Increased myofibrillar protein catabolism in duchenne muscular dystrophy measured by 3-methylhistidine excretion in the urine

Serum proteomic profiling reveals fragments of MYOM3 as potential biomarkers for monitoring the outcome of therapeutic interventions in muscular dystrophies

Therapy-responsive biomarkers are an important and unmet need in the muscular dystrophy field where new treatments are currently in clinical trials. By using a comprehensive high-resolution mass spectrometry approach and western blot validation, we found that two fragments of the myofibrillar structural protein myomesin-3 (MYOM3) are abnormally present in sera of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2D (LGMD2D) and their respective animal models. Levels of MYOM3 fragments were assayed in therapeutic model systems: (1) restoration of dystrophin expression by antisense oligonucleotide-mediated exon-skipping in mdx mice and (2) stable restoration of α-sarcoglycan expression in KO-SGCA mice by systemic injection of a viral vector. Following administration of the therapeutic agents MYOM3 was restored toward wild-type levels. In the LGMD model, where different doses of vector were used, MYOM3 restoration was dose-dependent. MYOM3 fragments showed lower inter-individual variability compared with the commonly used creatine kinase assay, and correlated better with the restoration of the dystrophin-associated protein complex and muscle force. These data suggest that the MYOM3 fragments hold promise for minimally invasive assessment of experimental therapies for DMD and other neuromuscular disorders.

Long-term efficacy of systemic multiexon skipping targeting dystrophin exons 45-55 with a cocktail of vivo-morpholinos in mdx52 mice

Antisense-mediated exon skipping, which can restore the reading frame, is a most promising therapeutic approach for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Remaining challenges include the limited applicability to patients and unclear function of truncated dystrophin proteins. Multiexon skipping targeting exons 45–55 at the mutation hotspot of the dystrophin gene could overcome both of these challenges. Previously, we described the feasibility of exons 45–55 skipping with a cocktail of Vivo-Morpholinos in vivo; however, the long-term efficacy and safety of Vivo-Morpholinos remains to be determined. In this study, we examined the efficacy and toxicity of exons 45–55 skipping by intravenous injections of 6 mg/kg 10-Vivo-Morpholino cocktail (0.6 mg/kg each vPMO) every 2 weeks for 18 weeks to dystrophic exon-52 knockout (mdx52) mice. Systemic skipping of the entire exons 45–55 region was induced, and the Western blot analysis exhibited the restoration of 5–27% of normal levels of dystrophin protein in skeletal muscles, accompanied by improvements in histopathology and muscle strength. No obvious immune response and renal and hepatic toxicity were detected at the end-point of the treatment. We demonstrate our new regimen with the 10-Vivo-Morpholino cocktail is effective and safe for long-term repeated systemic administration in the dystrophic mouse model.

Expression of myoglobin gene in skeletal muscle of patients with neuromuscular diseases

Expression of the myoglobin (Mb) gene in skeletal muscle was studied in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), polymyositis (PM), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by measuring Mb concentration by radioimmunoassay and Mb messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) (MbmRNA) levels by Northern blot analysis. Mb concentrations in the muscle cells (Mb/noncollagenous protein) were decreased in patients with DMD, PM, or ALS. However, while Mb concentrations per MbmRNA content (Mb/MbmRNA) were decreased in DMD and PM patients, these values were normal in ALS patients. These results suggest that Mb synthesis is increased in muscles of DMD and PM patients, but is not sufficient to compensate for the excessive loss of Mb from the affected muscles, and that the synthesis is decreased in the muscles of ALS patients.

Decrease in urinary excretion of 3-methylhistidine by patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy during glucocorticoid treatment

Seven patients, aged 10-17 years, with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were treated orally with prednisolone (PSL) at a dose of 0.8-1.0 mg/kg per day for 8 weeks. During the treatment their muscle strength, serum creatine kinase (CK) activity, serum levels of myoglobin (Mb), and urinary excretion of 3-methylhistidine (3-MeH) and glycine (Gly) were measured serially. In all the patients, the motor function or muscle strength improved, and the serum CK activity and Mb level decreased during PSL treatment. Urinary excretion of 3-MeH, a unique constituent of muscle contractile proteins, decreased to 51-63% of the baseline value in weeks 6-9 after the start of PSL administration, and returned to the baseline level in week 12. The ratios of 3-MeH to creatinine and to Gly also decreased during the treatment. Urinary excretion of Gly, which is ubiquitous in all tissues including muscle, did not decrease during the treatment. These findings suggest that PSL inhibits proteolysis of muscle contractile protein.

Effect of testosterone on muscle protein synthesis in myotonic dystrophy

Muscle wasting in myotonic dystrophy may result from decreased muscle anabolic processes rather than from increased catabolism. Male patients with myotonic dystrophy often have low levels of circulating androgens, and androgen administration has been shown to increase their muscle mass. We have studied the effect of testosterone enanthate administration (3 mg/kg weekly for 3 months) on muscle and whole body protein synthesis in 6 male patients with myotonic dystrophy. Muscle protein synthesis was estimated from the rate of isotope incorporation into muscle protein obtained by quadriceps muscle biopsy during a primed continuous infusion of L-[1-13C]leucine. Testosterone administration resulted in a significant increase in muscle protein synthesis in all patients. Whole body protein synthesis did not increase, indicating that protein synthesis in other tissues may have declined. Muscle ribonucleic acid content rose significantly in response to testosterone administration, suggesting that testosterone initiated its effect by hormone receptor interaction with muscle nuclei.

Effect of swimming on protein degradation: 3-methylhistidine and creatinine excretion

The effect of 5-km noncompetitive swimming (moderate exercise) and 2-km competitive speed swimming (intensive exercise) on protein breakdown was studied in a group of young male volunteers (16-20 years old) who followed a 3-MH-free diet throughout the study. Urinary 3-MH and creatinine were determined over a period of 24 and 48 hr as an index of protein degradation. Basal 3-MH levels in the two groups of swimmers were 2.85 and 3.07 mumole X kg-1 X day-1. Mean rates of 3-MH excretion were, respectively, 1.54 and 1.94 mumole X kg-1 X day-1 for the 48 hr after moderate exercise and the 24 hr after intensive exercise. The decrease in 3-MH urinary excretion was still evident when calculated as the urinary 3-MH-to-creatinine ratio.