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Jaime D, Fish LA, Madigan LA, Xi C, Piccoli G, Ewing MD, Blaauw B, Fallon JR. The MuSK-BMP pathway maintains myofiber size in slow muscle through regulation of Akt-mTOR signaling. Skelet Muscle 2024; 14:1. [PMID: 38172960 PMCID: PMC10763067 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-023-00329-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Myofiber size regulation is critical in health, disease, and aging. MuSK (muscle-specific kinase) is a BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) co-receptor that promotes and shapes BMP signaling. MuSK is expressed at all neuromuscular junctions and is also present extrasynaptically in the mouse soleus, whose predominantly oxidative fiber composition is akin to that of human muscle. To investigate the role of the MuSK-BMP pathway in vivo, we generated mice lacking the BMP-binding MuSK Ig3 domain. These ∆Ig3-MuSK mice are viable and fertile with innervation levels comparable to wild type. In 3-month-old mice, myofibers are smaller in the slow soleus, but not in the fast tibialis anterior (TA). Transcriptomic analysis revealed soleus-selective decreases in RNA metabolism and protein synthesis pathways as well as dysregulation of IGF1-Akt-mTOR pathway components. Biochemical analysis showed that Akt-mTOR signaling is reduced in soleus but not TA. We propose that the MuSK-BMP pathway acts extrasynaptically to maintain myofiber size in slow muscle by promoting protein synthetic pathways including IGF1-Akt-mTOR signaling. These results reveal a novel mechanism for regulating myofiber size in slow muscle and introduce the MuSK-BMP pathway as a target for promoting muscle growth and combatting atrophy.
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Grants
- R41 AG073144 NIA NIH HHS
- T32 MH020068 NIMH NIH HHS
- U01 NS064295, R41 AG073144, R21 NS112743, R21 AG073743, P30 GM103410, P30 RR031153, P20 RR018728, S10 RR02763, R25GM083270, 2T32AG041688, and T32 MH20068 NIH HHS
- P30 GM103410 NIGMS NIH HHS
- T32 AG041688 NIA NIH HHS
- P30 RR031153 NCRR NIH HHS
- U01 NS064295 NINDS NIH HHS
- R21 NS112743 NINDS NIH HHS
- P20 RR018728 NCRR NIH HHS
- R21 AG073743 NIA NIH HHS
- R25 GM083270 NIGMS NIH HHS
- National Institutes of Health
- Carney Institute for Brain Sciences
- ALS Finding a Cure
- AFM-Téléthon
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Jaime
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Lauren A Fish
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Laura A Madigan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Chengjie Xi
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Giorgia Piccoli
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padua, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Madison D Ewing
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Bert Blaauw
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padua, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Justin R Fallon
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
- Carney Institute for Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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2
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Maze D, Girardin C, Benz N, Montier T, Pichon C, Midoux P. CFTR and dystrophin encoding plasmids carrying both luciferase reporter gene, nuclear import specific sequences and triple helix sites. Plasmid 2023; 127:102686. [PMID: 37207938 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2023.102686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Cystic Fibrosis are two major monogenetic diseases which could be treated by non-viral gene therapy. For this purpose, plasmid DNA (pDNA) coding for the functional genes requires its equipment with signal molecules favouring its intracellular trafficking and delivery in the nucleus of the target cells. Here, two novel constructions of large pDNAs encoding the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) and full-length dystrophin (DYS) genes are reported. The expression of CFTR and DYS genes are driven respectively by the hCEF1 airway epithelial cells and spc5-12 muscle cells specific promoter. Those pDNAs encode also the luciferase reporter gene driven by the CMV promoter to evaluate gene delivery in animals by bioluminescence. In addition, oligopurine • oligopyrimidine sequences are inserted to enable equipment of pDNAs with peptides conjugated with a triple helix forming oligonucleotide (TFO). Furthermore, specific κB sequences are also inserted to promote their NFκB-mediated nuclear import. pDNA constructions are reported; transfection efficiency, tissue specific expression of CFTR and dystrophin in target cells, and triple helix formation are demonstrated. These plasmids are tools of interest to develop non-viral gene therapy of Cystic Fibrosis and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Maze
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR4301, Inserm and University of Orléans, 45071 Orléans cedex 02, France
| | - Caroline Girardin
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR4301, Inserm and University of Orléans, 45071 Orléans cedex 02, France
| | - Nathalie Benz
- Univ Brest, INSERM, EFS, UMR 1078, GGB - GTCA Team, Brest F-29200, France
| | - Tristan Montier
- Univ Brest, INSERM, EFS, UMR 1078, GGB - GTCA Team, Brest F-29200, France; Service de Génétique Médicale et Biologie de la Reproduction, Centre de référence des maladies rares 'Maladies neuromusculaires', CHRU de Brest, Brest F-29200, France
| | - Chantal Pichon
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR4301, Inserm and University of Orléans, 45071 Orléans cedex 02, France
| | - Patrick Midoux
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR4301, Inserm and University of Orléans, 45071 Orléans cedex 02, France.
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3
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Róg J, Oksiejuk A, Górecki DC, Zabłocki K. Primary mouse myoblast metabotropic purinoceptor profiles and calcium signalling differ with their muscle origin and are altered in mdx dystrophinopathy. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9333. [PMID: 37291185 PMCID: PMC10250391 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36545-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mortality of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a consequence of progressive wasting of skeletal and cardiac muscle, where dystrophinopathy affects not only muscle fibres but also myogenic cells. Elevated activity of P2X7 receptors and increased store-operated calcium entry have been identified in myoblasts from the mdx mouse model of DMD. Moreover, in immortalized mdx myoblasts, increased metabotropic purinergic receptor response was found. Here, to exclude any potential effects of cell immortalization, we investigated the metabotropic response in primary mdx and wild-type myoblasts. Overall, analyses of receptor transcript and protein levels, antagonist sensitivity, and cellular localization in these primary myoblasts confirmed the previous data from immortalised cells. However, we identified significant differences in the pattern of expression and activity of P2Y receptors and the levels of the "calcium signalling toolkit" proteins between mdx and wild-type myoblasts isolated from different muscles. These results not only extend the earlier findings on the phenotypic effects of dystrophinopathy in undifferentiated muscle but, importantly, also reveal that these changes are muscle type-dependent and endure in isolated cells. This muscle-specific cellular impact of DMD may not be limited to the purinergic abnormality in mice and needs to be taken into consideration in human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Róg
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Oksiejuk
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dariusz C Górecki
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, St Michael's Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK
| | - Krzysztof Zabłocki
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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4
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Jaime D, Fish LA, Madigan LA, Ewing MD, Fallon JR. The MuSK-BMP pathway maintains myofiber size in slow muscle through regulation of Akt- mTOR signaling. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-2613527. [PMID: 36909467 PMCID: PMC10002845 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2613527/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Myofiber size regulation is critical in health, disease, and aging. MuSK (muscle-specific kinase) is a BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) co-receptor that promotes and shapes BMP signaling. MuSK is expressed at all neuromuscular junctions and is also present extrasynaptically in the slow soleus muscle. To investigate the role of the MuSK-BMP pathway in vivo we generated mice lacking the BMP-binding MuSK Ig3 domain. These ΔIg3-MuSKmice are viable and fertile with innervation levels comparable to wild type. In 3-month-old mice myofibers are smaller in the slow soleus, but not in the fast tibialis anterior (TA). Transcriptomic analysis revealed soleus-selective decreases in RNA metabolism and protein synthesis pathways as well as dysregulation of IGF1-Akt-mTOR pathway components. Biochemical analysis showed that Akt-mTOR signaling is reduced in soleus but not TA. We propose that the MuSK-BMP pathway acts extrasynaptically to maintain myofiber size in slow muscle by promoting protein synthetic pathways including IGF1-Akt-mTOR signaling. These results reveal a novel mechanism for regulating myofiber size in slow muscle and introduce the MuSK-BMP pathway as a target for promoting muscle growth and combatting atrophy.
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5
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Krause K, Eggers B, Uszkoreit J, Eulitz S, Rehmann R, Güttsches AK, Schreiner A, van der Ven PFM, Fürst DO, Marcus K, Vorgerd M, Kley RA. Target formation in muscle fibres indicates reinnervation - A proteomic study in muscle samples from peripheral neuropathies. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2023; 49:e12853. [PMID: 36180966 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Target skeletal muscle fibres - defined by different concentric areas in oxidative enzyme staining - can occur in patients with neurogenic muscular atrophy. Here, we used our established hypothesis-free proteomic approach with the aim of deciphering the protein composition of targets. We also searched for potential novel interactions between target proteins. METHODS Targets and control areas were laser microdissected from skeletal muscle sections of 20 patients with neurogenic muscular atrophy. Samples were analysed by a highly sensitive mass spectrometry approach, enabling relative protein quantification. The results were validated by immunofluorescence studies. Protein interactions were investigated by yeast two-hybrid assays, coimmunoprecipitation experiments and bimolecular fluorescence complementation. RESULTS More than 1000 proteins were identified. Among these, 55 proteins were significantly over-represented and 40 proteins were significantly under-represented in targets compared to intraindividual control samples. The majority of over-represented proteins were associated with the myofibrillar Z-disc and actin dynamics, followed by myosin and myosin-associated proteins, proteins involved in protein biosynthesis and chaperones. Under-represented proteins were mainly mitochondrial proteins. Functional studies revealed that the LIM domain of the over-represented protein LIMCH1 interacts with isoform A of Xin actin-binding repeat-containing protein 1 (XinA). CONCLUSIONS In particular, proteins involved in myofibrillogenesis are over-represented in target structures, which indicate an ongoing process of sarcomere assembly and/or remodelling within this specific area of the muscle fibres. We speculate that target structures are the result of reinnervation processes in which filamin C-associated myofibrillogenesis is tightly regulated by the BAG3-associated protein quality system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karsten Krause
- Department of Neurology, Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Britta Eggers
- Medizinisches Proteom-Center, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,Medical Proteome Analysis, Center for Protein Diagnostics (PRODI), Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Julian Uszkoreit
- Medizinisches Proteom-Center, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,Medical Proteome Analysis, Center for Protein Diagnostics (PRODI), Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stefan Eulitz
- Institute for Cell Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Robert Rehmann
- Department of Neurology, Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Anne K Güttsches
- Department of Neurology, Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Anja Schreiner
- Department of Neurology, Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Dieter O Fürst
- Institute for Cell Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Katrin Marcus
- Medizinisches Proteom-Center, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,Medical Proteome Analysis, Center for Protein Diagnostics (PRODI), Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Matthias Vorgerd
- Department of Neurology, Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rudolf A Kley
- Department of Neurology, Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, St. Marien-Hospital Borken, Borken, Germany
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6
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Shu C, Mokhonova E, Crosbie RH. High-Throughput Screening to Identify Modulators of Sarcospan. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2587:479-93. [PMID: 36401045 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2772-3_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput screening enables the discovery of disease-modifying small molecules. Here, we describe the development of a scalable, cell-based assay to screen for small molecules that modulate sarcospan for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We detail the hit validation pipeline, which includes secondary screening, gene/protein quantification, and an in vitro membrane stability assay.
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7
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Gosselin MRF, Mournetas V, Borczyk M, Verma S, Occhipinti A, Róg J, Bozycki L, Korostynski M, Robson SC, Angione C, Pinset C, Gorecki DC. Loss of full-length dystrophin expression results in major cell-autonomous abnormalities in proliferating myoblasts. eLife 2022; 11:75521. [PMID: 36164827 PMCID: PMC9514850 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) affects myofibers and muscle stem cells, causing progressive muscle degeneration and repair defects. It was unknown whether dystrophic myoblasts—the effector cells of muscle growth and regeneration—are affected. Using transcriptomic, genome-scale metabolic modelling and functional analyses, we demonstrate, for the first time, convergent abnormalities in primary mouse and human dystrophic myoblasts. In Dmdmdx myoblasts lacking full-length dystrophin, the expression of 170 genes was significantly altered. Myod1 and key genes controlled by MyoD (Myog, Mymk, Mymx, epigenetic regulators, ECM interactors, calcium signalling and fibrosis genes) were significantly downregulated. Gene ontology analysis indicated enrichment in genes involved in muscle development and function. Functionally, we found increased myoblast proliferation, reduced chemotaxis and accelerated differentiation, which are all essential for myoregeneration. The defects were caused by the loss of expression of full-length dystrophin, as similar and not exacerbated alterations were observed in dystrophin-null Dmdmdx-βgeo myoblasts. Corresponding abnormalities were identified in human DMD primary myoblasts and a dystrophic mouse muscle cell line, confirming the cross-species and cell-autonomous nature of these defects. The genome-scale metabolic analysis in human DMD myoblasts showed alterations in the rate of glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, leukotriene metabolism, and mitochondrial beta-oxidation of various fatty acids. These results reveal the disease continuum: DMD defects in satellite cells, the myoblast dysfunction affecting muscle regeneration, which is insufficient to counteract muscle loss due to myofiber instability. Contrary to the established belief, our data demonstrate that DMD abnormalities occur in myoblasts, making these cells a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of this lethal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime R F Gosselin
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | | | - Malgorzata Borczyk
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics, Maj Institute of Pharmacology PAS, Krakow, Poland
| | - Suraj Verma
- School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
| | - Annalisa Occhipinti
- School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
| | - Justyna Róg
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.,Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lukasz Bozycki
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.,Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michal Korostynski
- Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics, Maj Institute of Pharmacology PAS, Krakow, Poland
| | - Samuel C Robson
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.,Centre for Enzyme Innovation, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Claudio Angione
- School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
| | | | - Dariusz C Gorecki
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
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8
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Flierl A, Schriner SE, Hancock S, Coskun PE, Wallace DC. The mitochondrial adenine nucleotide transporters in myogenesis. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 188:312-327. [PMID: 35714845 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Adenine Nucleotide Translocator isoforms (ANTs) exchange ADP/ATP across the inner mitochondrial membrane, are also voltage-activated proton channels and regulate mitophagy and apoptosis. The ANT1 isoform predominates in heart and muscle while ANT2 is systemic. Here, we report the creation of Ant mutant mouse myoblast cell lines with normal Ant1 and Ant2 genes, deficient in either Ant1 or Ant2, and deficient in both the Ant1 and Ant2 genes. These cell lines are immortal under permissive conditions (IFN-γ + serum at 32 °C) permitting expansion but return to normal myoblasts that can be differentiated into myotubes at 37 °C. With this system we were able to complement our Ant1 mutant studies by demonstrating that ANT2 is important for myoblast to myotube differentiation and myotube mitochondrial respiration. ANT2 is also important in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant defenses. ANT2 is also associated with increased oxidative stress response and modulation for Ca++ sequestration and activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition (mtPTP) pore during cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Flierl
- Center for Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and Genetics and the Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Samuel E Schriner
- Center for Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and Genetics and the Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Saege Hancock
- Center for Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and Genetics and the Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Center for Mitochondrial and Epigenomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Pinar E Coskun
- Center for Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and Genetics and the Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Douglas C Wallace
- Center for Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and Genetics and the Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Center for Mitochondrial and Epigenomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA.
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9
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Rumney RMH, Róg J, Chira N, Kao AP, Al-Khalidi R, Górecki DC. P2X7 Purinoceptor Affects Ectopic Calcification of Dystrophic Muscles. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:935804. [PMID: 35910348 PMCID: PMC9333129 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.935804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ectopic calcification (EC) of myofibers is a pathological feature of muscle damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Mineralisation of muscle tissue occurs concomitantly with macrophage infiltration, suggesting a link between ectopic mineral deposition and inflammation. One potential link is the P2X7 purinoceptor, a key trigger of inflammation, which is expressed on macrophages but also up-regulated in dystrophic muscle cells. To investigate the role of P2X7 in dystrophic calcification, we utilised the Dmdmdx-βgeo dystrophin-null mouse model of DMD crossed with a global P2X7 knockout (P2rx7−/−) or with our novel P2X7 knockin-knockout mouse (P2x7KiKo), which expresses P2X7 in macrophages but not muscle cells. Total loss of P2X7 increased EC, indicating that P2X7 overexpression is a protective mechanism against dystrophic mineralisation. Given that muscle-specific P2X7 ablation did not affect dystrophic EC, this underlined the role of P2X7 receptor expression on the inflammatory cells. Serum phosphate reflected dystrophic calcification, with the highest serum phosphate levels found in genotypes with the most ectopic mineral. To further investigate the underlying mechanisms, we measured phosphate release from cells in vitro, and found that dystrophic myoblasts released less phosphate than non-dystrophic cells. Treatment with P2X7 antagonists increased phosphate release from both dystrophic and control myoblasts indicating that muscle cells are a potential source of secreted phosphate while macrophages protect against ectopic mineralisation. Treatment of cells with high phosphate media engendered mineral deposition, which was decreased in the presence of the P2X7 agonist BzATP, particularly in cultures of dystrophic cells, further supporting a protective role for P2X7 against ectopic mineralisation in dystrophic muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin M. H. Rumney
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Justyna Róg
- Department of Biochemistry, Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Chira
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander P. Kao
- Zeiss Global Centre, School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Rasha Al-Khalidi
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Dariusz C. Górecki
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
- Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland
- *Correspondence: Dariusz C. Górecki,
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10
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Kandasamy P, McClorey G, Shimizu M, Kothari N, Alam R, Iwamoto N, Kumarasamy J, Bommineni GR, Bezigian A, Chivatakarn O, Butler DC, Byrne M, Chwalenia K, Davies KE, Desai J, Shelke JD, Durbin AF, Ellerington R, Edwards B, Godfrey J, Hoss A, Liu F, Longo K, Lu G, Marappan S, Oieni J, Paik IH, Estabrook EP, Shivalila C, Tischbein M, Kawamoto T, Rinaldi C, Rajão-Saraiva J, Tripathi S, Yang H, Yin Y, Zhao X, Zhou C, Zhang J, Apponi L, Wood MJ, Vargeese C. Control of backbone chemistry and chirality boost oligonucleotide splice switching activity. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5443-5466. [PMID: 35061895 PMCID: PMC9178015 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Although recent regulatory approval of splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) for the treatment of neuromuscular disease such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been an advance for the splice-switching field, current SSO chemistries have shown limited clinical benefit due to poor pharmacology. To overcome limitations of existing technologies, we engineered chimeric stereopure oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate (PS) and phosphoryl guanidine-containing (PN) backbones. We demonstrate that these chimeric stereopure oligonucleotides have markedly improved pharmacology and efficacy compared with PS-modified oligonucleotides, preventing premature death and improving median survival from 49 days to at least 280 days in a dystrophic mouse model with an aggressive phenotype. These data demonstrate that chemical optimization alone can profoundly impact oligonucleotide pharmacology and highlight the potential for continued innovation around the oligonucleotide backbone. More specifically, we conclude that chimeric stereopure oligonucleotides are a promising splice-switching modality with potential for the treatment of neuromuscular and other genetic diseases impacting difficult to reach tissues such as the skeletal muscle and heart.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Graham McClorey
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Katarzyna Chwalenia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Kay E Davies
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | | | | | | | - Ruth Ellerington
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Ben Edwards
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | | | | | | | - Kenneth Longo
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA, USA
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 9DU, UK
| | | | | | - Jacopo Oieni
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Carlo Rinaldi
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 9DU, UK
| | - Joana Rajão-Saraiva
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | | | | | - Yuan Yin
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Cong Zhou
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Matthew J A Wood
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 9DU, UK
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11
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Richardson L, Wang D, Hughes R, Johnson CA, Peckham M. RNA-Seq analysis of a Pax3-expressing myoblast clone in-vitro and effect of culture surface stiffness on differentiation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2841. [PMID: 35181706 PMCID: PMC8857316 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06795-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle satellite cells cultured on soft surfaces (12 kPa) show improved differentiation than cells cultured on stiff surfaces (approximately 100 kPa). To better understand the reasons for this, we performed an RNA-Seq analysis for a single satellite cell clone (C1F) derived from the H2kb-tsA58 immortomouse, which differentiates into myotubes under tightly regulated conditions (withdrawal of ɣ-interferon, 37 °C). The largest change in overall gene expression occurred at day 1, as cells switched from proliferation to differentiation. Surprisingly, further analysis showed that proliferating C1F cells express Pax3 and not Pax7, confirmed by immunostaining, yet their subsequent differentiation into myotubes is normal, and enhanced on softer surfaces, as evidenced by significantly higher expression levels of myogenic regulatory factors, sarcomeric genes, enhanced fusion and improved myofibrillogenesis. Levels of mRNA encoding extracellular matrix structural constituents and related genes were consistently upregulated on hard surfaces, suggesting that a consequence of differentiating satellite cells on hard surfaces is that they attempt to manipulate their niche prior to differentiating. This comprehensive RNA-Seq dataset will be a useful resource for understanding Pax3 expressing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Richardson
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Dapeng Wang
- LeedsOmics, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.,Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Ruth Hughes
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Colin A Johnson
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Michelle Peckham
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
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12
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Vallecillo-Zúniga ML, Rathgeber M, Poulson D, Kartchner B, Luddington J, Gill H, Hayes S, Teynor M, Stowell CS, Arthur CM, Stowell SR, Van Ry PM. Evaluating Therapeutic Activity of Galectin-1 in Sarcolemma Repair of Skeletal Muscle. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2442:663-683. [PMID: 35320552 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2055-7_36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Galectin-1 is a small (14.5 kDa) multifunctional protein with cell-cell and cell-ECM adhesion due to interactions with the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). In two types of muscular dystrophies, this lectin protein has shown therapeutic properties, including positive regulation of skeletal muscle differentiation and regeneration. Both Duchenne and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 2B (LGMD2B) are subtypes of muscular dystrophies characterized by deficient membrane repair, muscle weakness, and eventual loss of ambulation. This chapter explains confocal techniques such as laser injury, calcium imaging, and galectin-1 localization to examine the effects of galectin-1 on membrane repair in injured LGMD2B models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew Rathgeber
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Daniel Poulson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Braden Kartchner
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Jacob Luddington
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Hailie Gill
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Spencer Hayes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Matthew Teynor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Caleb S Stowell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Connie M Arthur
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Glycomics Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sean R Stowell
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Glycomics Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pam M Van Ry
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
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13
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Jaiswal JK, Nagaraju K, Morgan J. Terence A Partridge: A career dedicated to pursuit of curiosity, mentorship, and secrets of skeletal muscle stem cells. J Neuromuscul Dis 2021; 8:S173-S179. [PMID: 34806614 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-219010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti K Jaiswal
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, 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
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer Morgan
- The Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,National Institute for Health Research, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
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14
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Hiraoka H, Shu Z, Tri Le B, Masuda K, Nakamoto K, Fangjie L, Abe N, Hashiya F, Kimura Y, Shimizu Y, Veedu RN, Abe H. Antisense Oligonucleotide Modified with Disulfide Units Induces Efficient Exon Skipping in mdx Myotubes through Enhanced Membrane Permeability and Nucleus Internalization. Chembiochem 2021; 22:3437-3442. [PMID: 34636471 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We have found that antisense oligonucleotides and siRNA molecules modified with repeat structures of disulfide units can be directly introduced into the cytoplasm and exhibit a suppressive effect on gene expression. In this study, we analyzed the mechanism of cellular uptake of these membrane-permeable oligonucleotides (MPONs). Time-course analysis by confocal microscopy showed that the uptake of MPONs from the plasma membrane to the cytoplasm reached 50 % of the total uptake in about 5 min. In addition, analysis of the plasma membrane proteins to which MPONs bind, identified several proteins, including voltage-dependent anion channel. Next, we analyzed the behavior of MPONs in the cell and found them to be abundant in the nucleus as early as 24 h after addition with the amount increasing further after 48 and 72 h. The amount of MPONs was 2.5-fold higher than that of unmodified oligonucleotides in the nucleus after 72 h. We also designed antisense oligonucleotides and evaluated the effect of MPONs on mRNA exon skipping using DMD model cells; MPONs caused exon skipping with 69 % efficiency after 72 h, which was three times higher than the rate of the control. In summary, the high capacity for intracytoplasmic and nuclear translocation of MPONs is expected to be useful for therapeutic strategies targeting exon skipping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Hiraoka
- Chemistry Department, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Zhaoma Shu
- Chemistry Department, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Bao Tri Le
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, 90 South Street Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, 8 Verdun Street, Nedlands, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Keiko Masuda
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-2-3, Furuedai, Suita, Osaka, 565-0874, Japan
| | - Kosuke Nakamoto
- Chemistry Department, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Lyu Fangjie
- Chemistry Department, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Naoko Abe
- Chemistry Department, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan.,Research Center for Materials Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Hashiya
- Research Center for Materials Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Kimura
- Chemistry Department, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Shimizu
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 6-2-3, Furuedai, Suita, Osaka, 565-0874, Japan
| | - Rakesh N Veedu
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, 90 South Street Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, 8 Verdun Street, Nedlands, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Hiroshi Abe
- Chemistry Department, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan.,Research Center for Materials Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan.,CREST (Japan) Science and Technology Agency, 7, Goban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan.,Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Tokai National Higher Education and Research System Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan
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15
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Nogami K, Maruyama Y, Sakai-Takemura F, Motohashi N, Elhussieny A, Imamura M, Miyashita S, Ogawa M, Noguchi S, Tamura Y, Kira JI, Aoki Y, Takeda S, Miyagoe-Suzuki Y. Pharmacological activation of SERCA ameliorates dystrophic phenotypes in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:1006-1019. [PMID: 33822956 PMCID: PMC8170845 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscular weakness because of the loss of dystrophin. Extracellular Ca2+ flows into the cytoplasm through membrane tears in dystrophin-deficient myofibers, which leads to muscle contracture and necrosis. Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) takes up cytosolic Ca2+ into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, but its activity is decreased in dystrophic muscle. Here, we show that an allosteric SERCA activator, CDN1163, ameliorates dystrophic phenotypes in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. The administration of CDN1163 prevented exercise-induced muscular damage and restored mitochondrial function. In addition, treatment with CDN1163 for 7 weeks enhanced muscular strength and reduced muscular degeneration and fibrosis in mdx mice. Our findings provide preclinical proof-of-concept evidence that pharmacological activation of SERCA could be a promising therapeutic strategy for DMD. Moreover, CDN1163 improved muscular strength surprisingly in wild-type mice, which may pave the new way for the treatment of muscular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken'ichiro Nogami
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yusuke Maruyama
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Gene Regulation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Fusako Sakai-Takemura
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norio Motohashi
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ahmed Elhussieny
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Michihiro Imamura
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Miyashita
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Megumu Ogawa
- Department of Neuromuscular Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medical Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Noguchi
- Department of Neuromuscular Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medical Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Clinical Development, Translational Medical Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Tamura
- Graduate School of Health and Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan.,Research Institute for Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Kira
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Aoki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Yuko Miyagoe-Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
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16
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Tone Y, Mamchaoui K, Tsoumpra MK, Hashimoto Y, Terada R, Maruyama R, Gait MJ, Arzumanov AA, McClorey G, Imamura M, Takeda S, Yokota T, Wood MJ, Mouly V, Aoki Y. Immortalized Canine Dystrophic Myoblast Cell Lines for Development of Peptide-Conjugated Splice-Switching Oligonucleotides. Nucleic Acid Ther 2021; 31:172-181. [PMID: 33567244 PMCID: PMC7997716 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2020.0907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe muscle-wasting disease caused by frameshift or nonsense mutations in the DMD gene, resulting in the loss of dystrophin from muscle membranes. Exon skipping using splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) restores the reading frame of DMD pre-mRNA by generating internally truncated but functional dystrophin protein. To potentiate effective tissue-specific targeting by functional SSOs, it is essential to perform accelerated and reliable in vitro screening-based assessment of novel oligonucleotides and drug delivery technologies, such as cell-penetrating peptides, before their in vivo pharmacokinetic and toxicity evaluation. We have established novel canine immortalized myoblast lines by transducing murine cyclin-dependent kinase-4 and human telomerase reverse transcriptase genes into myoblasts isolated from beagle-based wild-type or canine X-linked muscular dystrophy in Japan (CXMDJ) dogs. These myoblast lines exhibited improved myogenic differentiation and increased proliferation rates compared with passage-15 primary parental myoblasts, and their potential to differentiate into myotubes was maintained in later passages. Using these dystrophin-deficient immortalized myoblast lines, we demonstrate that a novel cell-penetrating peptide (Pip8b2)-conjugated SSO markedly improved multiexon skipping activity compared with the respective naked phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers. In vitro screening using immortalized canine cell lines will provide a basis for further pharmacological studies on drug delivery tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichiro Tone
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
- Discovery Research Laboratories in Tsukuba, Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd., Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kamel Mamchaoui
- Center of Research in Myology, Sorbonne University, INSERM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Maria K. Tsoumpra
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Reiko Terada
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Rika Maruyama
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Michael J. Gait
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrey A. Arzumanov
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Graham McClorey
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Michihiro Imamura
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Shin'ichi Takeda
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Yokota
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Matthew J.A. Wood
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Harrington Rare Disease Centre, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent Mouly
- Center of Research in Myology, Sorbonne University, INSERM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Yoshitsugu Aoki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
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17
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Ran N, Lin C, Leng L, Han G, Geng M, Wu Y, Bittner S, Moulton HM, Yin H. MOTS-c promotes phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer uptake and efficacy in dystrophic mice. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e12993. [PMID: 33337582 PMCID: PMC7863382 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202012993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide (AO)-mediated exon-skipping therapies show promise in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a devastating muscular disease caused by frame-disrupting mutations in the DMD gene. However, insufficient systemic delivery remains a hurdle to clinical deployment. Here, we demonstrate that MOTS-c, a mitochondria-derived bioactive peptide, with an intrinsic muscle-targeting property, augmented glycolytic flux and energy production capacity of dystrophic muscles in vitro and in vivo, resulting in enhanced phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) uptake and activity in mdx mice. Long-term repeated administration of MOTS-c (500 μg) and PMO at the dose of 12.5 mg/kg/week for 3 weeks followed by 12.5 mg/kg/month for 3 months (PMO-M) induced therapeutic levels of dystrophin expression in peripheral muscles, with up to 25-fold increase in diaphragm of mdx mice over PMO alone. PMO-M improved muscle function and pathologies in mdx mice without detectable toxicity. Our results demonstrate that MOTS-c enables enhanced PMO uptake and activity in dystrophic muscles by providing energy and may have therapeutic implications for exon-skipping therapeutics in DMD and other energy-deficient disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ran
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases & The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics &Department of Cell BiologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Caorui Lin
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases & The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics &Department of Cell BiologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Ling Leng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases & The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics &Department of Cell BiologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Gang Han
- School of Medical LaboratoryTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Mengyuan Geng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases & The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics &Department of Cell BiologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Yingjie Wu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases & The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics &Department of Cell BiologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Scott Bittner
- Biomedical SciencesCollege of Veterinary MedicineOregon State UniversityCorvallisORUSA
| | - Hong M Moulton
- Biomedical SciencesCollege of Veterinary MedicineOregon State UniversityCorvallisORUSA
| | - HaiFang Yin
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases & The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics &Department of Cell BiologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
- School of Medical LaboratoryTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
- Department of NeurologyTianjin Medical University General HospitalTianjinChina
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18
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Abstract
The resident stem cell for skeletal muscle is the satellite cell. On the 50th anniversary of its discovery in 1961, we described the history of skeletal muscle research and the seminal findings made during the first 20 years in the life of the satellite cell (Scharner and Zammit 2011, doi: 10.1186/2044-5040-1-28). These studies established the satellite cell as the source of myoblasts for growth and regeneration of skeletal muscle. Now on the 60th anniversary, we highlight breakthroughs in the second phase of satellite cell research from 1980 to 2000. These include technical innovations such as isolation of primary satellite cells and viable muscle fibres complete with satellite cells in their niche, together with generation of many useful reagents including genetically modified organisms and antibodies still in use today. New methodologies were combined with description of endogenous satellite cells markers, notably Pax7. Discovery of the muscle regulatory factors Myf5, MyoD, myogenin, and MRF4 in the late 1980s revolutionized understanding of the control of both developmental and regerenative myogenesis. Emergence of genetic lineage markers facilitated identification of satellite cells in situ, and also empowered transplantation studies to examine satellite cell function. Finally, satellite cell heterogeneity and the supportive role of non-satellite cell types in muscle regeneration were described. These major advances in methodology and in understanding satellite cell biology provided further foundations for the dramatic escalation of work on muscle stem cells in the 21st century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise N. Engquist
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Peter S. Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- Correspondence to: Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, Guy’s Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK. E-mail:
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19
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Jahnke VE, Peterson JM, Van Der Meulen JH, Boehler J, Uaesoontrachoon K, Johnston HK, Defour A, Phadke A, Yu Q, Jaiswal JK, Nagaraju K. Mitochondrial dysfunction and consequences in calpain-3-deficient muscle. Skelet Muscle 2020; 10:37. [PMID: 33308300 PMCID: PMC7730798 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-020-00254-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonsense or loss-of-function mutations in the non-lysosomal cysteine protease calpain-3 result in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A). While calpain-3 is implicated in muscle cell differentiation, sarcomere formation, and muscle cytoskeletal remodeling, the physiological basis for LGMD2A has remained elusive. METHODS Cell growth, gene expression profiling, and mitochondrial content and function were analyzed using muscle and muscle cell cultures established from healthy and calpain-3-deficient mice. Calpain-3-deficient mice were also treated with PPAR-delta agonist (GW501516) to assess mitochondrial function and membrane repair. The unpaired t test was used to assess the significance of the differences observed between the two groups or treatments. ANOVAs were used to assess significance over time. RESULTS We find that calpain-3 deficiency causes mitochondrial dysfunction in the muscles and myoblasts. Calpain-3-deficient myoblasts showed increased proliferation, and their gene expression profile showed aberrant mitochondrial biogenesis. Myotube gene expression analysis further revealed altered lipid metabolism in calpain-3-deficient muscle. Mitochondrial defects were validated in vitro and in vivo. We used GW501516 to improve mitochondrial biogenesis in vivo in 7-month-old calpain-3-deficient mice. This treatment improved satellite cell activity as indicated by increased MyoD and Pax7 mRNA expression. It also decreased muscle fatigability and reduced serum creatine kinase levels. The decreased mitochondrial function also impaired sarcolemmal repair in the calpain-3-deficient skeletal muscle. Improving mitochondrial activity by acute pyruvate treatment improved sarcolemmal repair. CONCLUSION Our results provide evidence that calpain-3 deficiency in the skeletal muscle is associated with poor mitochondrial biogenesis and function resulting in poor sarcolemmal repair. Addressing this deficit by drugs that improve mitochondrial activity offers new therapeutic avenues for LGMD2A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa E Jahnke
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Jennifer M Peterson
- School of Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Jack H Van Der Meulen
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Jessica Boehler
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Kitipong Uaesoontrachoon
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Helen K Johnston
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Aurelia Defour
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Aditi Phadke
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Qing Yu
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Jyoti K Jaiswal
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA.
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C., USA.
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, SUNY Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA.
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20
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Shu C, Parfenova L, Mokhonova E, Collado JR, Damoiseaux R, Campagna J, John V, Crosbie RH. High-throughput screening identifies modulators of sarcospan that stabilize muscle cells and exhibit activity in the mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Skelet Muscle 2020; 10:26. [PMID: 32948250 PMCID: PMC7499884 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-020-00244-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a degenerative muscle disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Loss of dystrophin prevents the formation of a critical connection between the muscle cell membrane and the extracellular matrix. Overexpression of sarcospan (SSPN) in the mouse model of DMD restores the membrane connection and reduces disease severity, making SSPN a promising therapeutic target for pharmacological upregulation. METHODS Using a previously described cell-based promoter reporter assay of SSPN gene expression (hSSPN-EGFP), we conducted high-throughput screening on libraries of over 200,000 curated small molecules to identify SSPN modulators. The hits were validated in both hSSPN-EGFP and hSSPN-luciferase reporter cells. Hit selection was conducted on dystrophin-deficient mouse and human myotubes with assessments of (1) SSPN gene expression using quantitative PCR and (2) SSPN protein expression using immunoblotting and an ELISA. A membrane stability assay using osmotic shock was used to validate the functional effects of treatment followed by cell surface biotinylation to label cell surface proteins. Dystrophin-deficient mdx mice were treated with compound, and muscle was subjected to quantitative PCR to assess SSPN gene expression. RESULTS We identified and validated lead compounds that increased SSPN gene and protein expression in dystrophin-deficient mouse and human muscle cells. The lead compound OT-9 increased cell membrane localization of compensatory laminin-binding adhesion complexes and improved membrane stability in DMD myotubes. We demonstrated that the membrane stabilizing benefit is dependent on SSPN. Intramuscular injection of OT-9 in the mouse model of DMD increased SSPN gene expression. CONCLUSIONS This study identifies a pharmacological approach to treat DMD and sets the path for the development of SSPN-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Shu
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Liubov Parfenova
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Ekaterina Mokhonova
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Judd R Collado
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Robert Damoiseaux
- Department of Molecular and Medicinal Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jesus Campagna
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Drug Discovery Lab, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Varghese John
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Drug Discovery Lab, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rachelle H Crosbie
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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21
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Vallecillo-Zúniga ML, Rathgeber MF, Poulson PD, Hayes S, Luddington JS, Gill HN, Teynor M, Kartchner BC, Valdoz J, Stowell C, Markham AR, Arthur C, Stowell S, Van Ry PM. Treatment with galectin-1 improves myogenic potential and membrane repair in dysferlin-deficient models. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238441. [PMID: 32881965 PMCID: PMC7470338 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B) is caused by mutations in the dysferlin gene, resulting in non-functional dysferlin, a key protein found in muscle membrane. Treatment options available for patients are chiefly palliative in nature and focus on maintaining ambulation. Our hypothesis is that galectin-1 (Gal-1), a soluble carbohydrate binding protein, increases membrane repair capacity and myogenic potential of dysferlin-deficient muscle cells and muscle fibers. To test this hypothesis, we used recombinant human galectin-1 (rHsGal-1) to treat dysferlin-deficient models. We show that rHsGal-1 treatments of 48 h-72 h promotes myogenic maturation as indicated through improvements in size, myotube alignment, myoblast migration, and membrane repair capacity in dysferlin-deficient myotubes and myofibers. Furthermore, increased membrane repair capacity of dysferlin-deficient myotubes, independent of increased myogenic maturation is apparent and co-localizes on the membrane of myotubes after a brief 10min treatment with labeled rHsGal-1. We show the carbohydrate recognition domain of Gal-1 is necessary for observed membrane repair. Improvements in membrane repair after only a 10 min rHsGal-1treatment suggest mechanical stabilization of the membrane due to interaction with glycosylated membrane bound, ECM or yet to be identified ligands through the CDR domain of Gal-1. rHsGal-1 shows calcium-independent membrane repair in dysferlin-deficient and wild-type myotubes and myofibers. Together our novel results reveal Gal-1 mediates disease pathologies through both changes in integral myogenic protein expression and mechanical membrane stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary L. Vallecillo-Zúniga
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
| | - Matthew F. Rathgeber
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
| | - P. Daniel Poulson
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
| | - Spencer Hayes
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
| | - Jacob S. Luddington
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
| | - Hailie N. Gill
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
| | - Matthew Teynor
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
| | - Braden C. Kartchner
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
| | - Jonard Valdoz
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
| | - Caleb Stowell
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
| | - Ashley R. Markham
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
| | - Connie Arthur
- Center for Apheresis, Emory Hospital, Laboratory and Blood Bank, Emory Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital, Center for Transfusion and Cellular Therapies, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Sean Stowell
- Center for Apheresis, Emory Hospital, Laboratory and Blood Bank, Emory Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital, Center for Transfusion and Cellular Therapies, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Pam M. Van Ry
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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22
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Li D, Adams AM, Johnsen RD, Fletcher S, Wilton SD. Morpholino Oligomer-Induced Dystrophin Isoforms to Map the Functional Domains in the Dystrophin Protein. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2020; 22:263-72. [PMID: 33230432 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Dystrophin plays a crucial role in maintaining sarcolemma stability during muscle contractions, and mutations that prevent the expression of a functional protein cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Antisense oligonucleotide-mediated manipulation of pre-messenger RNA splicing to bypass Duchenne-causing mutations and restore functional dystrophin expression has entered the clinic for the most common DMD mutations. The rationale of "exon skipping" is based upon genotype-phenotype correlations observed in Becker muscular dystrophy, a milder allelic disorder generally characterized by in-frame deletions and internally truncated but semi-functional dystrophin isoforms. However, there is a lack of genotype-phenotype correlations downstream of DMD exon 55, as deletions in this region are rare and most single exon deletions would disrupt the reading frame. Consequently, the amenability of mutations in this region of the DMD gene to exon skipping strategies remains unknown. Here, we induced "Becker muscular dystrophy-like" in-frame dystrophin isoforms in vivo by intraperitoneal injection of peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers targeting selected exons. The dystrophin isoform encoded by the transcript lacking exons 56+57 appears to be more functional than that encoded by the 58+59-deleted transcript, as determined by higher dystrophin expression, stabilized β-dystroglycan, and less severe dystrophic pathology, indicating some potential for the strategy to address Duchenne-causing mutations affecting these exons.
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23
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Bittel DC, Chandra G, Tirunagri LMS, Deora AB, Medikayala S, Scheffer L, Defour A, Jaiswal JK. Annexin A2 Mediates Dysferlin Accumulation and Muscle Cell Membrane Repair. Cells 2020; 9:cells9091919. [PMID: 32824910 PMCID: PMC7565960 DOI: 10.3390/cells9091919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscle cell plasma membrane is frequently damaged by mechanical activity, and its repair requires the membrane protein dysferlin. We previously identified that, similar to dysferlin deficit, lack of annexin A2 (AnxA2) also impairs repair of skeletal myofibers. Here, we have studied the mechanism of AnxA2-mediated muscle cell membrane repair in cultured muscle cells. We find that injury-triggered increase in cytosolic calcium causes AnxA2 to bind dysferlin and accumulate on dysferlin-containing vesicles as well as with dysferlin at the site of membrane injury. AnxA2 accumulates on the injured plasma membrane in cholesterol-rich lipid microdomains and requires Src kinase activity and the presence of cholesterol. Lack of AnxA2 and its failure to translocate to the plasma membrane, both prevent calcium-triggered dysferlin translocation to the plasma membrane and compromise repair of the injured plasma membrane. Our studies identify that Anx2 senses calcium increase and injury-triggered change in plasma membrane cholesterol to facilitate dysferlin delivery and repair of the injured plasma membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C. Bittel
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, 111 Michigan Av NW, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (D.C.B.); (G.C.); (S.M.); (L.S.); (A.D.)
| | - Goutam Chandra
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, 111 Michigan Av NW, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (D.C.B.); (G.C.); (S.M.); (L.S.); (A.D.)
| | - Laxmi M. S. Tirunagri
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Arun B. Deora
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Sushma Medikayala
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, 111 Michigan Av NW, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (D.C.B.); (G.C.); (S.M.); (L.S.); (A.D.)
| | - Luana Scheffer
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, 111 Michigan Av NW, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (D.C.B.); (G.C.); (S.M.); (L.S.); (A.D.)
| | - Aurelia Defour
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, 111 Michigan Av NW, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (D.C.B.); (G.C.); (S.M.); (L.S.); (A.D.)
| | - Jyoti K. Jaiswal
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, 111 Michigan Av NW, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (D.C.B.); (G.C.); (S.M.); (L.S.); (A.D.)
- Department of Genomics and Precision medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(202)476-6456; Fax: +1-(202)476-6014
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24
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Le BT, Kosbar TR, Veedu RN. Novel Disulfide-Bridged Bioresponsive Antisense Oligonucleotide Induces Efficient Splice Modulation in Muscle Myotubes in Vitro. ACS Omega 2020; 5:18035-18039. [PMID: 32743177 PMCID: PMC7391367 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c01463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Splice-modulating antisense therapy has shown tremendous potential in therapeutic development in recent years with four FDA-approved antisense drugs since 2016. However, an efficient and nontoxic antisense oligonucleotide (AO) delivery system still remains as a major obstacle in nucleic acid therapeutics field. Vitamin-E (α-tocopherol) is an essential dietary requirement for human body. This fat-soluble compound is one of the most important antioxidants which involves in numerous biological pathways. In this study, for the first time, we explored the scope of using α-tocopherol-conjugated bioresponsive AOs to induce splice modulation in mouse muscle myotubes in vitro. Our results showed that the bioresponsive construct efficiently internalized into the cell nucleus and induced exon 23 skipping in mdx mouse myotubes. Based on our exciting new results, we firmly believe that our findings could potentially benefit toward establishing a delivery approach to advance the field of splice-modulating AO therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao T. Le
- Centre
for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia
- Perron
Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Ground/8 Verdun Street, Nedlands, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Tamer R. Kosbar
- Centre
for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia
- Perron
Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Ground/8 Verdun Street, Nedlands, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Rakesh N. Veedu
- Centre
for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia
- Perron
Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Ground/8 Verdun Street, Nedlands, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- . Phone: +61 8 9360 2803
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25
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Bossone KA, Ellis JA, Holaska JM. Histone acetyltransferase inhibition rescues differentiation of emerin-deficient myogenic progenitors. Muscle Nerve 2020; 62:128-136. [PMID: 32304242 DOI: 10.1002/mus.26892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is a disease characterized by skeletal muscle wasting, major tendon contractures, and cardiac conduction defects. Mutations in the gene encoding emerin cause EDMD1. Our previous studies suggested that emerin activation of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) to reduce histone 4-lysine 5 (H4K5) acetylation (ac) is important for myogenic differentiation. METHODS Pharmacological inhibitors (Nu9056, L002) of histone acetyltransferases targeting acetylated H4K5 were used to test whether increased acetylated H4K5 was responsible for the impaired differentiation seen in emerin-deficient myogenic progenitors. RESULTS Nu9056 and L002 rescued impaired differentiation in emerin deficiency. SRT1720, which inhibits the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)+ -dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), failed to rescue myotube formation. DISCUSSION We conclude that emerin regulation of HDAC3 activity to affect H4K5 acetylation dynamics is important for myogenic differentiation. Targeting H4K5ac dynamics represents a potential new strategy for ameliorating the skeletal muscle wasting seen in EDMD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Bossone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Joseph A Ellis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - James M Holaska
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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26
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Malerba A, Roth F, Harish P, Dhiab J, Lu-Nguyen N, Cappellari O, Jarmin S, Mahoudeau A, Ythier V, Lainé J, Negroni E, Abgueguen E, Simonelig M, Guedat P, Mouly V, Butler-Browne G, Voisset C, Dickson G, Trollet C. Pharmacological modulation of the ER stress response ameliorates oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:1694-1708. [PMID: 30649389 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare late onset genetic disease leading to ptosis, dysphagia and proximal limb muscles at later stages. A short abnormal (GCN) triplet expansion in the polyA-binding protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1) gene leads to PABPN1-containing aggregates in the muscles of OPMD patients. Here we demonstrate that treating mice with guanabenz acetate (GA), an FDA-approved antihypertensive drug, reduces the size and number of nuclear aggregates, improves muscle force, protects myofibers from the pathology-derived turnover and decreases fibrosis. GA targets various cell processes, including the unfolded protein response (UPR), which acts to attenuate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We demonstrate that GA increases both the phosphorylation of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α subunit and the splicing of Xbp1, key components of the UPR. Altogether these data show that modulation of protein folding regulation is beneficial for OPMD and promote the further development of GA or its derivatives for treatment of OPMD in humans. Furthermore, they support the recent evidences that treating ER stress could be therapeutically relevant in other more common proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Malerba
- School of Biological Sciences, Centers of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, TW20 OEX Surrey, UK
| | - Fanny Roth
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Pradeep Harish
- School of Biological Sciences, Centers of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, TW20 OEX Surrey, UK
| | - Jamila Dhiab
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Ngoc Lu-Nguyen
- School of Biological Sciences, Centers of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, TW20 OEX Surrey, UK
| | - Ornella Cappellari
- Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Susan Jarmin
- School of Biological Sciences, Centers of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, TW20 OEX Surrey, UK
| | - Alexandrine Mahoudeau
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Victor Ythier
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Jeanne Lainé
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Elisa Negroni
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | | | - Martine Simonelig
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS UMR9002-University of Montpellier, mRNA Regulation and Development, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Vincent Mouly
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Gillian Butler-Browne
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Cécile Voisset
- UMR1078 'Genetic, Functional Genomic and Biotechnologies', INSERM, EFS, Brest University, IBSAM, Brest, France
| | - George Dickson
- School of Biological Sciences, Centers of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, TW20 OEX Surrey, UK
| | - Capucine Trollet
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
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27
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Shu C, Kaxon-Rupp AN, Collado JR, Damoiseaux R, Crosbie RH. Development of a high-throughput screen to identify small molecule enhancers of sarcospan for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Skelet Muscle 2019; 9:32. [PMID: 31831063 PMCID: PMC6907331 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-019-0218-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by loss of sarcolemma connection to the extracellular matrix. Transgenic overexpression of the transmembrane protein sarcospan (SSPN) in the DMD mdx mouse model significantly reduces disease pathology by restoring membrane adhesion. Identifying SSPN-based therapies has the potential to benefit patients with DMD and other forms of muscular dystrophies caused by deficits in muscle cell adhesion. METHODS Standard cloning methods were used to generate C2C12 myoblasts stably transfected with a fluorescence reporter for human SSPN promoter activity. Assay development and screening were performed in a core facility using liquid handlers and imaging systems specialized for use with a 384-well microplate format. Drug-treated cells were analyzed for target gene expression using quantitative PCR and target protein expression using immunoblotting. RESULTS We investigated the gene expression profiles of SSPN and its associated proteins during myoblast differentiation into myotubes, revealing an increase in expression after 3 days of differentiation. We created C2C12 muscle cells expressing an EGFP reporter for SSPN promoter activity and observed a comparable increase in reporter levels during differentiation. Assay conditions for high-throughput screening were optimized for a 384-well microplate format and a high-content imager for the visualization of reporter levels. We conducted a screen of 3200 compounds and identified seven hits, which include an overrepresentation of L-type calcium channel antagonists, suggesting that SSPN gene activity is sensitive to calcium. Further validation of a select hit revealed that the calcium channel inhibitor felodipine increased SSPN transcript and protein levels in both wild-type and dystrophin-deficient myotubes, without increasing differentiation. CONCLUSIONS We developed a stable muscle cell line containing the promoter region of the human SSPN protein fused to a fluorescent reporter. Using the reporter cells, we created and validated a scalable, cell-based assay that is able to identify compounds that increase SSPN promoter reporter, transcript, and protein levels in wild-type and dystrophin-deficient muscle cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Shu
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.,Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.,Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Ariana N Kaxon-Rupp
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Judd R Collado
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Robert Damoiseaux
- Department of Molecular and Medicinal Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.,California NanoSystems Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rachelle H Crosbie
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA. .,Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. .,Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA. .,Department of Neurology David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive East, Terasaki Life Sciences Building, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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28
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Rehorst WA, Thelen MP, Nolte H, Türk C, Cirak S, Peterson JM, Wong GW, Wirth B, Krüger M, Winter D, Kye MJ. Muscle regulates mTOR dependent axonal local translation in motor neurons via CTRP3 secretion: implications for a neuromuscular disorder, spinal muscular atrophy. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:154. [PMID: 31615574 PMCID: PMC6794869 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0806-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder, which causes dysfunction/loss of lower motor neurons and muscle weakness as well as atrophy. While SMA is primarily considered as a motor neuron disease, recent data suggests that survival motor neuron (SMN) deficiency in muscle causes intrinsic defects. We systematically profiled secreted proteins from control and SMN deficient muscle cells with two combined metabolic labeling methods and mass spectrometry. From the screening, we found lower levels of C1q/TNF-related protein 3 (CTRP3) in the SMA muscle secretome and confirmed that CTRP3 levels are indeed reduced in muscle tissues and serum of an SMA mouse model. We identified that CTRP3 regulates neuronal protein synthesis including SMN via mTOR pathway. Furthermore, CTRP3 enhances axonal outgrowth and protein synthesis rate, which are well-known impaired processes in SMA motor neurons. Our data revealed a new molecular mechanism by which muscles regulate the physiology of motor neurons via secreted molecules. Dysregulation of this mechanism contributes to the pathophysiology of SMA.
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29
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Aung-Htut MT, Comerford I, Johnsen R, Foyle K, Fletcher S, Wilton SD. Reduction of integrin alpha 4 activity through splice modulating antisense oligonucleotides. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12994. [PMID: 31506448 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49385-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
With recent approvals of antisense oligonucleotides as therapeutics, there is an increasing interest in expanding the application of these compounds to many other diseases. Our laboratory focuses on developing therapeutic splice modulating antisense oligonucleotides to treat diseases potentially amendable to intervention during pre-mRNA processing, and here we report the use of oligomers to down-regulate integrin alpha 4 protein levels. Over one hundred antisense oligonucleotides were designed to induce skipping of individual exons of the ITGA4 transcript and thereby reducing protein expression. Integrin alpha 4-mediated activities were evaluated in human dermal fibroblasts and Jurkat cells, an immortalised human T lymphocyte cell line. Peptide conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino antisense oligomers targeting ITGA4 were also assessed for their effect in delaying disease progression in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mouse model of multiple sclerosis. With the promising results in ameliorating disease progression, we are optimistic that the candidate oligomer may also be applicable to many other diseases associated with integrin alpha 4 mediated inflammation. This highly specific strategy to down-regulate protein expression through interfering with normal exon selection during pre-mRNA processing should be applicable to many other gene targets that undergo splicing during expression.
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Gomez JP, Tresset G, Pichon C, Midoux P. Improved histidinylated lPEI polyplexes for skeletal muscle cells transfection. Int J Pharm 2019; 559:58-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Róg J, Oksiejuk A, Gosselin MRF, Brutkowski W, Dymkowska D, Nowak N, Robson S, Górecki DC, Zabłocki K. Dystrophic mdx mouse myoblasts exhibit elevated ATP/UTP-evoked metabotropic purinergic responses and alterations in calcium signalling. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1865:1138-1151. [PMID: 30684640 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pathophysiology of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is still elusive. Although progressive wasting of muscle fibres is a cause of muscle deterioration, there is a growing body of evidence that the triggering effects of DMD mutation are present at the earlier stage of muscle development and affect myogenic cells. Among these abnormalities, elevated activity of P2X7 receptors and increased store-operated calcium entry myoblasts have been identified in mdx mouse. Here, the metabotropic extracellular ATP/UTP-evoked response has been investigated. Sensitivity to antagonist, effect of gene silencing and cellular localization studies linked these elevated purinergic responses to the increased expression of P2Y2 but not P2Y4 receptors. These alterations have physiological implications as shown by reduced motility of mdx myoblasts upon treatment with P2Y2 agonist. However, the ultimate increase in intracellular calcium in dystrophic cells reflected complex alterations of calcium homeostasis identified in the RNA seq data and with significant modulation confirmed at the protein level, including a decrease of Gq11 subunit α, plasma membrane calcium ATP-ase, inositol-2,4,5-trisphosphate-receptor proteins and elevation of phospholipase Cβ, sarco-endoplamatic reticulum calcium ATP-ase and sodium‑calcium exchanger. In conclusion, whereas specificity of dystrophic myoblast excitation by extracellular nucleotides is determined by particular receptor overexpression, the intensity of such altered response depends on relative activities of downstream calcium regulators that are also affected by Dmd mutations. Furthermore, these phenotypic effects of DMD emerge as early as in undifferentiated muscle. Therefore, the pathogenesis of DMD and the relevance of current therapeutic approaches may need re-evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Róg
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Oksiejuk
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maxime R F Gosselin
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Wojciech Brutkowski
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Dymkowska
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Nowak
- Laboratory of Imaging Tissue Structure and Function, Neurobiology Center Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Samuel Robson
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Dariusz C Górecki
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK; Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Zabłocki
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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Antes TJ, Middleton RC, Luther KM, Ijichi T, Peck KA, Liu WJ, Valle J, Echavez AK, Marbán E. Targeting extracellular vesicles to injured tissue using membrane cloaking and surface display. J Nanobiotechnology 2018; 16:61. [PMID: 30165851 PMCID: PMC6116387 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-018-0388-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and exosomes are nano-sized, membrane-bound vesicles shed by most eukaryotic cells studied to date. EVs play key signaling roles in cellular development, cancer metastasis, immune modulation and tissue regeneration. Attempts to modify exosomes to increase their targeting efficiency to specific tissue types are still in their infancy. Here we describe an EV membrane anchoring platform termed "cloaking" to directly embed tissue-specific antibodies or homing peptides on EV membrane surfaces ex vivo for enhanced vesicle uptake in cells of interest. The cloaking system consists of three components: DMPE phospholipid membrane anchor, polyethylene glycol spacer and a conjugated streptavidin platform molecule, to which any biotinylated molecule can be coupled for EV decoration. RESULTS We demonstrate the utility of membrane surface engineering and biodistribution tracking with this technology along with targeting EVs for enhanced uptake in cardiac fibroblasts, myoblasts and ischemic myocardium using combinations of fluorescent tags, tissue-targeting antibodies and homing peptide surface cloaks. We compare cloaking to a complementary approach, surface display, in which parental cells are engineered to secrete EVs with fusion surface targeting proteins. CONCLUSIONS EV targeting can be enhanced both by cloaking and by surface display; the former entails chemical modification of preformed EVs, while the latter requires genetic modification of the parent cells. Reduction to practice of the cloaking approach, using several different EV surface modifications to target distinct cells and tissues, supports the notion of cloaking as a platform technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis J. Antes
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Davis Building, Los Angeles, CA 90048 USA
| | - Ryan C. Middleton
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Davis Building, Los Angeles, CA 90048 USA
| | - Kristin M. Luther
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Davis Building, Los Angeles, CA 90048 USA
| | - Takeshi Ijichi
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Davis Building, Los Angeles, CA 90048 USA
| | - Kiel A. Peck
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Davis Building, Los Angeles, CA 90048 USA
| | - Weixin Jane Liu
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Davis Building, Los Angeles, CA 90048 USA
| | - Jackie Valle
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Davis Building, Los Angeles, CA 90048 USA
| | - Antonio K. Echavez
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Davis Building, Los Angeles, CA 90048 USA
| | - Eduardo Marbán
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Davis Building, Los Angeles, CA 90048 USA
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Hoffmann K, Milech N, Juraja SM, Cunningham PT, Stone SR, Francis RW, Anastasas M, Hall CM, Heinrich T, Bogdawa HM, Winslow S, Scobie MN, Dewhurst RE, Florez L, Ong F, Kerfoot M, Champain D, Adams AM, Fletcher S, Viola HM, Hool LC, Connor T, Longville BAC, Tan YF, Kroeger K, Morath V, Weiss GA, Skerra A, Hopkins RM, Watt PM. A platform for discovery of functional cell-penetrating peptides for efficient multi-cargo intracellular delivery. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12538. [PMID: 30135446 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30790-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) offer great potential to deliver therapeutic molecules to previously inaccessible intracellular targets. However, many CPPs are inefficient and often leave their attached cargo stranded in the cell’s endosome. We report a versatile platform for the isolation of peptides delivering a wide range of cargos into the cytoplasm of cells. We used this screening platform to identify multiple “Phylomer” CPPs, derived from bacterial and viral genomes. These peptides are amenable to conventional sequence optimization and engineering approaches for cell targeting and half-life extension. We demonstrate potent, functional delivery of protein, peptide, and nucleic acid analog cargos into cells using Phylomer CPPs. We validate in vivo activity in the cytoplasm, through successful transport of an oligonucleotide therapeutic fused to a Phylomer CPP in a disease model for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy. This report thus establishes a discovery platform for identifying novel, functional CPPs to expand the delivery landscape of druggable intracellular targets for biological therapeutics.
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Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) hold great promise for therapeutic splice-switching correction in many genetic diseases and in particular for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), where AONs can be used to reframe the dystrophin transcript and give rise to a partially deleted but yet functional dystrophin protein. Many different chemistries of AONs can be used for splice switching modulation, and some of them have been evaluated in clinical trials for DMD. However, despite advances in AON chemistry and design, systemic use of AONs is limited due to poor tissue uptake, and sufficient therapeutic efficacy is difficult to achieve. Therefore, there is still a critical need to develop efficient AONs able to restore the expression of dystrophin in all relevant tissues and international efforts are currently on going to develop new compounds or alternative chemistries with higher therapeutic potential. Here, we describe the methods to evaluate the potency of antisense oligonucleotides, and in particular of tricyclo-DNA (tcDNA)-AONs, a novel class of AONs which displays unique pharmacological properties and unprecedented uptake in many tissues after systemic administration. We focus on the most widely used mouse model for DMD, the mdx mouse and detail methods to analyze the skipping of the mouse exon 23 both in vitro in H2K mdx cells and in vivo in the mdx mouse model.
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35
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Perkins KJ, Davies KE. Alternative utrophin mRNAs contribute to phenotypic differences between dystrophin-deficient mice and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:1856-1869. [PMID: 29772070 PMCID: PMC6032923 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal disorder caused by absence of functional dystrophin protein. Compensation in dystrophin‐deficient (mdx) mice may be achieved by overexpression of its fetal paralogue, utrophin. Strategies to increase utrophin levels by stimulating promoter activity using small compounds are therefore a promising pharmacological approach. Here, we characterise similarities and differences existing within the mouse and human utrophin locus to assist in high‐throughput screening for potential utrophin modulator drugs. We identified five novel 5′‐utrophin isoforms (A′,B′,C,D and F) in adult and embryonic tissue. As the more efficient utrophin‐based response in mdx skeletal muscle appears to involve independent transcriptional activation of conserved, myogenic isoforms (A′ and F), elevating their paralogues in DMD patients is an encouraging therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly J Perkins
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, UK.,Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Kay E Davies
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, UK
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36
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André LM, Ausems CRM, Wansink DG, Wieringa B. Abnormalities in Skeletal Muscle Myogenesis, Growth, and Regeneration in Myotonic Dystrophy. Front Neurol 2018; 9:368. [PMID: 29892259 PMCID: PMC5985300 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and 2 (DM2) are autosomal dominant degenerative neuromuscular disorders characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, atrophy, and myotonia with progeroid features. Although both DM1 and DM2 are characterized by skeletal muscle dysfunction and also share other clinical features, the diseases differ in the muscle groups that are affected. In DM1, distal muscles are mainly affected, whereas in DM2 problems are mostly found in proximal muscles. In addition, manifestation in DM1 is generally more severe, with possible congenital or childhood-onset of disease and prominent CNS involvement. DM1 and DM2 are caused by expansion of (CTG•CAG)n and (CCTG•CAGG)n repeats in the 3' non-coding region of DMPK and in intron 1 of CNBP, respectively, and in overlapping antisense genes. This critical review will focus on the pleiotropic problems that occur during development, growth, regeneration, and aging of skeletal muscle in patients who inherited these expansions. The current best-accepted idea is that most muscle symptoms can be explained by pathomechanistic effects of repeat expansion on RNA-mediated pathways. However, aberrations in DNA replication and transcription of the DM loci or in protein translation and proteome homeostasis could also affect the control of proliferation and differentiation of muscle progenitor cells or the maintenance and physiological integrity of muscle fibers during a patient's lifetime. Here, we will discuss these molecular and cellular processes and summarize current knowledge about the role of embryonic and adult muscle-resident stem cells in growth, homeostasis, regeneration, and premature aging of healthy and diseased muscle tissue. Of particular interest is that also progenitor cells from extramuscular sources, such as pericytes and mesoangioblasts, can participate in myogenic differentiation. We will examine the potential of all these types of cells in the application of regenerative medicine for muscular dystrophies and evaluate new possibilities for their use in future therapy of DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurène M André
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - C Rosanne M Ausems
- Department of Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Derick G Wansink
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Bé Wieringa
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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37
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Janin A, Bauer D, Ratti F, Valla C, Bertrand A, Christin E, Chopin E, Streichenberger N, Bonne G, Gache V, Cohen T, Méjat A. SMAD6 overexpression leads to accelerated myogenic differentiation of LMNA mutated cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5618. [PMID: 29618840 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23918-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
LMNA gene encodes lamins A and C, two major components of the nuclear lamina, a network of intermediate filaments underlying the inner nuclear membrane. Most of LMNA mutations are associated with cardiac and/or skeletal muscles defects. Muscle laminopathies include Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy, Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 1B, LMNA-related Congenital Muscular Dystrophy and Dilated Cardiomyopathy with conduction defects. To identify potential alterations in signaling pathways regulating muscle differentiation in LMNA-mutated myoblasts, we used a previously described model of conditionally immortalized murine myoblasts: H-2K cell lines. Comparing gene expression profiles in wild-type and Lmna∆8–11 H-2K myoblasts, we identified two major alterations in the BMP (Bone Morphogenetic Protein) pathway: Bmp4 downregulation and Smad6 overexpression. We demonstrated that these impairments lead to Lmna∆8–11 myoblasts premature differentiation and can be rescued by downregulating Smad6 expression. Finally, we showed that BMP4 pathway defects are also present in myoblasts from human patients carrying different heterozygous LMNA mutations.
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38
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Kokil GR, Veedu RN, Le BT, Ramm GA, Parekh HS. Self-assembling asymmetric peptide-dendrimer micelles - a platform for effective and versatile in vitro nucleic acid delivery. Sci Rep 2018; 8:4832. [PMID: 29556057 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22902-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advancements in the development of high generation cationic-dendrimer systems for delivery of nucleic acid-based therapeutics, commercially available chemical agents suffer from major drawbacks such as cytotoxicity while being laborious and costly to synthesize. To overcome the aforementioned limitations, low-generation cationic peptide asymmetric dendrimers with side arm lipid (cholic and decanoic acid) conjugation were designed, synthesized and systematically screened for their ability to self-assemble into micelles using dynamic light scattering. Cytotoxicity profiling revealed that our entire asymmetric peptide dendrimer library when trialled alone, or as asymmetric dendrimer micelle-nucleic acid complexes, were non-cytotoxic across a broad concentration range. Further, the delivery efficiency of asymmetric peptide dendrimers in H-4-II-E (rat hepatoma), H2K (mdx mouse myoblast), and DAOY (human medulloblastoma) cells demonstrated that cholic acid-conjugated asymmetric dendrimers possess far superior delivery efficiency when compared to the commercial standards, Lipofectamine 2000 or Lipofectin®.
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39
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Abstract
The microvascular pericyte was identified in 1873 by the French scientist Charles Benjamin Rouget and originally called the Rouget cell (Rouget.Sciences 88:916-8, 1879). However, it was not until the early 1900s that Rouget's work was confirmed, and the Rouget cell renamed the pericyte by virtue of its peri-endothelial location (Dore. Brit J Dermatol 35:398-404, 1923; Zimmermann. Z Anat Entwicklungsgesch 68:3-109, 1923). Over the years a large number of publications have emerged, but the pericyte has remained a truly enigmatic cell. This is due, in part, by the paucity of easy and reliable methods to isolate and characterize the cell as well as its heterogeneity and pluripotent characteristics. However, more recent advances in molecular genetics and development of novel cell isolation and imaging techniques have enable scientists to more readily define pericyte function. This chapter will discuss general approaches to the isolation, characterization, and propagation of primary pericytes in the establishment of cell lines. We will attempt to dispel misinterpretations about the pericyte that cloud the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Dore-Duffy
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Nilufer Esen
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
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40
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Lev R, Seliktar D. Hydrogel biomaterials and their therapeutic potential for muscle injuries and muscular dystrophies. J R Soc Interface 2018; 15:20170380. [PMID: 29343633 PMCID: PMC5805959 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscular diseases such as muscular dystrophies and muscle injuries constitute a large group of ailments that manifest as muscle weakness, atrophy or fibrosis. Although cell therapy is a promising treatment option, the delivery and retention of cells in the muscle is difficult and prevents sustained regeneration needed for adequate functional improvements. Various types of biomaterials with different physical and chemical properties have been developed to improve the delivery of cells and/or growth factors for treating muscle injuries. Hydrogels are a family of materials with distinct advantages for use as cell delivery systems in muscle injuries and ailments, including their mild processing conditions, their similarities to natural tissue extracellular matrix, and their ability to be delivered with less invasive approaches. Moreover, hydrogels can be made to completely degrade in the body, leaving behind their biological payload in a process that can enhance the therapeutic process. For these reasons, hydrogels have shown great potential as cell delivery matrices. This paper reviews a few of the hydrogel systems currently being applied together with cell therapy and/or growth factor delivery to promote the therapeutic repair of muscle injuries and muscle wasting diseases such as muscular dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Lev
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Dror Seliktar
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, Haifa 32000, Israel
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41
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Perovanovic J, Dell'Orso S, Gnochi VF, Jaiswal JK, Sartorelli V, Vigouroux C, Mamchaoui K, Mouly V, Bonne G, Hoffman EP. Laminopathies disrupt epigenomic developmental programs and cell fate. Sci Transl Med 2017; 8:335ra58. [PMID: 27099177 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aad4991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The nuclear envelope protein lamin A is encoded by thelamin A/C(LMNA) gene, which can contain missense mutations that cause Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) (p.R453W). We fused mutated forms of the lamin A protein to bacterial DNA adenine methyltransferase (Dam) to define euchromatic-heterochromatin (epigenomic) transitions at the nuclear envelope during myogenesis (using DamID-seq). Lamin A missense mutations disrupted appropriate formation of lamin A-associated heterochromatin domains in an allele-specific manner-findings that were confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation-DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) in murine H2K cells and DNA methylation studies in fibroblasts from muscular dystrophy patient who carried a distinctLMNAmutation (p.H222P). Observed perturbations of the epigenomic transitions included exit from pluripotency and cell cycle programs [euchromatin (open, transcribed) to heterochromatin (closed, silent)], as well as induction of myogenic loci (heterochromatin to euchromatin). In muscle biopsies from patients with either a gain- or change-of-functionLMNAgene mutation or a loss-of-function mutation in theemeringene, both of which cause EDMD, we observed inappropriate loss of heterochromatin formation at theSox2pluripotency locus, which was associated with persistent mRNA expression ofSox2 Overexpression ofSox2inhibited myogenic differentiation in human immortalized myoblasts. Our findings suggest that nuclear envelopathies are disorders of developmental epigenetic programming that result from altered formation of lamina-associated domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Perovanovic
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA. Department of Integrative Systems Biology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Stefania Dell'Orso
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA
| | - Viola F Gnochi
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Jyoti K Jaiswal
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA. Department of Integrative Systems Biology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Vittorio Sartorelli
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA
| | - Corinne Vigouroux
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Laboratoire Commun de Biologie et Génétique Moléculaires, F-75012 Paris, France. INSERM UMR_S938, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France. Sorbonne Universités, UPMC (Université Pierre et Marie Curie) Univ Paris 06, UMR_S938, F-75005 Paris, France. ICAN (Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition), F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Kamel Mamchaoui
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM UMRS974, CNRS FRE3617, Center for Research in Myology, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Vincent Mouly
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM UMRS974, CNRS FRE3617, Center for Research in Myology, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Gisèle Bonne
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM UMRS974, CNRS FRE3617, Center for Research in Myology, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Eric P Hoffman
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA. Department of Integrative Systems Biology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
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42
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Novak JS, Hogarth MW, Boehler JF, Nearing M, Vila MC, Heredia R, Fiorillo AA, Zhang A, Hathout Y, Hoffman EP, Jaiswal JK, Nagaraju K, Cirak S, Partridge TA. Myoblasts and macrophages are required for therapeutic morpholino antisense oligonucleotide delivery to dystrophic muscle. Nat Commun 2017; 8:941. [PMID: 29038471 PMCID: PMC5643396 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00924-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Exon skipping is a promising therapeutic strategy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), employing morpholino antisense oligonucleotides (PMO-AO) to exclude disruptive exons from the mutant DMD transcript and elicit production of truncated dystrophin protein. Clinical trials for PMO show variable and sporadic dystrophin rescue. Here, we show that robust PMO uptake and efficient production of dystrophin following PMO administration coincide with areas of myofiber regeneration and inflammation. PMO localization is sustained in inflammatory foci where it enters macrophages, actively differentiating myoblasts and newly forming myotubes. We conclude that efficient PMO delivery into muscle requires two concomitant events: first, accumulation and retention of PMO within inflammatory foci associated with dystrophic lesions, and second, fusion of PMO-loaded myoblasts into repairing myofibers. Identification of these factors accounts for the variability in clinical trials and suggests strategies to improve this therapeutic approach to DMD.Exon skipping is a strategy for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but has variable efficacy. Here, the authors show that dystrophin restoration occurs preferentially in areas of myofiber regeneration, where antisense oligonucleotides are stored in macrophages and delivered to myoblasts and newly formed myotubes.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S Novak
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Marshall W Hogarth
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Jessica F Boehler
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Marie Nearing
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Maria C Vila
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Raul Heredia
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Alyson A Fiorillo
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Aiping Zhang
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Yetrib Hathout
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, 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 Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, 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 Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
| | - Sebahattin Cirak
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.,Institute for Human Genetics, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, 50923, Germany.,Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, 50923, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, 50931, Germany
| | - Terence A Partridge
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, 20010, USA. .,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
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43
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Jain HV, Boehler JF, Verthelyi D, Nagaraju K, Beaucage SL. An amphipathic trans-acting phosphorothioate RNA element delivers an uncharged phosphorodiamidate morpholino sequence in mdx mouse myotubes. RSC Adv 2017; 7:42519-42528. [PMID: 28989703 PMCID: PMC5625301 DOI: 10.1039/c7ra04247g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
An efficient method for the delivery of uncharged polyA-tailed phosphorodiamidate morpholino sequences (PMO) in mammalian cells consists of employing a synthetic 8-mer amphipathic trans-acting poly-2'-O-methyluridylic thiophosphate triester element (2'-OMeUtaPS) as a transfection reagent. Unlike the dTtaPS DNA-based element, this RNA element is potent at delivering polyA-tailed PMO sequences to HeLa pLuc 705 cells or to myotube muscle cells. However, much like dTtaPS, the 2'-OMeUtaPS-mediated internalization of PMO sequences occurs through an energy-dependent mechanism; macropinocytosis appears to be the predominant endocytic pathway used for cellular uptake. The transfected PMO sequences induce alternate splicing of either the pre-mRNA encoding luciferase in HeLa pLuc 705 cells or the excision of exon 23 from the pre-mRNA encoding dystrophin in myotube muscle cells of the mdx mouse model of muscular dystrophy with an efficiency comparable to that of commercial cationic lipid reagents but without detrimental cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- H V Jain
- Division of Biotechnology Review and Research IV, CDER, FDA, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20933, USA
| | - J F Boehler
- Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20010, USA
- The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - D Verthelyi
- Division of Biotechnology Review and Research III, CDER, FDA, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20933, USA
| | - K Nagaraju
- Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, AB-G34, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, New York 13902, USA
| | - S L Beaucage
- Division of Biotechnology Review and Research IV, CDER, FDA, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20933, USA
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44
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Nghiem PP, Kornegay JN, Uaesoontrachoon K, Bello L, Yin Y, Kesari A, Mittal P, Schatzberg SJ, Many GM, Lee NH, Hoffman EP. Osteopontin is linked with AKT, FoxO1, and myostatin in skeletal muscle cells. Muscle Nerve 2017; 56:1119-1127. [PMID: 28745831 PMCID: PMC5690863 DOI: 10.1002/mus.25752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Osteopontin (OPN) polymorphisms are associated with muscle size and modify disease progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We hypothesized that OPN may share a molecular network with myostatin (MSTN). Methods: Studies were conducted in the golden retriever (GRMD) and mdx mouse models of DMD. Follow‐up in‐vitro studies were employed in myogenic cells and the mdx mouse treated with recombinant mouse (rm) or human (Hu) OPN protein. Results: OPN was increased and MSTN was decreased and levels correlated inversely in GRMD hypertrophied muscle. RM‐OPN treatment led to induced AKT1 and FoxO1 phosphorylation, microRNA‐486 modulation, and decreased MSTN. An AKT1 inhibitor blocked these effects, whereas an RGD‐mutant OPN protein and an RGDS blocking peptide showed similar effects to the AKT inhibitor. RMOPN induced myotube hypertrophy and minimal Feret diameter in mdx muscle. Discussion: OPN may interact with AKT1/MSTN/FoxO1 to modify normal and dystrophic muscle. Muscle Nerve56: 1119–1127, 2017
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter P Nghiem
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4458 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843-4458, USA
| | - Joe N Kornegay
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4458 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843-4458, USA
| | | | - Luca Bello
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ying Yin
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Akanchha Kesari
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Priya Mittal
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Gina M Many
- Department of Health Sciences, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington, USA
| | - Norman H Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Eric P Hoffman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York, USA
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45
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Kasemkijwattana C, Menetrey J, Somogyl G, Moreland MS, Fu FH, Buranapanitkit B, Watkins SC, Huard J. Development of Approaches to Improve the Healing following Muscle Contusion. Cell Transplant 2017; 7:585-98. [PMID: 9853587 DOI: 10.1177/096368979800700609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscle injuries are a challenging problem in traumatology, and the most frequent occurrence in sports medicine. Muscle contusions are among the most common muscle injuries. Although this injury is capable of healing, an incomplete functional recovery often occurs, depending on the severity of the blunt trauma. We have developed an animal model of muscle contusion in mice (high energy blunt trauma) and characterized the muscle's ability to heal following this injury using histology and immunohistochemistry to determine the level of muscle regeneration and the development of scar tissue. We have observed a massive muscle regeneration occurring in the first 2 wk postinjury that is subsequently followed by the development of muscle fibrosis. Based on these observations, we propose that the enhancement of muscle growth and regeneration, as well as the prevention of fibrotic development, could be used as approach(es) to improve the healing of muscle injuries. In fact, we have identified three growth factors (bFGF, IGF-1, and NGF) capable of enhancing myoblast proliferation and differentiation in vitro and improving the healing of the injured muscle in vivo. Furthermore, the ability of adenovirus to mediate direct and ex vivo gene transfer of β-galactosidase into the injured site opens possibilities of delivering an efficient and persistent expression of these growth factors in the injured muscle. These studies should help in the development of strategies to promote efficient muscle healing with complete functional recovery following muscle contusion. © 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Kasemkijwattana
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Musculoskeletal Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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46
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Guérette B, Asselin I, Skuk D, Entman M, Tremblay JP. Control of Inflammatory Damage by Anti-Lfa-1: Increase Success of Myoblast Transplantation. Cell Transplant 2017; 6:101-7. [PMID: 9142441 DOI: 10.1177/096368979700600203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myoblast transplantation is a potential treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This article confirms by experiments in mice that one problem that has limited the success of clinical trials of this procedure is a rapid (within 3 days) inflammatory reaction which kills most of the injected myoblasts. The death of the transplanted myoblasts can be prevented by treating the host with a mAb against LFA-1. This led to a 27-fold increase in the number of muscle fibers expressing a reporter gene present in the donor myoblasts when the host is also adequately immunosuppressed with FK506. Therefore, both the nonspecific inflammatory reaction and the specific immune response should be adequately controlled following myoblast transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Guérette
- Centre de recherche en Neurobiologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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47
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Chen S, Le BT, Rahimizadeh K, Shaikh K, Mohal N, Veedu RN. Synthesis of a Morpholino Nucleic Acid (MNA)-Uridine Phosphoramidite, and Exon Skipping Using MNA/2'-O-Methyl Mixmer Antisense Oligonucleotide. Molecules 2016; 21:molecules21111582. [PMID: 27879669 PMCID: PMC6274534 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21111582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we synthesised a morpholino nucleoside-uridine (MNA-U) phosphoramidite and evaluated the potential of a MNA-modified antisense oligonucleotide (AO) sequences to induce exon 23 skipping in mdx mouse myotubes in vitro towards extending the applicability of morpholino chemistry with other nucleotide monomers. We designed, synthesised, and compared exon skipping efficiencies of 20 mer MNA-modified 2'-O-methyl RNA mixmer AO on a phosphorothioate backbone (MNA/2'-OMePS) to the corresponding fully modified 2'-O-methyl RNA AO (2'-OMePS) as a control. Our results showed that the MNA/2'-OMePS efficiently induced exon 23 skipping. As expected, the 2'-OMePS AO control yielded efficient exon 23 skipping. Under the applied conditions, both the AOs showed minor products corresponding to exon 22/23 dual exon skipping in low yield. As these are very preliminary data, more detailed studies are necessary; however, based on the preliminary results, MNA nucleotides might be useful in constructing antisense oligonucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suxiang Chen
- Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia.
- Western Australian Neuroscience Research Institute, Perth 6150, Australia.
| | - Bao T Le
- Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia.
- Western Australian Neuroscience Research Institute, Perth 6150, Australia.
| | - Kamal Rahimizadeh
- Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia.
| | - Khalil Shaikh
- GMK Research Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Mallapur, Hyderabad 500 076, India.
| | - Narinder Mohal
- GMK Research Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Mallapur, Hyderabad 500 076, India.
| | - Rakesh N Veedu
- Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia.
- Western Australian Neuroscience Research Institute, Perth 6150, Australia.
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48
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Yilmaz A, Kattamuri C, Ozdeslik RN, Schmiedel C, Mentzer S, Schorl C, Oancea E, Thompson TB, Fallon JR. MuSK is a BMP co-receptor that shapes BMP responses and calcium signaling in muscle cells. Sci Signal 2016; 9:ra87. [PMID: 27601729 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aaf0890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) function in most tissues but have cell type-specific effects. Given the relatively small number of BMP receptors, this exquisite signaling specificity requires additional molecules to regulate this pathway's output. The receptor tyrosine kinase MuSK (muscle-specific kinase) is critical for neuromuscular junction formation and maintenance. Here, we show that MuSK also promotes BMP signaling in muscle cells. MuSK bound to BMP4 and related BMPs with low nanomolar affinity in vitro and to the type I BMP receptors ALK3 and ALK6 in a ligand-independent manner both in vitro and in cultured myotubes. High-affinity binding to BMPs required the third, alternatively spliced MuSK immunoglobulin-like domain. In myoblasts, endogenous MuSK promoted BMP4-dependent phosphorylation of SMADs and transcription of Id1, which encodes a transcription factor involved in muscle differentiation. Gene expression profiling showed that MuSK was required for the BMP4-induced expression of a subset of genes in myoblasts, including regulator of G protein signaling 4 (Rgs4). In myotubes, MuSK enhanced the BMP4-induced expression of a distinct set of genes, including transcripts characteristic of slow muscle. MuSK-mediated stimulation of BMP signaling required type I BMP receptor activity but was independent of MuSK tyrosine kinase activity. MuSK-dependent expression of Rgs4 resulted in the inhibition of Ca(2+) signaling induced by the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in myoblasts. These findings establish that MuSK has dual roles in muscle cells, acting both as a tyrosine kinase-dependent synaptic organizing molecule and as a BMP co-receptor that shapes BMP transcriptional output and cholinergic signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atilgan Yilmaz
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Chandramohan Kattamuri
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Medical Sciences Building, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Rana N Ozdeslik
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Carolyn Schmiedel
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Sarah Mentzer
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Christoph Schorl
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Elena Oancea
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Thomas B Thompson
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Medical Sciences Building, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Justin R Fallon
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
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49
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Parker F, White K, Phillips S, Peckham M. Promoting differentiation of cultured myoblasts using biomimetic surfaces that present alpha-laminin-2 peptides. Cytotechnology 2016; 68:2159-69. [PMID: 27507643 PMCID: PMC5023573 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-016-0006-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, muscle cell lines are cultured on glass coverslips and differentiated to investigate myoblast fusion and differentiation. Efficient differentiation of myoblasts produces a dense network of myotubes with the correct organisation for contraction. Here we have tested the ability of artificially generated, precisely controlled peptide surfaces to enhance the efficiency of myoblast differentiation. We focused on specific short peptides from α-laminin-2 (IKVSV, VQLRNGFPYFSY and GLLFYMARINHA) as well as residues 15–155 from FGF1. We tested if these peptides in isolation, and/or in combination promoted muscle differentiation in culture, by promoting fusion and/or by improving sarcomere organisation. The majority of these peptides promoted fusion and differentiation in two different mouse myogenic cell lines and in primary human myoblasts. The additive effects of all four peptides gave the best results for both mouse cell lines tested, while primary human cell cultures differentiated equally well on most peptide surfaces tested. These data show that a mixture of short biomimetic peptides can reliably promote differentiation in mouse and human myoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francine Parker
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, The University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Kathryn White
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, The University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Siȏn Phillips
- Bioscience Centre, International Centre for Life, Orla Protein Technologies Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4EP, UK
| | - Michelle Peckham
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, The University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
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50
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Abstract
Exon-skipping via synthetic antisense oligonucleotides represents one of the most promising potential therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), yet this approach is highly sequence-specific and thus each oligonucleotide is of benefit to only a subset of patients. The discovery that dystrophin mRNA is subject to translational suppression by the microRNA miR31, and that miR31 is elevated in the muscle of DMD patients, raises the possibility that the same oligonucleotide chemistries employed for exon skipping could be directed toward relieving this translational block. This approach would act synergistically with exon skipping where possible, but by targeting the 3'UTR it would further be of benefit to the many DMD patients who express low levels of in-frame transcript. We here present investigations into the feasibility of combining exon skipping with several different strategies for miR31-modulation, using both in vitro models and the mdx mouse (the classical animal model of DMD), and monitoring effects on dystrophin at the transcriptional and translational level. We show that despite promising results from our cell culture model, our in vivo data failed to demonstrate similarly reproducible enhancement of dystrophin translation, suggesting that miR31-modulation may not be practical under current oligonucleotide approaches. Possible explanations for this disappointing outcome are discussed, along with suggestions for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Cw Hildyard
- Department of Comparative and Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Dominic J Wells
- Department of Comparative and Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
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