fusion index and myotube formation of C2C12 cells. The beneficial effects of resveratrol were abolished by EX527. Conclusions Our study suggests that chronic resveratrol treatment is a potential strategy for amelioration of hepatic steatosis and muscle wasting in NASH mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Wei Liu
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chang Huang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Clinical Skills Center, Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Fu Hsu
- Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hao Li
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Lien Tsai
- Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Wei Lin
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Cheng Tsai
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shiang-Fen Huang
- Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Infection Disease, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Ying Yang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan .,Division of Clinical Skills Center, Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Cheng Hsieh
- Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzung-Yan Lee
- Graduate Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Youh Tsai
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsiang Huang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chih Hou
- Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Han-Chieh Lin
- Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taipei, Taiwan
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24
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Effect of memantine hydrochloride on cisplatin-induced neurobehavioral toxicity in mice. Acta Neurol Belg 2020; 120:71-82. [PMID: 31190140 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-019-01161-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Cisplatin is an anticancer agent widely used in the treatment of malignant tumors. One of the major adverse effects of cisplatin is its neurotoxicity. Memantine, an uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, has been reported to have neuroprotective effects against neurological deficits. This study therefore investigated the possible protective role of memantine as an agent to minimize the neurobehavioral toxic side effects of cisplatin. Two different therapeutic doses of memantine (5 mg/kg) and (10 mg/kg) were orally administered for 30 days to 50 male BALB/c mice divided into 5 groups: G1: no treatment; G2: cisplatin treatment; G3: memantine treatment; G4: pretreatment of (5 mg/kg) memantine with cisplatin (4 mg/kg); G5: pretreatment of 10 mg/kg memantine with cisplatin (4 mg/kg). Weekly neurobehavioral investigations were conducted using the following battery of tests: open field activity, negative geotaxis, hole-board test, swimming test, and calculation of weight. At the end of the experimental period the mice were euthanized, and immunohistochemistry was then used to measure the expression scores of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the muscles and brain. Results revealed that mice in G2 showed a significant decrease in the ability to perform neurobehavioral tasks. The mice in G5 exhibited a significantly improved ability on these tests, indicating a complete neurobehavioral protective effect, while the mice in G4 showed partial protection. The nAChRs score showed higher expression in the case of G2 in comparison with G3, G4, and G5. Weight loss was exhibited in G2, while in G3 and G1 these values were normal. A therapeutic dose of memantine 10 mg/kg yielded more protection than 5 mg/kg in the treatment of neuropathy; this highlights the importance of using memantine to decrease the main side effects of cisplatin.
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25
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Hightower RM, Reid AL, Gibbs DE, Wang Y, Widrick JJ, Kunkel LM, Kastenschmidt JM, Villalta SA, van Groen T, Chang H, Gornisiewicz S, Landesman Y, Tamir S, Alexander MS. The SINE Compound KPT-350 Blocks Dystrophic Pathologies in DMD Zebrafish and Mice. Mol Ther 2020; 28:189-201. [PMID: 31628052 PMCID: PMC6952030 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked muscle wasting disease that is caused by the loss of functional dystrophin protein in cardiac and skeletal muscles. DMD patient muscles become weakened, leading to eventual myofiber breakdown and replacement with fibrotic and adipose tissues. Inflammation drives the pathogenic processes through releasing inflammatory cytokines and other factors that promote skeletal muscle degeneration and contributing to the loss of motor function. Selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINEs) are a class of compounds that function by inhibiting the nuclear export protein exportin 1 (XPO1). The XPO1 protein is an important regulator of key inflammatory and neurological factors that drive inflammation and neurotoxicity in various neurological and neuromuscular diseases. Here, we demonstrate that SINE compound KPT-350 can ameliorate dystrophic-associated pathologies in the muscles of DMD models of zebrafish and mice. Thus, SINE compounds are a promising novel strategy for blocking dystrophic symptoms and could be used in combinatorial treatments for DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rylie M Hightower
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; UAB Center for Exercise Medicine (UCEM), Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Andrea L Reid
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Devin E Gibbs
- Division of Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yimin Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Widrick
- Division of Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Louis M Kunkel
- Division of Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research at Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jenna M Kastenschmidt
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - S Armando Villalta
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Thomas van Groen
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Hua Chang
- Karyopharm Therapeutics, Newton, MA 02459, USA
| | | | | | | | - Matthew S Alexander
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; UAB Center for Exercise Medicine (UCEM), Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; Department of Genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; Civitan International Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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26
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Mirza MU, Vanmeert M, Ali A, Iman K, Froeyen M, Idrees M. Perspectives towards antiviral drug discovery against Ebola virus. J Med Virol 2019; 91:2029-2048. [PMID: 30431654 PMCID: PMC7166701 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Ebola virus disease (EVD), caused by Ebola viruses, resulted in more than 11 500 deaths according to a recent 2018 WHO report. With mortality rates up to 90%, it is nowadays one of the most deadly infectious diseases. However, no Food and Drug Administration‐approved Ebola drugs or vaccines are available yet with the mainstay of therapy being supportive care. The high fatality rate and absence of effective treatment or vaccination make Ebola virus a category‐A biothreat pathogen. Fortunately, a series of investigational countermeasures have been developed to control and prevent this global threat. This review summarizes the recent therapeutic advances and ongoing research progress from research and development to clinical trials in the development of small‐molecule antiviral drugs, small‐interference RNA molecules, phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers, full‐length monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines. Moreover, difficulties are highlighted in the search for effective countermeasures against EVD with additional focus on the interplay between available in silico prediction methods and their evidenced potential in antiviral drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Usman Mirza
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, REGA Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michiel Vanmeert
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, REGA Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Amjad Ali
- Department of Genetics, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan.,Molecular Virology Laboratory, Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Kanzal Iman
- Biomedical Informatics Research Laboratory (BIRL), Department of Biology, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Matheus Froeyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, REGA Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Muhammad Idrees
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.,Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan
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27
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Morittu VM, Musco N, Mastellone V, Bonesi M, Britti D, Infascelli F, Loizzo MR, Tundis R, Sicari V, Tudisco R, Lombardi P. In vitro and in vivo studies of Cucurbita pepo L. flowers: chemical profile and bioactivity. Nat Prod Res 2019; 35:2905-2909. [PMID: 31564140 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2019.1672067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Edible flowers consumption has increased in recent years due to their rich content of healthy phytochemicals. The aim of this study was to analyse the chemical profile of Cucurbita pepo L. flowers, and to explore their antioxidant and hypoglycaemic properties. Moreover, in order to assess in vivo effects, biochemical analysis, Reactive Oxygen Metabolites (d-ROMs) and Biological Antioxidant Potential (BAP) tests were performed on mice serum. High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detection (HPLC-DAD) analyses revealed the presence of (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, rutin, and syringic acid as main constituents. 2,2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) tests showed interesting results. The extract exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase (IC50 of 144.77 μg/mL). In vivo results confirmed the hypoglycaemic effects, also affecting lipid metabolism but did not revealed benefits on ROS production. These results may add some information supporting the use of C. pepo flowers as functional foods and/or nutraceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria M Morittu
- C.I.S. - Interdepartmental Services Centre of Veterinary for Human and Animal Health, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Nadia Musco
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Mastellone
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Marco Bonesi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Domenico Britti
- C.I.S. - Interdepartmental Services Centre of Veterinary for Human and Animal Health, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Federico Infascelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Monica R Loizzo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Rosa Tundis
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Sicari
- Department of Agricultural Science, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Raffaella Tudisco
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Pietro Lombardi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
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28
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Han G, Gu B, Lin C, Ning H, Song J, Gao X, Moulton HM, Yin H. Hexose Potentiates Peptide-Conjugated Morpholino Oligomer Efficacy in Cardiac Muscles of Dystrophic Mice in an Age-Dependent Manner. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 18:341-350. [PMID: 31629961 PMCID: PMC6807288 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Insufficient delivery of oligonucleotides to muscle and heart remains a barrier for clinical implementation of antisense oligonucleotide (AO)-mediated exon-skipping therapeutics in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a lethal monogenic disorder caused by frame-disrupting mutations in the DMD gene. We previously demonstrated that hexose, particularly an equal mix of glucose:fructose (GF), significantly enhanced oligonucleotide delivery and exon-skipping activity in peripheral muscles of mdx mice; however, its efficacy in the heart remains limited. Here we show that co-administration of GF with peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PPMO, namely, BMSP-PMO) induced an approximately 2-fold higher level of dystrophin expression in cardiac muscles of adult mdx mice compared to BMSP-PMO in saline at a single injection of 20 mg/kg, resulting in evident phenotypic improvement in dystrophic mdx hearts without any detectable toxicity. Dystrophin expression in peripheral muscles also increased. However, GF failed to potentiate BMSP-PMO efficiency in aged mdx mice. These findings demonstrate that GF is applicable to both PMO and PPMO. Furthermore, GF potentiates oligonucleotide activity in mdx mice in an age-dependent manner, and, thus, it has important implications for its clinical deployment for the treatment of DMD and other muscular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Han
- School of Medical Laboratory and Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Ben Gu
- School of Medical Laboratory and Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Caorui Lin
- School of Medical Laboratory and Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Hanhan Ning
- School of Medical Laboratory and Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Jun Song
- School of Medical Laboratory and Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Xianjun Gao
- School of Medical Laboratory and Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Hong M Moulton
- Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - HaiFang Yin
- School of Medical Laboratory and Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
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29
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Glycine administration attenuates progression of dystrophic pathology in prednisolone-treated dystrophin/utrophin null mice. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12982. [PMID: 31506484 PMCID: PMC6736947 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49140-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disease characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness and premature death. Glucocorticoids (e.g. prednisolone) remain the only drugs with a favorable impact on DMD patients, but not without side effects. We have demonstrated that glycine preserves muscle in various wasting models. Since glycine effectively suppresses the activity of pro-inflammatory macrophages, we investigated the potential of glycine treatment to ameliorate the dystrophic pathology. Dystrophic mdx and dystrophin-utrophin null (dko) mice were treated with glycine or L-alanine (amino acid control) for up to 15 weeks and voluntary running distance (a quality of life marker and strong correlate of lifespan in dko mice) and muscle morphology were assessed. Glycine increased voluntary running distance in mdx mice by 90% (P < 0.05) after 2 weeks and by 60% (P < 0.01) in dko mice co-treated with prednisolone over an 8 week treatment period. Glycine treatment attenuated fibrotic deposition in the diaphragm by 28% (P < 0.05) after 10 weeks in mdx mice and by 22% (P < 0.02) after 14 weeks in dko mice. Glycine treatment augmented the prednisolone-induced reduction in fibrosis in diaphragm muscles of dko mice (23%, P < 0.05) after 8 weeks. Our findings provide strong evidence that glycine supplementation may be a safe, simple and effective adjuvant for improving the efficacy of prednisolone treatment and improving the quality of life for DMD patients.
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30
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Debruin DA, Andreacchio N, Hanson ED, Timpani CA, Rybalka E, Hayes A. The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle in the mdx Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Sports (Basel) 2019; 7:sports7050096. [PMID: 31035483 PMCID: PMC6572350 DOI: 10.3390/sports7050096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D (VitD) has shown to be beneficial in reversing muscle weakness and atrophy associated with VitD deficiency. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is characterized by worsening muscle weakness and muscle atrophy, with VitD deficiency commonly observed. This study aimed to investigate the effect of VitD supplementation on dystrophic skeletal muscle. Eight-week old female control (C57BL/10; n = 29) and dystrophic (C57BL/mdx; n = 23) mice were randomly supplemented with one of three VitD enriched diets (1000, 8000 & 20,000 IU/kg chow). Following a four-week feeding period, the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles contractile and fatigue properties were tested ex vivo, followed by histological analysis. As expected, mdx muscles displayed higher mass yet lower specific forces and a rightward shift in their force frequency relationship consistent with dystrophic pathology. There was a trend for mdx muscle mass to be larger following the 20,000 IU/kg diet, but this did not result in improved force production. Fiber area in the EDL was larger in mdx compared to controls, and there were higher amounts of damage in both muscles, with VitD supplementation having no effect. Four weeks of VitD supplementation did not appear to have any impact upon dystrophic skeletal muscle pathology at this age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle A Debruin
- Institute of Sport and Health, Victoria University, Melbourne 3011, Australia.
- Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences (AIMSS), Melbourne 3021, Australia.
| | - Nicola Andreacchio
- Institute of Sport and Health, Victoria University, Melbourne 3011, Australia.
| | - Erik D Hanson
- Institute of Sport and Health, Victoria University, Melbourne 3011, Australia.
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Cara A Timpani
- Institute of Sport and Health, Victoria University, Melbourne 3011, Australia.
- Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences (AIMSS), Melbourne 3021, Australia.
| | - Emma Rybalka
- Institute of Sport and Health, Victoria University, Melbourne 3011, Australia.
- Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences (AIMSS), Melbourne 3021, Australia.
| | - Alan Hayes
- Institute of Sport and Health, Victoria University, Melbourne 3011, Australia.
- Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences (AIMSS), Melbourne 3021, Australia.
- Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia.
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Glass TJ, Kelm-Nelson CA, Russell JA, Szot JC, Lake JM, Connor NP, Ciucci MR. Laryngeal muscle biology in the Pink1-/- rat model of Parkinson disease. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2019; 126:1326-1334. [PMID: 30844333 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00557.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular pathology is found in the larynx and pharynx in humans with Parkinson disease (PD); however, it is unknown when this pathology emerges. We hypothesized that pathology occurs in early (premanifest) stages. To address this, we used the Pink1-/- rat model of PD, which shows age-dependent dopaminergic neuron loss, locomotor deficits, and deficits related to laryngeal function. We report findings in the thyroarytenoid muscle (TA) in Pink1-/- rats compared with wild-type (WT) control rats at 4 and 6 mo of age. TAs were analyzed for force production, myosin heavy chain isoform (MyHC), centrally nucleated myofibers, neural cell adhesion molecule, myofiber size, and muscle section size. Compared with WT, Pink1-/- TA had reductions in force levels at 1-Hz stimulation and 20-Hz stimulation, increases in relative levels of MyHC 2L, increases in incidence of centrally nucleated myofibers in the external division of the TA, and reductions in myofiber size of the vocalis division of the TA at 6 mo of age. Alterations of laryngeal muscle biology occur in a rat model of premanifest PD. Although these alterations are statistically significant, their functional significance remains to be determined. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Pathology of peripheral nerves and muscle has been reported in the larynx and pharynx of humans diagnosed with Parkinson disease (PD); however, it is unknown whether differences of laryngeal muscle occur at premanifest stages. This study examined the thyroarytenoid muscles of the Pink1-/- rat model of PD for differences of muscle biology compared with control rats. Thyroarytenoid muscles of Pink1-/- rats at premanifest stages show differences in multiple measures of muscle biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany J Glass
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin , Madison, Wisconsin
| | | | - John A Russell
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin , Madison, Wisconsin
| | - John C Szot
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin , Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Jacob M Lake
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin , Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Nadine P Connor
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin , Madison, Wisconsin.,Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin , Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Michelle R Ciucci
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin , Madison, Wisconsin.,Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin , Madison, Wisconsin
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Heier CR, Yu Q, Fiorillo AA, Tully CB, Tucker A, Mazala DA, Uaesoontrachoon K, Srinivassane S, Damsker JM, Hoffman EP, Nagaraju K, Spurney CF. Vamorolone targets dual nuclear receptors to treat inflammation and dystrophic cardiomyopathy. Life Sci Alliance 2019; 2:2/1/e201800186. [PMID: 30745312 PMCID: PMC6371196 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201800186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of death for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Here, we find that the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) can share common ligands but play distinct roles in dystrophic heart and skeletal muscle pathophysiology. Comparisons of their ligand structures indicate that the Δ9,11 modification of the first-in-class drug vamorolone enables it to avoid interaction with a conserved receptor residue (N770/N564), which would otherwise activate transcription factor properties of both receptors. Reporter assays show that vamorolone and eplerenone are MR antagonists, whereas prednisolone is an MR agonist. Macrophages, cardiomyocytes, and CRISPR knockout myoblasts show vamorolone is also a dissociative GR ligand that inhibits inflammation with improved safety over prednisone and GR-specific deflazacort. In mice, hyperaldosteronism activates MR-driven hypertension and kidney phenotypes. We find that genetic dystrophin loss provides a second hit for MR-mediated cardiomyopathy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy model mice, as aldosterone worsens fibrosis, mass and dysfunction phenotypes. Vamorolone successfully prevents MR-activated phenotypes, whereas prednisolone activates negative MR and GR effects. In conclusion, vamorolone targets dual nuclear receptors to treat inflammation and cardiomyopathy with improved safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Heier
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA .,Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Qing Yu
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alyson A Fiorillo
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.,Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christopher B Tully
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Asya Tucker
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Davi A Mazala
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Eric P Hoffman
- AGADA Biosciences Incorporated, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,ReveraGen BioPharma, Incorporated, Rockville, MD, USA.,School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University-State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- AGADA Biosciences Incorporated, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,ReveraGen BioPharma, Incorporated, Rockville, MD, USA.,School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University-State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Christopher F Spurney
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.,Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.,Division of Cardiology, Children's National Heart Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
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Exploratory Profiling of Urine MicroRNAs in the dy2J/dy2J Mouse Model of LAMA2-CMD: Relation to Disease Progression. PLOS CURRENTS 2018; 10. [PMID: 30430039 PMCID: PMC6140833 DOI: 10.1371/currents.md.d0c203c018bc024f2f4c9791ecb05f88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are being considered as non-invasive biomarkers for disease progression and clinical trials. Congenital muscular dystrophy with deficiency of laminin α2 chain (LAMA2-CMD) is a very severe form of muscular dystrophy, for which no treatment is available. In order to identify LAMA2-CMD biomarkers we have profiled miRNAs in urine from the dy2J /dy2J mouse model of LAMA2-CMD at three distinct time points (representing asymptomatic, initial and established disease). We demonstrate that unique groups of miRNAs are differentially expressed at each time point. We suggest that urine miRNAs can be sensitive biomarkers for different stages of LAMA2-CMD.
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Sreetama SC, Chandra G, Van der Meulen JH, Ahmad MM, Suzuki P, Bhuvanendran S, Nagaraju K, Hoffman EP, Jaiswal JK. Membrane Stabilization by Modified Steroid Offers a Potential Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy Due to Dysferlin Deficit. Mol Ther 2018; 26:2231-2242. [PMID: 30166241 PMCID: PMC6127637 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2018] [Revised: 07/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations of the DYSF gene leading to reduced dysferlin protein level causes limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B). Dysferlin facilitates sarcolemmal membrane repair in healthy myofibers, thus its deficit compromises myofiber repair and leads to chronic muscle inflammation. An experimental therapeutic approach for LGMD2B is to protect damage or improve repair of myofiber sarcolemma. Here, we compared the effects of prednisolone and vamorolone (a dissociative steroid; VBP15) on dysferlin-deficient myofiber repair. Vamorolone, but not prednisolone, stabilized dysferlin-deficient muscle cell membrane and improved repair of dysferlin-deficient mouse (B6A/J) myofibers injured by focal sarcolemmal damage, eccentric contraction-induced injury or injury due to spontaneous in vivo activity. Vamorolone decreased sarcolemmal lipid mobility, increased muscle strength, and decreased late-stage myofiber loss due to adipogenic infiltration. In contrast, the conventional glucocorticoid prednisolone failed to stabilize dysferlin deficient muscle cell membrane or improve repair of dysferlinopathic patient myoblasts and mouse myofibers. Instead, prednisolone treatment increased muscle weakness and myofiber atrophy in B6A/J mice—findings that correlate with reports of prednisolone worsening symptoms of LGMD2B patients. Our findings showing improved cellular and pre-clinical efficacy of vamorolone compared to prednisolone and better safety profile of vamorolone indicates the suitability of vamorolone for clinical trials in LGMD2B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Chandra Sreetama
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Goutam Chandra
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Jack H Van der Meulen
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Mohammad Mahad Ahmad
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Peter Suzuki
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Shivaprasad Bhuvanendran
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Eric P Hoffman
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Jyoti K Jaiswal
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA; Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
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GsMTx4-D provides protection to the D2.mdx mouse. Neuromuscul Disord 2018; 28:868-877. [PMID: 30174173 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2018.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a life-limiting muscle disease that has no current effective therapy. Despite mounting evidence that dysregulation of mechanosensitive ion channels is a significant contributor to dystrophy pathogenesis, effective pharmacologic strategies targeting these channels are lacking. GsMTx4, and its enantiomer GsMTx4-D, are peptide inhibitors of mechanosensitive channels with identical activity. In previous studies, acute in vitro application of GsMTx4 to dystrophic murine muscle effectively reduced the excess MSC dependent calcium influx linked to contraction-induced muscle damage. Here we sought to determine if in vivo treatment with GsMTx4-D proffered benefit in the D2.mdx mouse. GsMTx4-D showed a 1-week half-life when administered by subcutaneous injection over four weeks. Informed by these results, D2.mdx mice were then treated by a subcutaneous injection regimen of GsMTx4-D for six weeks followed by determination of muscle mass, muscle susceptibility to eccentric contraction injury and multiple histological indicators of disease progression. The mice showed a reduction in the loss of muscle mass and a decrease in susceptibility to contraction induced injury. These protective effects were realized without reduction in fibrosis, supporting a model where GsMTx4-D acts directly on muscle cells. We propose GsMTx4-D represents a promising new therapy to slow disease progression and may complement other therapies such as anti-inflammatory agents and gene-replacement strategies.
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36
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Monitoring disease activity noninvasively in the mdx model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:7741-7746. [PMID: 29987034 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1802425115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare, muscle degenerative disease resulting from the absence of the dystrophin protein. DMD is characterized by progressive loss of muscle fibers, muscle weakness, and eventually loss of ambulation and premature death. Currently, there is no cure for DMD and improved methods of disease monitoring are crucial for the development of novel treatments. In this study, we describe a new method of assessing disease progression noninvasively in the mdx model of DMD. The reporter mice, which we term the dystrophic Degeneration Reporter strains, contain an inducible CRE-responsive luciferase reporter active in mature myofibers. In these mice, muscle degeneration is reflected in changes in the level of luciferase expression, which can be monitored using noninvasive, bioluminescence imaging. We monitored the natural history and disease progression in these dystrophic report mice and found that decreases in luciferase signals directly correlated with muscle degeneration. We further demonstrated that this reporter strain, as well as a previously reported Regeneration Reporter strain, successfully reveals the effectiveness of a gene therapy treatment following systemic administration of a recombinant adeno-associated virus-6 (rAAV-6) encoding a microdystrophin construct. Our data demonstrate the value of these noninvasive imaging modalities for monitoring disease progression and response to therapy in mouse models of muscular dystrophy.
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Utrophin haploinsufficiency does not worsen the functional performance, resistance to eccentric contractions and force production of dystrophic mice. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198408. [PMID: 29879154 PMCID: PMC5991729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The lack of dystrophin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) compromises the integrity and function of muscle fibers. Skeletal muscles, except the diaphragm, do not undergo progressive degeneration in adult mdx mice due to compensatory mechanisms, including structural protein upregulation. New mouse models, including utrophin haploinsufficient mdx (mdx/utrn+/-) mice, may better recapitulate DMD. Our goal was to determine whether mdx/utrn+/- worsens the mdx phenotype and to characterize the course of the disease on muscle function and contractility at 1, 2, and 5 months of age, which encompass all stages of development relevant to DMD therapy. The functional performances of mdx/utrn+/- mice showed that they are not more affected than mdx/utrn+/+ mice based on downhill treadmill running parameters and subsequent recovery measured by open-field voluntary activity. WT mice ran the entire distance (450 m) on the treadmill, with an additional 561 m during the 4 h of open-field while mdx/utrn+/+ and mdx/utrn+/- mice completed, respectively, 236 m and 273 m on the treadmill and 341 m and 287 m during the open-field period. In addition, isolated ex vivo contractile properties and repeated eccentric contractions showed that mdx/utrn+/- does not significantly worsen the function of dystrophic EDL muscles, which are mainly composed of fast-twitch fibers that are preferentially affected in DMD. Twitch, absolute tetanic, and specific tetanic forces were very similar in dystrophic EDL muscles from mdx/utrn+/+ and mdx utrn+/- mice at 1, 2, and 5 months of age. Five-month-old mdx/utrn+/+ and mdx/utrn+/- mice lost roughly 50% of their force due to repeated eccentric contractions. Thus, histological, morphological, biochemical functional and contractile observations showed that utrophin haploinsufficiency has a very limited impact on mdx mice.
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Sui T, Lau YS, Liu D, Liu T, Xu L, Gao Y, Lai L, Li Z, Han R. A novel rabbit model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy generated by CRISPR/Cas9. Dis Model Mech 2018; 11:dmm.032201. [PMID: 29871865 PMCID: PMC6031364 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.032201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked muscle-wasting disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, with an incidence of 1 in 3500 in new male births. Mdx mice are widely used as an animal model for DMD. However, these mice do not faithfully recapitulate DMD patients in many aspects, rendering the preclinical findings in this model questionable. Although larger animal models of DMD, such as dogs and pigs, have been generated, usage of these animals is expensive and only limited to several facilities in the world. Here, we report the generation of a rabbit model of DMD by co-injection of Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA targeting exon 51 into rabbit zygotes. The DMD knockout (KO) rabbits exhibit the typical phenotypes of DMD, including severely impaired physical activity, elevated serum creatine kinase levels, and progressive muscle necrosis and fibrosis. Moreover, clear pathology was also observed in the diaphragm and heart at 5 months of age, similar to DMD patients. Echocardiography recording showed that the DMD KO rabbits had chamber dilation with decreased ejection fraction and fraction shortening. In conclusion, this novel rabbit DMD model generated with the CRISPR/Cas9 system mimics the histopathological and functional defects in DMD patients, and could be valuable for preclinical studies. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: The DMD KO rabbit engineered by CRISPR genome editing faithfully recapitulates the DMD pathologies, and could be a valuable tool for basic and translational studies to combat this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Sui
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Yeh Siang Lau
- Department of Surgery, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Biophysics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, US
| | - Di Liu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Tingjun Liu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Li Xu
- Department of Surgery, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Biophysics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, US
| | - Yandi Gao
- Department of Surgery, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Biophysics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, US
| | - Liangxue Lai
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Zhanjun Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Renzhi Han
- Department of Surgery, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Biophysics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, US
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Pasteuning-Vuhman S, Putker K, Tanganyika-de Winter CL, Boertje-van der Meulen JW, van Vliet L, Overzier M, Plomp JJ, Aartsma-Rus A, van Putten M. Natural disease history of the dy2J mouse model of laminin α2 (merosin)-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197388. [PMID: 29763467 PMCID: PMC5953480 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Merosin deficient congenital muscular dystrophy 1A (MDC1A) is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the LAMA2 gene leading to severe and progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Although over 350 causative mutations have been identified for MDC1A, no treatment is yet available. There are many therapeutic approaches in development, but the lack of natural history data of the mouse model and standardized outcome measures makes it difficult to transit these pre-clinical findings to clinical trials. Therefore, in the present study, we collected natural history data and assessed pre-clinical outcome measures for the dy2J/dy2J mouse model using standardized operating procedures available from the TREAT-NMD Alliance. Wild type and dy2J/dy2J mice were subjected to five different functional tests from the age of four to 32 weeks. Non-tested control groups were taken along to assess whether the functional test regime interfered with muscle pathology. Respiratory function, body weights and creatine kinase levels were recorded. Lastly, skeletal muscles were collected for further histopathological and gene expression analyses. Muscle function of dy2J/dy2J mice was severely impaired at four weeks of age and all mice lost the ability to use their hind limbs. Moreover, respiratory function was altered in dy2J/dy2J mice. Interestingly, the respiration rate was decreased and declined with age, whereas the respiration amplitude was increased in dy2J/dy2J mice when compared to wild type mice. Creatine kinase levels were comparable to wild type mice. Muscle histopathology and gene expression analysis revealed that there was a specific regional distribution pattern of muscle damage in dy2J/dy2J mice. Gastrocnemius appeared to be the most severely affected muscle with a high proportion of atrophic fibers, increased fibrosis and inflammation. By contrast, triceps was affected moderately and diaphragm only mildly. Our study presents a complete natural history dataset which can be used in setting up standardized studies in dy2J/dy2J mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Pasteuning-Vuhman
- Department of Human Genetics Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - K. Putker
- Department of Human Genetics Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - L. van Vliet
- Department of Human Genetics Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - M. Overzier
- Department of Human Genetics Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - J. J. Plomp
- Department of Neurology Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - A. Aartsma-Rus
- Department of Human Genetics Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - M. van Putten
- Department of Human Genetics Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Introduction Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disease that is caused by a deficiency of dystrophin protein. Both Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients and dystrophic mice suffer from intestinal dysfunction. Methods The present study arose from a chance observation of differences in fecal output of dystrophic vs. normal mice during 20-minutes of forced continuous treadmill exercise. Here, we report on the effects of exercise on fecal output in two different dystrophic mutants and their normal background control strains. All fecal materials evacuated during exercise were counted, dried and weighed. Results Mice of both mutant dystrophic strains produced significantly more fecal material during the exercise bout than the relevant control strains. iscussion We propose that exercise--induced Colo--Rectal Activation Phenotype test could be used as a simple, highly sensitive, non-invasive biomarker to determine efficacy of dystrophin replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Nearing
- Children's National Health System, Children's Research Institute, Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Washington DC, United States
| | - James Novak
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, Washington DC, United States
| | - Terence Partridge
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington DC, United States
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Yu Q, Morales M, Li N, Fritz AG, Ruobing R, Blaeser A, Francois E, Lu QL, Nagaraju K, Spurney CF. Skeletal, cardiac, and respiratory muscle function and histopathology in the P448Lneo- mouse model of FKRP-deficient muscular dystrophy. Skelet Muscle 2018; 8:13. [PMID: 29625576 PMCID: PMC5889611 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-018-0158-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fukutin-related protein (FKRP) mutations are the most common cause of dystroglycanopathies known to cause both limb girdle and congenital muscular dystrophy. The P448Lneo- mouse model has a knock-in mutation in the FKRP gene and develops skeletal, respiratory, and cardiac muscle disease. METHODS We studied the natural history of the P448Lneo- mouse model over 9 months and the effects of twice weekly treadmill running. Forelimb and hindlimb grip strength (Columbus Instruments) and overall activity (Omnitech Electronics) assessed skeletal muscle function. Echocardiography was performed using VisualSonics Vevo 770 (FujiFilm VisualSonics). Plethysmography was performed using whole body system (ADInstruments). Histological evaluations included quantification of inflammation, fibrosis, central nucleation, and fiber size variation. RESULTS P448Lneo- mice had significantly increased normalized tissue weights compared to controls at 9 months of age for the heart, gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis anterior, quadriceps, and triceps. There were no significant differences seen in forelimb or hindlimb grip strength or activity monitoring in P448Lneo- mice with or without exercise compared to controls. Skeletal muscles demonstrated increased inflammation, fibrosis, central nucleation, and variation in fiber size compared to controls (p < 0.05) and worsened with exercise. Plethysmography showed significant differences in respiratory rates and decreased tidal and minute volumes in P448Lneo- mice (p < 0.01). There was increased fibrosis in the diaphragm compared to controls (p < 0.01). Echocardiography demonstrated decreased systolic function in 9-month-old mutant mice (p < 0.01). There was increased myocardial wall thickness and mass (p < 0.001) with increased fibrosis in 9-month-old P448Lneo- mice compared to controls (p < 0.05). mRNA expression for natriuretic peptide type A (Nppa) was significantly increased in P448Lneo- mice compared to controls at 6 months (p < 0.05) and for natriuretic peptide type B (Nppb) at 6 and 9 months of age (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS FKRP-deficient P448Lneo- mice demonstrate significant deficits in cardiac and respiratory functions compared to control mice, and this is associated with increased inflammation and fibrosis. This study provides new functional outcome measures for preclinical trials of FKRP-related muscular dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Yu
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Melissa Morales
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Ning Li
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Alexander G Fritz
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Ren Ruobing
- Department of Oncology, Ruijing Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Anthony Blaeser
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Department of Neurology, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Ershia Francois
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Qi-Long Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Department of Neurology, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Christopher F Spurney
- Children's National Heart Institute, Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA.
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42
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Kogelman B, Khmelinskii A, Verhaart I, van Vliet L, Bink DI, Aartsma-Rus A, van Putten M, van der Weerd L. Influence of full-length dystrophin on brain volumes in mouse models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194636. [PMID: 29601589 PMCID: PMC5877835 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) affects besides muscle also the brain, resulting in memory and behavioral problems. The consequences of dystrophinopathy on gross macroscopic alterations are unclear. To elucidate the effect of full-length dystrophin expression on brain morphology, we used high-resolution post-mortem MRI in mouse models that either express 0% (mdx), 100% (BL10) or a low amount of full-length dystrophin (mdx-XistΔhs). While absence or low amounts of full-length dystrophin did not significantly affect whole brain volume and skull morphology, we found differences in volume of individual brain structures. The results are in line with observations in humans, where whole brain volume was found to be reduced only in patients lacking both full-length dystrophin and the shorter isoform Dp140.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bauke Kogelman
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Artem Khmelinskii
- Division of Image Processing, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Percuros B.V., Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Verhaart
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Laura van Vliet
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Diewertje I. Bink
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke Aartsma-Rus
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maaike van Putten
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Louise van der Weerd
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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43
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Capogrosso RF, Mantuano P, Uaesoontrachoon K, Cozzoli A, Giustino A, Dow T, Srinivassane S, Filipovic M, Bell C, Vandermeulen J, Massari AM, De Bellis M, Conte E, Pierno S, Camerino GM, Liantonio A, Nagaraju K, De Luca A. Ryanodine channel complex stabilizer compound S48168/ARM210 as a disease modifier in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice: proof-of-concept study and independent validation of efficacy. FASEB J 2018; 32:1025-1043. [PMID: 29097503 PMCID: PMC5888399 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201700182rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Muscle fibers lacking dystrophin undergo a long-term alteration of Ca2+ homeostasis, partially caused by a leaky Ca2+ release ryanodine (RyR) channel. S48168/ARM210, an RyR calcium release channel stabilizer (a Rycal compound), is expected to enhance the rebinding of calstabin to the RyR channel complex and possibly alleviate the pathologic Ca2+ leakage in dystrophin-deficient skeletal and cardiac muscle. This study systematically investigated the effect of S48168/ARM210 on the phenotype of mdx mice by means of a first proof-of-concept, short (4 wk), phase 1 treatment, followed by a 12-wk treatment (phase 2) performed in parallel by 2 independent laboratories. The mdx mice were treated with S48168/ARM210 at two different concentrations (50 or 10 mg/kg/d) in their drinking water for 4 and 12 wk, respectively. The mice were subjected to treadmill sessions twice per week (12 m/min for 30 min) to unmask the mild disease. This testing was followed by in vivo forelimb and hindlimb grip strength and fatigability measurement, ex vivo extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and diaphragm (DIA) force contraction measurement and histologic and biochemical analysis. The treatments resulted in functional (grip strength, ex vivo force production in DIA and EDL muscles) as well as histologic improvement after 4 and 12 wk, with no adverse effects. Furthermore, levels of cellular biomarkers of calcium homeostasis increased. Therefore, these data suggest that S48168/ARM210 may be a safe therapeutic option, at the dose levels tested, for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).-Capogrosso, R. F., Mantuano, P., Uaesoontrachoon, K., Cozzoli, A., Giustino, A., Dow, T., Srinivassane, S., Filipovic, M., Bell, C., Vandermeulen, J., Massari, A. M., De Bellis, M., Conte, E., Pierno, S., Camerino, G. M., Liantonio, A., Nagaraju, K., De Luca, A. Ryanodine channel complex stabilizer compound S48168/ARM210 as a disease modifier in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice: proof-of-concept study and independent validation of efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paola Mantuano
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Anna Cozzoli
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Arcangela Giustino
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Todd Dow
- Agada Biosciences Incorporated, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; and
| | | | - Marina Filipovic
- Agada Biosciences Incorporated, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; and
| | - Christina Bell
- Agada Biosciences Incorporated, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; and
| | | | - Ada Maria Massari
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Michela De Bellis
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Elena Conte
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Sabata Pierno
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Giulia Maria Camerino
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonella Liantonio
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- Agada Biosciences Incorporated, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; and
- Binghamton University, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Annamaria De Luca
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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44
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Willmann R, Buccella F, De Luca A, Grounds MD, Versnel J, Vroom E, Ribeiro D, Ambrosini A, Pavlath G, Porter J, Dziewczapolski G, Dubowitz V, Lochmüller H, Campbell K, Davies K, Roth KA, Clark A, Clementi E, Nagaraju K, Goemans N, Straub V, Klein A, Aartsma-Rus A, Grounds M, Willmann R, Buccella F, van Putten M, Fries M, Sheean M, Tinsley J, Girgenrath M. 227 th ENMC International Workshop:. Neuromuscul Disord 2018; 28:185-192. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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45
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Morrison-Nozik A, Haldar SM. Probing the Pathogenesis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Using Mouse Models. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1687:107-119. [PMID: 29067659 PMCID: PMC5805135 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7374-3_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Investigations using mouse models have provided seminal insights into the pathogenesis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the development of novel therapeutics. Several important methods have been considered standard-in-the-field for analyses of skeletal muscle weakness, strength, endurance, and histopathology, as well as responses to therapeutics such as glucocorticoids, disease modifying drugs which are part of the current standard of care for patients with this disease. Here we describe optimized genetic, genomic, and physiologic assays to probe dystrophic pathobiology in the mdx mouse and related strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Morrison-Nozik
- Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Saptarsi M Haldar
- Gladstone Institutes, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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46
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Defour A, Medikayala S, Van der Meulen JH, Hogarth MW, Holdreith N, Malatras A, Duddy W, Boehler J, Nagaraju K, Jaiswal JK. Annexin A2 links poor myofiber repair with inflammation and adipogenic replacement of the injured muscle. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:1979-1991. [PMID: 28334824 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Repair of skeletal muscle after sarcolemmal damage involves dysferlin and dysferlin-interacting proteins such as annexins. Mice and patient lacking dysferlin exhibit chronic muscle inflammation and adipogenic replacement of the myofibers. Here, we show that similar to dysferlin, lack of annexin A2 (AnxA2) also results in poor myofiber repair and progressive muscle weakening with age. By longitudinal analysis of AnxA2-deficient muscle we find that poor myofiber repair due to the lack of AnxA2 does not result in chronic inflammation or adipogenic replacement of the myofibers. Further, deletion of AnxA2 in dysferlin deficient mice reduced muscle inflammation, adipogenic replacement of myofibers, and improved muscle function. These results identify multiple roles of AnxA2 in muscle repair, which includes facilitating myofiber repair, chronic muscle inflammation and adipogenic replacement of dysferlinopathic muscle. It also identifies inhibition of AnxA2-mediated inflammation as a novel therapeutic avenue for treating muscle loss in dysferlinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelia Defour
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Sushma Medikayala
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Jack H Van der Meulen
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Marshall W Hogarth
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Nicholas Holdreith
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Apostolos Malatras
- Center for Research in Myology 75013, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University Paris 06, INSERM UMRS975, CNRS FRE3617, GH Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 13, Paris, France
| | - William Duddy
- Center for Research in Myology 75013, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University Paris 06, INSERM UMRS975, CNRS FRE3617, GH Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 13, Paris, France
- Northern Ireland Centre for Stratified Medicine, Altnagelvin Hospital Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, BT52 1SJ UK
| | - Jessica Boehler
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Integrative Systems Biology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052 USA
| | - Jyoti K Jaiswal
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Integrative Systems Biology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052 USA
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47
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Natural disease history of mouse models for limb girdle muscular dystrophy types 2D and 2F. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182704. [PMID: 28797108 PMCID: PMC5552258 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy types 2D and 2F (LGMD 2D and 2F) are autosomal recessive disorders caused by mutations in the alpha- and delta sarcoglycan genes, respectively, leading to severe muscle weakness and degeneration. The cause of the disease has been well characterized and a number of animal models are available for pre-clinical studies to test potential therapeutic interventions. To facilitate transition from drug discovery to clinical trials, standardized procedures and natural disease history data were collected for these mouse models. Implementing the TREAD-NMD standardized operating procedures, we here subjected LGMD2D (SGCA-null), LGMD2F (SGCD-null) and wild type (C57BL/6J) mice to five functional tests from the age of 4 to 32 weeks. To assess whether the functional test regime interfered with disease pathology, sedentary groups were taken along. Muscle physiology testing of tibialis anterior muscle was performed at the age of 34 weeks. Muscle histopathology and gene expression was analysed in skeletal muscles and heart. Muscle histopathology and gene expression was analysed in skeletal muscles and heart. Mice successfully accomplished the functional tests, which did not interfere with disease pathology. Muscle function of SGCA- and SGCD-null mice was impaired and declined over time. Interestingly, female SGCD-null mice outperformed males in the two and four limb hanging tests, which proved the most suitable non-invasive tests to assess muscle function. Muscle physiology testing of tibialis anterior muscle revealed lower specific force and higher susceptibility to eccentric-induced damage in LGMD mice. Analyzing muscle histopathology and gene expression, we identified the diaphragm as the most affected muscle in LGMD strains. Cardiac fibrosis was found in SGCD-null mice, being more severe in males than in females. Our study offers a comprehensive natural history dataset which will be useful to design standardized tests and future pre-clinical studies in LGMD2D and 2F mice.
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48
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Evaluation of the behavioral characteristics of the mdx mouse model of duchenne muscular dystrophy through operant conditioning procedures. Behav Processes 2017; 142:8-20. [PMID: 28532665 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The mdx mouse is an important nonhuman model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) research. Characterizing the behavioral traits of the strain relative to congenic wild-type (WT) mice may enhance our understanding of the cognitive deficits observed in some humans with DMD and contribute to treatment development and evaluation. In this paper we report the results of a number of experiments comparing the behavior of mdx to WT mice in operant conditioning procedures designed to assess learning and memory. We found that mdx outperformed WT in all learning and memory tasks involving food reinforcement, and this appeared to be related to the differential effects of the food deprivation motivating operation on mdx mice. Conversely, WT outperformed mdx in an escape/avoidance learning task. These results suggest motivational differences between the strains and demonstrate the potential utility of operant conditioning procedures in the assessment of the behavioral characteristics of the mdx mouse.
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49
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Willett ES, Liu J, Berke M, Giannini PJ, Schmid M, Jia Z, Wang X, Wang X, Samson K, Yu F, Wang D, Nawshad A, Reinhardt RA. Standardized Rat Model Testing Effects of Inflammation and Grafting on Extraction Healing. J Periodontol 2017; 88:799-807. [PMID: 28440741 DOI: 10.1902/jop.2017.160771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loss of alveolar ridge width and height after tooth extraction is well documented, but models to evaluate ridge preservation are neither standardized nor cost-effective. This rat model characterizes the pattern of bone turnover and inflammation after extraction and bone grafting with or without local simvastatin (SIM). METHODS Fifty retired-breeder rats underwent extraction of the maxillary right first molar and standard surgical defect creation under inhalation/local anesthesia. The left side of each animal served as unmanipulated control. Untreated groups (n = 8 to 9 per group) were compared (analysis of variance, t test) at days 0, 7, 14, and 28 for alveolar ridge height and width and for markers of inflammation and bone turnover by microcomputed tomography, histology, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Seventeen additional specimens had defects grafted with either bone mineralized matrix (BMM) or a BMM+SIM conjugate. RESULTS Extraction-induced bone loss (BL) was noted on buccal, palatal, and interproximal height (P <0.05) and ridge width (P <0.01). Week 1 inflammation positively correlated with ridge height; thereafter, a more intense inflammatory reaction corresponded to reduction in alveolar bone height and density (r = 0.74; P <0.05; Spearman). BMM+SIM preserved the most interproximal bone height (P <0.01), increased ridge width and bone density (P <0.01), enhanced 7-day prostaglandin E2 (P <0.01), and reduced 28-day inflammation density (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS The standard defect used in the current study paralleled human postextraction alveolar BL. Defect grafting, especially BMM+SIM, reduced inflammation and preserved bone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Willett
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE
| | - Jingpeng Liu
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE
| | - Molly Berke
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE
| | - Peter J Giannini
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE
| | - Marian Schmid
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE
| | - Zhenshan Jia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - Xiaobei Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - Kaeli Samson
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - Fang Yu
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - Ali Nawshad
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE
| | - Richard A Reinhardt
- Department of Surgical Specialties, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center
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50
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Song Y, Rosenblum ST, Morales L, Petrov M, Greer C, Globerman S, Stedman HH. Suite of clinically relevant functional assays to address therapeutic efficacy and disease mechanism in the dystrophic mdx mouse. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2016; 122:593-602. [PMID: 27932677 PMCID: PMC5401958 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00776.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive primary myodegenerative disease caused by a genetic deficiency of the 427-kDa cytoskeletal protein dystrophin. Despite its single-gene etiology, DMD's complex pathogenesis remains poorly understood, complicating the extrapolation from results of preclinical studies in genetic homologs to the design of informative clinical trials. Here we describe novel phenotypic assays which when applied to the mdx mouse resemble recently used primary end points for DMD clinical trials. By coupling force transduction, high-precision motion tracking, and respiratory measurements, we have achieved a suite of integrative physiological tests that provide novel insights regarding normal and pathological responses to muscular exertion. A common feature of these physiological assays is the precise tracking and analysis of volitional movement, thereby optimizing the relevance to clinical tests. Unexpectedly, the measurable biological distinction between dystrophic and control mice at early time points in the disease process is better resolved with these tests than with the majority of previously used, labor-intensive studies of individual muscle function performed ex vivo. For example, the dramatic loss of volitional movement following a novel, standardized grip test distinguishes control mice from mdx mice by a 17.4-fold difference of the means (3.5 ± 2.2 vs. 60.9 ± 12.1 units of activity, respectively; effect size 1.99). The findings have both mechanistic and translational implications of potential significance to the fields of basic myology and neuromuscular therapeutics.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study uses novel phenotypic assays which when applied to the mdx mouse resemble recently used primary end points for DMD clinical trials. A measurable distinction between dystrophic and control mice was seen at early time points in vivo compared with invasive muscle studies performed ex vivo. These assays shed light on normal and pathological responses to muscular exertion and have significant mechanistic and translational implications for the fields of basic myology and neuromuscular therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafeng Song
- Perelman School of Medicine & Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
| | - Shira T Rosenblum
- Perelman School of Medicine & Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
| | - Leon Morales
- Perelman School of Medicine & Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
| | - Mihail Petrov
- Perelman School of Medicine & Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
| | - Christopher Greer
- Perelman School of Medicine & Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
| | - Samantha Globerman
- Perelman School of Medicine & Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
| | - Hansell H Stedman
- Perelman School of Medicine & Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and .,Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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