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Yang Q, Abebe JS, Mai M, Rudy G, Kim SY, Devinsky O, Long C. T4 DNA polymerase prevents deleterious on-target DNA damage and enhances precise CRISPR editing. EMBO J 2024; 43:3733-3751. [PMID: 39039289 PMCID: PMC11377749 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00158-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Unintended on-target chromosomal alterations induced by CRISPR/Cas9 in mammalian cells are common, particularly large deletions and chromosomal translocations, and present a safety challenge for genome editing. Thus, there is still an unmet need to develop safer and more efficient editing tools. We screened diverse DNA polymerases of distinct origins and identified a T4 DNA polymerase derived from phage T4 that strongly prevents undesired on-target damage while increasing the proportion of precise 1- to 2-base-pair insertions generated during CRISPR/Cas9 editing (termed CasPlus). CasPlus induced substantially fewer on-target large deletions while increasing the efficiency of correcting common frameshift mutations in DMD and restored higher level of dystrophin expression than Cas9-alone in human cardiomyocytes. Moreover, CasPlus greatly reduced the frequency of on-target large deletions during mouse germline editing. In multiplexed guide RNAs mediating gene editing, CasPlus repressed chromosomal translocations while maintaining gene disruption efficiency that was higher or comparable to Cas9 in primary human T cells. Therefore, CasPlus offers a safer and more efficient gene editing strategy to treat pathogenic variants or to introduce genetic modifications in human applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoyan Yang
- NYU Cardiovascular Research Center, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan S Abebe
- NYU Cardiovascular Research Center, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Mai
- NYU Cardiovascular Research Center, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabriella Rudy
- NYU Cardiovascular Research Center, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sang Y Kim
- Department of Pathology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Orrin Devinsky
- New York University Langone Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chengzu Long
- NYU Cardiovascular Research Center, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
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2
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Kiperman T, Ma K. Circadian Clock in Muscle Disease Etiology and Therapeutic Potential for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4767. [PMID: 38731986 PMCID: PMC11083552 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Circadian clock and clock-controlled output pathways exert temporal control in diverse aspects of skeletal muscle physiology, including the maintenance of muscle mass, structure, function, and metabolism. They have emerged as significant players in understanding muscle disease etiology and potential therapeutic avenues, particularly in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This review examines the intricate interplay between circadian rhythms and muscle physiology, highlighting how disruptions of circadian regulation may contribute to muscle pathophysiology and the specific mechanisms linking circadian clock dysregulation with DMD. Moreover, we discuss recent advancements in chronobiological research that have shed light on the circadian control of muscle function and its relevance to DMD. Understanding clock output pathways involved in muscle mass and function offers novel insights into the pathogenesis of DMD and unveils promising avenues for therapeutic interventions. We further explore potential chronotherapeutic strategies targeting the circadian clock to ameliorate muscle degeneration which may inform drug development efforts for muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ke Ma
- Department of Diabetes Complications & Metabolism, Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
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3
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Florio F, Vencato S, Papa FT, Libergoli M, Kheir E, Ghzaiel I, Rando TA, Torrente Y, Biressi S. Combinatorial activation of the WNT-dependent fibrogenic program by distinct complement subunits in dystrophic muscle. EMBO Mol Med 2023; 15:e17405. [PMID: 37927228 PMCID: PMC10701616 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202317405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is associated with compromised muscle functionality in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We report observations with tissues from dystrophic patients and mice supporting a model to explain fibrosis in DMD, which relies on the crosstalk between the complement and the WNT signaling pathways and the functional interactions of two cellular types. Fibro-adipogenic progenitors and macrophages, which populate the inflamed dystrophic muscles, act as a combinatorial source of WNT activity by secreting distinct subunits of the C1 complement complex. The resulting aberrant activation of the WNT signaling in responsive cells, such as fibro-adipogenic progenitors, contributes to fibrosis. Indeed, pharmacological inhibition of the C1r/s subunits in a murine model of DMD mitigated the activation of the WNT signaling pathway, reduced the fibrogenic characteristics of the fibro-adipogenic progenitors, and ameliorated the dystrophic phenotype. These studies shed new light on the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for fibrosis in muscular dystrophy and open to new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Florio
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at University of TrentoTrentoItaly
- Neurology UnitFondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore PoliclinicoMilanItaly
| | - Sara Vencato
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Filomena T Papa
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Michela Libergoli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Eyemen Kheir
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Imen Ghzaiel
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at University of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Thomas A Rando
- Broad Stem Cell Research CenterUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Yvan Torrente
- Neurology UnitFondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore PoliclinicoMilanItaly
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Dino Ferrari Center, Department of Pathophysiology and TransplantationUniversity of MilanMilanItaly
| | - Stefano Biressi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO)University of TrentoTrentoItaly
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at University of TrentoTrentoItaly
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4
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Stephenson AA, Nicolau S, Vetter TA, Dufresne GP, Frair EC, Sarff JE, Wheeler GL, Kelly BJ, White P, Flanigan KM. CRISPR-Cas9 homology-independent targeted integration of exons 1-19 restores full-length dystrophin in mice. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 30:486-499. [PMID: 37706184 PMCID: PMC10495553 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an X-linked disorder typically caused by out-of-frame mutations in the DMD gene. Most of these are deletions of one or more exons, which can theoretically be corrected through CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockin. Homology-independent targeted integration is a mechanism for achieving such a knockin without reliance on homology-directed repair pathways, which are inactive in muscle. We designed a system based on insertion into intron 19 of a DNA fragment containing a pre-spliced mega-exon encoding DMD exons 1-19, along with the MHCK7 promoter, and delivered it via a pair of AAV9 vectors in mice carrying a Dmd exon 2 duplication. Maximal efficiency was achieved using a Cas9:donor adeno-associated virus (AAV) ratio of 1:5, with Cas9 under the control of the SPc5-12 promoter. This approach achieved editing of 1.4% of genomes in the heart, leading to 30% correction at the transcript level and restoration of 11% of normal dystrophin levels. Treatment efficacy was lower in skeletal muscles. Sequencing additionally revealed integration of fragmentary and recombined AAV genomes at the target site. These data provide proof of concept for a gene editing system that could restore full-length dystrophin in individuals carrying mutations upstream of intron 19, accounting for approximately 25% of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony A. Stephenson
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Stefan Nicolau
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Tatyana A. Vetter
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Gabrielle P. Dufresne
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Emma C. Frair
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Jessica E. Sarff
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Gregory L. Wheeler
- The Institute for Genomic Medicine, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Benjamin J. Kelly
- The Institute for Genomic Medicine, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Peter White
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- The Institute for Genomic Medicine, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Kevin M. Flanigan
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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5
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Soussi S, Savchenko L, Rovina D, Iacovoni JS, Gottinger A, Vialettes M, Pioner JM, Farini A, Mallia S, Rabino M, Pompilio G, Parini A, Lairez O, Gowran A, Pizzinat N. IPSC derived cardiac fibroblasts of DMD patients show compromised actin microfilaments, metabolic shift and pro-fibrotic phenotype. Biol Direct 2023; 18:41. [PMID: 37501163 PMCID: PMC10373315 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-023-00398-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe form of muscular dystrophy caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. We characterized which isoforms of dystrophin were expressed by human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiac fibroblasts obtained from control and DMD patients. Distinct dystrophin isoforms were observed; however, highest molecular weight isoform was absent in DMD patients carrying exon deletions or mutations in the dystrophin gene. The loss of the full-length dystrophin isoform in hiPSC-derived cardiac fibroblasts from DMD patients resulted in deficient formation of actin microfilaments and a metabolic switch from mitochondrial oxidation to glycolysis. The DMD hiPSC-derived cardiac fibroblasts exhibited a dysregulated mitochondria network and reduced mitochondrial respiration, with enhanced compensatory glycolysis to sustain cellular ATP production. This metabolic remodeling was associated with an exacerbated myofibroblast phenotype and increased fibroblast activation in response to pro fibrotic challenges. As cardiac fibrosis is a critical pathological feature of the DMD heart, the myofibroblast phenotype induced by the absence of dystrophin may contribute to deterioration in cardiac function. Our study highlights the relationship between cytoskeletal dynamics, metabolism of the cell and myofibroblast differentiation and provides a new mechanism by which inactivation of dystrophin in non-cardiomyocyte cells may increase the severity of cardiopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salwa Soussi
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France
- University Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, CEDEX 9, Toulouse, France
| | - Lesia Savchenko
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France
- University Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, CEDEX 9, Toulouse, France
| | - Davide Rovina
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Jason S Iacovoni
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) U1297 I2MC, Bioinformatic Core Facility, I2MC, Toulouse, France
| | - Andrea Gottinger
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France
| | - Maxime Vialettes
- University Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, CEDEX 9, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Andrea Farini
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Mallia
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Rabino
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Pompilio
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Parini
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France
- University Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, CEDEX 9, Toulouse, France
| | - Olivier Lairez
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France
- University Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, CEDEX 9, Toulouse, France
| | - Aoife Gowran
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Nathalie Pizzinat
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), I2MC, U1297, Toulouse, France.
- University Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, CEDEX 9, Toulouse, France.
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6
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Hindi SM, Petrany MJ, Greenfeld E, Focke LC, Cramer AAW, Whitt MA, Khairallah RJ, Ward CW, Chamberlain JS, Podbilewicz B, Prasad V, Millay DP. Enveloped viruses pseudotyped with mammalian myogenic cell fusogens target skeletal muscle for gene delivery. Cell 2023; 186:2062-2077.e17. [PMID: 37075755 PMCID: PMC11181154 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Entry of enveloped viruses into cells is mediated by viral fusogenic proteins that drive membrane rearrangements needed for fusion between viral and target membranes. Skeletal muscle development also requires membrane fusion events between progenitor cells to form multinucleated myofibers. Myomaker and Myomerger are muscle-specific cell fusogens but do not structurally or functionally resemble classical viral fusogens. We asked whether the muscle fusogens could functionally substitute for viral fusogens, despite their structural distinctiveness, and fuse viruses to cells. We report that engineering of Myomaker and Myomerger on the membrane of enveloped viruses leads to specific transduction of skeletal muscle. We also demonstrate that locally and systemically injected virions pseudotyped with the muscle fusogens can deliver μDystrophin to skeletal muscle of a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and alleviate pathology. Through harnessing the intrinsic properties of myogenic membranes, we establish a platform for delivery of therapeutic material to skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajedah M Hindi
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Michael J Petrany
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Elena Greenfeld
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Leah C Focke
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Alyssa A W Cramer
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Michael A Whitt
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Christopher W Ward
- Department of Orthopedics and Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology (BioMET), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Chamberlain
- Departments of Neurology, Medicine and Biochemistry, Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Vikram Prasad
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Douglas P Millay
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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7
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Hindi SM, Petrany MJ, Greenfeld E, Focke LC, Cramer AA, Whitt MA, Prasad V, Chamberlain JS, Podbilewicz B, Millay DP. Enveloped viruses pseudotyped with mammalian myogenic cell fusogens target skeletal muscle for gene delivery. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.17.533157. [PMID: 36993357 PMCID: PMC10055243 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.17.533157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Entry of enveloped viruses into cells is mediated by fusogenic proteins that form a complex between membranes to drive rearrangements needed for fusion. Skeletal muscle development also requires membrane fusion events between progenitor cells to form multinucleated myofibers. Myomaker and Myomerger are muscle-specific cell fusogens, but do not structurally or functionally resemble classical viral fusogens. We asked if the muscle fusogens could functionally substitute for viral fusogens, despite their structural distinctiveness, and fuse viruses to cells. We report that engineering of Myomaker and Myomerger on the membrane of enveloped viruses leads to specific transduction of skeletal muscle. We also demonstrate that locally and systemically injected virions pseudotyped with the muscle fusogens can deliver micro-Dystrophin (μDys) to skeletal muscle of a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Through harnessing the intrinsic properties of myogenic membranes, we establish a platform for delivery of therapeutic material to skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajedah M. Hindi
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Michael J. Petrany
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Elena Greenfeld
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Leah C. Focke
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Alyssa A.W. Cramer
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Michael A. Whitt
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Vikram Prasad
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jeffrey S. Chamberlain
- Departments of Neurology, Medicine and Biochemistry, Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Douglas P. Millay
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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8
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Khairullin AE, Grishin SN, Ziganshin AU. P2 Receptor Signaling in Motor Units in Muscular Dystrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:1587. [PMID: 36675094 PMCID: PMC9865441 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The purine signaling system is represented by purine and pyrimidine nucleotides and nucleosides that exert their effects through the adenosine, P2X and P2Y receptor families. It is known that, under physiological conditions, P2 receptors play only a minor role in modulating the functions of cells and systems; however, their role significantly increases under some pathophysiological conditions, such as stress, ischemia or hypothermia, when they can play a dominant role as a signaling molecule. The diversity of P2 receptors and their wide distribution in the body make them very attractive as a target for the pharmacological action of drugs with a new mechanism of action. The review is devoted to the involvement of P2 signaling in the development of pathologies associated with a loss of muscle mass. The contribution of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a signal molecule in the pathogenesis of a number of muscular dystrophies (Duchenne, Becker and limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2B) is considered. To understand the processes involving the purinergic system, the role of the ATP and P2 receptors in several models associated with skeletal muscle degradation is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel E. Khairullin
- Department of Biochemistry, Kazan State Medical University, 420012 Kazan, Russia
- Research Laboratory of Mechanobiology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Sergey N. Grishin
- Department of Medicinal Physics, Kazan State Medical University, 420012 Kazan, Russia
| | - Ayrat U. Ziganshin
- Department of Pharmacology, Kazan State Medical University, 420012 Kazan, Russia
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9
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Barboni MTS, Joachimsthaler A, Roux MJ, Nagy ZZ, Ventura DF, Rendon A, Kremers J, Vaillend C. Retinal dystrophins and the retinopathy of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022:101137. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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10
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Saifullah, Motohashi N, Tsukahara T, Aoki Y. Development of Therapeutic RNA Manipulation for Muscular Dystrophy. Front Genome Ed 2022; 4:863651. [PMID: 35620642 PMCID: PMC9127466 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.863651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Approval of therapeutic RNA molecules, including RNA vaccines, has paved the way for next-generation treatment strategies for various diseases. Oligonucleotide-based therapeutics hold particular promise for treating incurable muscular dystrophies, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a severe monogenic disease triggered by deletions, duplications, or point mutations in the DMD gene, which encodes a membrane-linked cytoskeletal protein to protect muscle fibers from contraction-induced injury. Patients with DMD inevitably succumb to muscle degeneration and atrophy early in life, leading to premature death from cardiac and respiratory failure. Thus far, the disease has thwarted all curative strategies. Transcriptomic manipulation, employing exon skipping using antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), has made significant progress in the search for DMD therapeutics. Several exon-skipping drugs employing RNA manipulation technology have been approved by regulatory agencies and have shown promise in clinical trials. This review summarizes recent scientific and clinical progress of ASO and other novel RNA manipulations, including RNA-based editing using MS2 coat protein-conjugated adenosine deaminase acting on the RNA (MCP-ADAR) system illustrating the efficacy and limitations of therapies to restore dystrophin. Perhaps lessons from this review will encourage the application of RNA-editing therapy to other neuromuscular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saifullah
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norio Motohashi
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Tsukahara
- Area of Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), Ishikawa, Japan
- Division of Transdisciplinary Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Aoki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
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11
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Erkut E, Yokota T. CRISPR Therapeutics for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1832. [PMID: 35163754 PMCID: PMC8836469 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive neuromuscular disorder with a prevalence of approximately 1 in 3500-5000 males. DMD manifests as childhood-onset muscle degeneration, followed by loss of ambulation, cardiomyopathy, and death in early adulthood due to a lack of functional dystrophin protein. Out-of-frame mutations in the dystrophin gene are the most common underlying cause of DMD. Gene editing via the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system is a promising therapeutic for DMD, as it can permanently correct DMD mutations and thus restore the reading frame, allowing for the production of functional dystrophin. The specific mechanism of gene editing can vary based on a variety of factors such as the number of cuts generated by CRISPR, the presence of an exogenous DNA template, or the current cell cycle stage. CRISPR-mediated gene editing for DMD has been tested both in vitro and in vivo, with many of these studies discussed herein. Additionally, novel modifications to the CRISPR system such as base or prime editors allow for more precise gene editing. Despite recent advances, limitations remain including delivery efficiency, off-target mutagenesis, and long-term maintenance of dystrophin. Further studies focusing on safety and accuracy of the CRISPR system are necessary prior to clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esra Erkut
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 8613-114 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada;
| | - Toshifumi Yokota
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 8613-114 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada;
- The Friends of Garrett Cumming Research & Muscular Dystrophy Canada HM Toupin Neurological Science Research Chair, 8613-114 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
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12
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Abstract
Recent advances in gene editing technologies are enabling the potential correction of devastating monogenic disorders through elimination of underlying genetic mutations. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an especially severe genetic disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin, a membrane-associated protein required for maintenance of muscle structure and function. Patients with DMD succumb to loss of mobility early in life, culminating in premature death from cardiac and respiratory failure. The disease has thus far defied all curative strategies. CRISPR gene editing has provided new opportunities to ameliorate the disease by eliminating DMD mutations and thereby restore dystrophin expression throughout skeletal and cardiac muscle. Proof-of-concept studies in rodents, large mammals, and human cells have validated the potential of this approach, but numerous challenges remain to be addressed, including optimization of gene editing, delivery of gene editing components throughout the musculature, and mitigation of possible immune responses. This paper provides an overview of recent work from our laboratory and others toward the genetic correction of DMD and considers the opportunities and challenges in the path to clinical translation. Lessons learned from these studies will undoubtedly enable further applications of gene editing to numerous other diseases of muscle and other tissues.
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13
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Stephenson AA, Flanigan KM. Gene editing and modulation for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2021; 182:225-255. [PMID: 34175043 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive muscle disease caused by loss of dystrophin protein, encoded by the DMD gene. DMD manifests early in childhood as difficulty walking, progresses to loss of ambulation by the teens, and leads to death in early adulthood. Adeno-associated virus-vectorized gene therapies to restore dystrophin protein expression using gene replacement or antisense oligonucleotide-mediated pre-mRNA splicing modulation have emerged, making great strides in uncovering barriers to gene therapies for DMD and other genetic diseases. While this first-generation of DMD therapies are being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials, uncertainties regarding durability and therapeutic efficacy prompted the development of new experimental therapies for DMD that take advantage of somatic cell gene editing. These experimental therapies continue to advance toward clinic trials, but questions remain unanswered regarding safety and translatable efficacy. Here we review the advancements toward treatment of DMD using gene editing and modulation therapies, with an emphasis on those nearest to clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony A Stephenson
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Kevin M Flanigan
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.
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14
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Uezu A, Hisey E, Kobayashi Y, Gao Y, Bradshaw TWA, Devlin P, Rodriguiz R, Tata PR, Soderling S. Essential role for InSyn1 in dystroglycan complex integrity and cognitive behaviors in mice. eLife 2019; 8:e50712. [PMID: 31829939 PMCID: PMC6944460 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Human mutations in the dystroglycan complex (DGC) result in not only muscular dystrophy but also cognitive impairments. However, the molecular architecture critical for the synaptic organization of the DGC in neurons remains elusive. Here, we report Inhibitory Synaptic protein 1 (InSyn1) is a critical component of the DGC whose loss alters the composition of the GABAergic synapses, excitatory/inhibitory balance in vitro and in vivo, and cognitive behavior. Association of InSyn1 with DGC subunits is required for InSyn1 synaptic localization. InSyn1 null neurons also show a significant reduction in DGC and GABA receptor distribution as well as abnormal neuronal network activity. Moreover, InSyn1 null mice exhibit elevated neuronal firing patterns in the hippocampus and deficits in fear conditioning memory. Our results support the dysregulation of the DGC at inhibitory synapses and altered neuronal network activity and specific cognitive tasks via loss of a novel component, InSyn1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiyoshi Uezu
- Department of Cell BiologyDuke University Medical SchoolDurhamUnited States
| | - Erin Hisey
- Department of Cell BiologyDuke University Medical SchoolDurhamUnited States
| | | | - Yudong Gao
- Department of Cell BiologyDuke University Medical SchoolDurhamUnited States
| | - Tyler WA Bradshaw
- Department of Cell BiologyDuke University Medical SchoolDurhamUnited States
| | - Patrick Devlin
- Department of Cell BiologyDuke University Medical SchoolDurhamUnited States
| | - Ramona Rodriguiz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesDuke University Medical SchoolDurhamUnited States
- Mouse Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Analysis Core FacilityDuke University Medical SchoolDurhamUnited States
| | | | - Scott Soderling
- Department of Cell BiologyDuke University Medical SchoolDurhamUnited States
- Department of NeurobiologyDuke University Medical SchoolDurhamUnited States
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15
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Amoasii L, Li H, Zhang Y, Min YL, Sanchez-Ortiz E, Shelton JM, Long C, Mireault AA, Bhattacharyya S, McAnally JR, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN. In vivo non-invasive monitoring of dystrophin correction in a new Duchenne muscular dystrophy reporter mouse. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4537. [PMID: 31586095 PMCID: PMC6778191 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12335-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal genetic disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. To enable the non-invasive analysis of DMD gene correction strategies in vivo, we introduced a luciferase reporter in-frame with the C-terminus of the dystrophin gene in mice. Expression of this reporter mimics endogenous dystrophin expression and DMD mutations that disrupt the dystrophin open reading frame extinguish luciferase expression. We evaluated the correction of the dystrophin reading frame coupled to luciferase in mice lacking exon 50, a common mutational hotspot, after delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing machinery with adeno-associated virus. Bioluminescence monitoring revealed efficient and rapid restoration of dystrophin protein expression in affected skeletal muscles and the heart. Our results provide a sensitive non-invasive means of monitoring dystrophin correction in mouse models of DMD and offer a platform for testing different strategies for amelioration of DMD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonela Amoasii
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
- Exonics Therapeutics, 490 Arsenal Way, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
| | - Yi-Li Min
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
- Exonics Therapeutics, 490 Arsenal Way, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
| | - Efrain Sanchez-Ortiz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
| | - John M Shelton
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Chengzu Long
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
- Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Alex A Mireault
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
| | - Samadrita Bhattacharyya
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
| | - John R McAnally
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
| | - Rhonda Bassel-Duby
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA
| | - Eric N Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Watertown, MA, 02472, USA.
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16
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González-Sánchez J, Sánchez-Temprano A, Cid-Díaz T, Pabst-Fernández R, Mosteiro CS, Gallego R, Nogueiras R, Casabiell X, Butler-Browne GS, Mouly V, Relova JL, Pazos Y, Camiña JP. Improvement of Duchenne muscular dystrophy phenotype following obestatin treatment. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2018; 9:1063-1078. [PMID: 30216693 PMCID: PMC6240759 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study was performed to test the therapeutic potential of obestatin, an autocrine anabolic factor regulating skeletal muscle repair, to ameliorate the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) phenotype. METHODS AND RESULTS Using a multidisciplinary approach, we characterized the ageing-related preproghrelin/GPR39 expression patterns in tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of 4-, 8-, and 18-week-old mdx mice (n = 3/group) and established the effects of obestatin administration at this level in 8-week-old mdx mice (n = 5/group). The findings were extended to in vitro effects on human immortalized DMD myotubes. An analysis of TAs revealed an age-related loss of preproghrelin expression, as precursor of obestatin, in mdx mice. Administration of obestatin resulted in a significant increase in tetanic specific force (33.0% ± 1.5%, P < 0.05), compared with control mdx mice. Obestatin-treated TAs were characterized by reduction of fibres with centrally located nuclei (10.0% ± 1.2%, P < 0.05) together with an increase in the number of type I fibres (25.2% ± 1.7%, P < 0.05) associated to histone deacetylases/myocyte enhancer factor-2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α axis, and down-regulation of ubiquitin E3-ligases by inactivation of FoxO1/4, indexes of muscle atrophy. Obestatin reduced the level of contractile damage and tissue fibrosis. These observations correlated with decline in serum creatine kinase (58.8 ± 15.2, P < 0.05). Obestatin led to stabilization of the sarcolemma by up-regulation of utrophin, α-syntrophin, β-dystroglycan, and α7β1-integrin proteins. These pathways were also operative in human DMD myotubes. CONCLUSIONS These results highlight the potential of obestatin as a peptide therapeutic for preserving muscle integrity in DMD, thus allowing a better efficiency of gene or cell therapy in a combined therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica González-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología Celular, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (CHUS), Servicio Gallego de Salud (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Agustín Sánchez-Temprano
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología Celular, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (CHUS), Servicio Gallego de Salud (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Tania Cid-Díaz
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología Celular, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (CHUS), Servicio Gallego de Salud (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Regina Pabst-Fernández
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología Celular, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (CHUS), Servicio Gallego de Salud (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Carlos S Mosteiro
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología Celular, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (CHUS), Servicio Gallego de Salud (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Rosalía Gallego
- Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ruben Nogueiras
- Departamento de Fisiología, USC, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Xesús Casabiell
- Departamento de Fisiología, USC, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Gillian S Butler-Browne
- Center for Research in Myology, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM UMRS 974, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Mouly
- Center for Research in Myology, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM UMRS 974, Paris, France
| | | | - Yolanda Pazos
- Laboratorio de Patología Digestiva, IDIS, CHUS, SERGAS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jesús P Camiña
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología Celular, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (CHUS), Servicio Gallego de Salud (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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17
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Applications of CRISPR/Cas9 for the Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. J Pers Med 2018; 8:jpm8040038. [PMID: 30477208 PMCID: PMC6313657 DOI: 10.3390/jpm8040038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal X-linked recessive neuromuscular disease prevalent in 1 in 3500 to 5000 males worldwide. As a result of mutations that interrupt the reading frame of the dystrophin gene (DMD), DMD is characterized by a loss of dystrophin protein that leads to decreased muscle membrane integrity, which increases susceptibility to degeneration. CRISPR/Cas9 technology has garnered interest as an avenue for DMD therapy due to its potential for permanent exon skipping, which can restore the disrupted DMD reading frame in DMD and lead to dystrophin restoration. An RNA-guided DNA endonuclease system, CRISPR/Cas9 allows for the targeted editing of specific sequences in the genome. The efficacy and safety of CRISPR/Cas9 as a therapy for DMD has been evaluated by numerous studies in vitro and in vivo, with varying rates of success. Despite the potential of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing for the long-term treatment of DMD, its translation into the clinic is currently challenged by issues such as off-targeting, immune response activation, and sub-optimal in vivo delivery. Its nature as being mostly a personalized form of therapy also limits applicability to DMD patients, who exhibit a wide spectrum of mutations. This review summarizes the various CRISPR/Cas9 strategies that have been tested in vitro and in vivo for the treatment of DMD. Perspectives on the approach will be provided, and the challenges faced by CRISPR/Cas9 in its road to the clinic will be briefly discussed.
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18
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Amoasii L, Hildyard JCW, Li H, Sanchez-Ortiz E, Mireault A, Caballero D, Harron R, Stathopoulou TR, Massey C, Shelton JM, Bassel-Duby R, Piercy RJ, Olson EN. Gene editing restores dystrophin expression in a canine model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Science 2018; 362:86-91. [PMID: 30166439 PMCID: PMC6205228 DOI: 10.1126/science.aau1549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 363] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin, a protein that maintains muscle integrity and function, cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The deltaE50-MD dog model of DMD harbors a mutation corresponding to a mutational "hotspot" in the human DMD gene. We used adeno-associated viruses to deliver CRISPR gene editing components to four dogs and examined dystrophin protein expression 6 weeks after intramuscular delivery (n = 2) or 8 weeks after systemic delivery (n = 2). After systemic delivery in skeletal muscle, dystrophin was restored to levels ranging from 3 to 90% of normal, depending on muscle type. In cardiac muscle, dystrophin levels in the dog receiving the highest dose reached 92% of normal. The treated dogs also showed improved muscle histology. These large-animal data support the concept that, with further development, gene editing approaches may prove clinically useful for the treatment of DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonela Amoasii
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Exonics Therapeutics, 75 Kneeland Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - John C W Hildyard
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Comparative Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU, UK
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Efrain Sanchez-Ortiz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Alex Mireault
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Daniel Caballero
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Rachel Harron
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Comparative Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU, UK
| | | | - Claire Massey
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Comparative Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU, UK
| | - John M Shelton
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Rhonda Bassel-Duby
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Richard J Piercy
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Comparative Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU, UK
| | - Eric N Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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19
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Zhang Y, Long C, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN. Myoediting: Toward Prevention of Muscular Dystrophy by Therapeutic Genome Editing. Physiol Rev 2018; 98:1205-1240. [PMID: 29717930 PMCID: PMC6335101 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00046.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophies represent a large group of genetic disorders that significantly impair quality of life and often progress to premature death. There is no effective treatment for these debilitating diseases. Most therapies, developed to date, focus on alleviating the symptoms or targeting the secondary effects, while the underlying gene mutation is still present in the human genome. The discovery and application of programmable nucleases for site-specific DNA double-stranded breaks provides a powerful tool for precise genome engineering. In particular, the CRISPR/Cas system has revolutionized the genome editing field and is providing a new path for disease treatment by targeting the disease-causing genetic mutations. In this review, we provide a historical overview of genome-editing technologies, summarize the most recent advances, and discuss potential strategies and challenges for permanently correcting genetic mutations that cause muscular dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, Texas
| | - Chengzu Long
- Department of Molecular Biology, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, Texas
| | - Rhonda Bassel-Duby
- Department of Molecular Biology, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, Texas
| | - Eric N Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, Texas
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20
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Murphy S, Zweyer M, Henry M, Meleady P, Mundegar RR, Swandulla D, Ohlendieck K. Proteomic analysis of the sarcolemma-enriched fraction from dystrophic mdx-4cv skeletal muscle. J Proteomics 2018; 191:212-227. [PMID: 29408692 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2018.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The highly progressive neuromuscular disorder dystrophinopathy is triggered by primary abnormalities in the Dmd gene, which causes cytoskeletal instability and loss of sarcolemmal integrity. Comparative organellar proteomics was employed to identify sarcolemma-associated proteins with an altered concentration in dystrophic muscle tissue from the mdx-4cv mouse model of dystrophinopathy. A lectin agglutination method was used to prepare a sarcolemma-enriched fraction and resulted in the identification of 190 significantly changed protein species. Proteomics established differential expression patterns for key components of the muscle plasma membrane, cytoskeletal network, extracellular matrix, metabolic pathways, cellular stress response, protein synthesis, immune response and neuromuscular junction. The deficiency in dystrophin and drastic reduction in dystrophin-associated proteins appears to trigger (i) enhanced membrane repair involving myoferlin, dysferlin and annexins, (ii) increased protein synthesis and the compensatory up-regulation of cytoskeletal proteins, (iii) the decrease in the scaffolding protein periaxin and myelin PO involved in myelination of motor neurons, (iv) complex changes in bioenergetic pathways, (v) elevated levels of molecular chaperones to prevent proteotoxic effects, (vi) increased collagen deposition causing reactive myofibrosis, (vii) disturbed ion homeostasis at the sarcolemma and associated membrane systems, and (viii) a robust inflammatory response by the innate immune system in response to chronic muscle damage. SIGNIFICANCE: Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a devastating muscle wasting disease and represents the most frequently inherited neuromuscular disorder in humans. Genetic abnormalities in the Dmd gene cause a loss of sarcolemmal integrity and highly progressive muscle fibre degeneration. Changes in the neuromuscular system are associated with necrosis, fibrosis and inflammation. In order to evaluate secondary changes in the sarcolemma membrane system due to the lack of the membrane cytoskeletal protein dystrophin, comparative organellar proteomics was used to study the mdx-4cv mouse model of dystrophinopathy. Mass spectrometric analyses identified a variety of altered components of the extracellular matrix-sarcolemma-cytoskeleton axis in dystrophic muscles. This included proteins involved in membrane repair, cytoskeletal restoration, calcium homeostasis, cellular signalling, stress response, neuromuscular transmission and reactive myofibrosis, as well as immune cell infiltration. These pathobiochemical alterations agree with the idea of highly complex secondary changes in X-linked muscular dystrophy and support the concept that micro-rupturing of the dystrophin-deficient plasma membrane is at the core of muscle wasting pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Murphy
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Margit Zweyer
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Bonn, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Henry
- National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Paula Meleady
- National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Rustam R Mundegar
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Bonn, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Dieter Swandulla
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Bonn, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Kay Ohlendieck
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
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21
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Mu X, Tang Y, Takayama K, Chen W, Lu A, Wang B, Weiss K, Huard J. RhoA/ROCK inhibition improves the beneficial effects of glucocorticoid treatment in dystrophic muscle: implications for stem cell depletion. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 26:2813-2824. [PMID: 28549178 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoid treatment represents a standard palliative treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients, but various adverse effects have limited this treatment. In an effort to understand the mechanism(s) by which glucocorticoids impart their effects on the dystrophic muscle, and potentially reduce the adverse effects, we have studied the effect of prednisolone treatment in dystrophin/utrophin double knockout (dKO) mice, which exhibit a severe dystrophic phenotype due to rapid muscle stem cell depletion. Our results indicate that muscle stem cell depletion in dKO muscle is related to upregulation of mTOR, and that prednisolone treatment reduces the expression of mTOR and other pro-inflammatory mediators, consequently slowing down muscle stem cell depletion. However, prednisolone treatment was unable to improve the myogenesis of stem cells and reduce fibrosis in dKO muscle. We then studied whether glucocorticoid treatment can be improved by co-administration of an inhibitor of RhoA/ROCK signaling, which can be activated by glucocorticoids and was found in our previous work to be over-activated in dystrophic muscle. Our results indicate that the combination of RhoA/ROCK inhibition and glucocorticoid treatment in dystrophic muscle have a synergistic effect in alleviating the dystrophic phenotype. Taken together, our study not only shed light on the mechanism by which glucocorticoid imparts its beneficial effect on dystrophic muscle, but also revealed the synergistic effect of RhoA/ROCK inhibition and glucocorticoid treatment, which could lead to the development of more efficient therapeutic approaches for treating DMD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Mu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA.,Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Koji Takayama
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe 650-0017, Japan
| | - Wanqun Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jinan University, Guangdong, China
| | - Aiping Lu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA.,Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA
| | - Bing Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Kurt Weiss
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Johnny Huard
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA.,Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA
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Insights into the Pathogenic Secondary Symptoms Caused by the Primary Loss of Dystrophin. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/jfmk2040044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
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Amoasii L, Long C, Li H, Mireault AA, Shelton JM, Sanchez-Ortiz E, McAnally JR, Bhattacharyya S, Schmidt F, Grimm D, Hauschka SD, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN. Single-cut genome editing restores dystrophin expression in a new mouse model of muscular dystrophy. Sci Transl Med 2017; 9:eaan8081. [PMID: 29187645 PMCID: PMC5749406 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aan8081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe, progressive muscle disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. The majority of DMD mutations are deletions that prematurely terminate the dystrophin protein. Deletions of exon 50 of the dystrophin gene are among the most common single exon deletions causing DMD. Such mutations can be corrected by skipping exon 51, thereby restoring the dystrophin reading frame. Using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), we generated a DMD mouse model by deleting exon 50. These ΔEx50 mice displayed severe muscle dysfunction, which was corrected by systemic delivery of adeno-associated virus encoding CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing components. We optimized the method for dystrophin reading frame correction using a single guide RNA that created reframing mutations and allowed skipping of exon 51. In conjunction with muscle-specific expression of Cas9, this approach restored up to 90% of dystrophin protein expression throughout skeletal muscles and the heart of ΔEx50 mice. This method of permanently bypassing DMD mutations using a single cut in genomic DNA represents a step toward clinical correction of DMD mutations and potentially those of other neuromuscular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonela Amoasii
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Chengzu Long
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Alex A Mireault
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - John M Shelton
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Efrain Sanchez-Ortiz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - John R McAnally
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Samadrita Bhattacharyya
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Florian Schmidt
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Center for Infectious Diseases, Virology, Cluster of Excellence Cell Networks, DZIF partner, BioQuant Center, Heidelberg D-69120, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Center for Infectious Diseases, Virology, Cluster of Excellence Cell Networks, DZIF partner, BioQuant Center, Heidelberg D-69120, Germany
| | - Stephen D Hauschka
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Rhonda Bassel-Duby
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Eric N Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, University of Texas Southern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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Assoni A, Coatti G, Valadares MC, Beccari M, Gomes J, Pelatti M, Mitne-Neto M, Carvalho VM, Zatz M. Different Donors Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Secretomes Reveal Heterogeneous Profile of Relevance for Therapeutic Use. Stem Cells Dev 2016; 26:206-214. [PMID: 27762666 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2016.0218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal X-linked disorder caused by null mutations in the dystrophin gene. Although the primary defect is the deficiency of muscle dystrophin, secondary events, including chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and muscle regeneration failure are thought to actively contribute to disease progression. Despite several advances, there is still no effective therapy for DMD. Therefore, the potential regenerative capacities, and immune-privileged properties of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), have been the focus of intense investigation in different animal models aiming the treatment of these disorders. However, these studies have shown different outcomes according to the sources from which MSCs were obtained, which raise the question whether stem cells from distinct sources have comparable clinical effects. Here, we analyzed the protein content of the secretome of MSCs, isolated from three different sources (adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and uterine tubes), obtained from five donors and evaluated their in vitro properties when cocultured with DMD myoblasts. All MSC lineages showed pathways enrichment related to protein metabolic process, oxidation-reduction process, cell proliferation, and regulation of apoptosis. We found that MSCs secretome proteins and their effect in vitro vary significantly according to the tissue and donors, including opposite effects in apoptosis assay, indicating the importance of characterizing MSC secretome profile before its use in animal and clinical trials. Despite the individual differences a pool of conditioned media from all MSCs lineages was able to delay apoptosis and enhance migration when in contact with DMD myoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Assoni
- 1 Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences University of São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giuliana Coatti
- 1 Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences University of São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcos C Valadares
- 1 Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences University of São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Melinda Beccari
- 1 Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences University of São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Gomes
- 1 Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences University of São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mayra Pelatti
- 1 Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences University of São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Miguel Mitne-Neto
- 1 Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences University of São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil .,2 Fleury Group (Research and Development Department), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Mayana Zatz
- 1 Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, Institute of Biosciences University of São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil
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Matsuo M, Takeshima Y, Nishio H. Contributions of Japanese patients to development of antisense therapy for DMD. Brain Dev 2016; 38:4-9. [PMID: 26094594 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2015.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Revised: 05/25/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal progressive muscle wasting disease considered untreatable since its first description in 1868. In 1987, the dystrophin gene responsible for DMD was cloned. This paved the way for the development of therapies. Antisense oligonucleotide (AO)-mediated exon skipping therapy is now reaching the stage of marketing authorization. On the 20th anniversary of the proposal of AO-mediated exon skipping therapy for DMD, this review explores the contributions of Japanese patients. RESULTS In 1990, a Japanese DMD patient was reported as having a small deletion within dystrophin exon 19 and complicating exon 19 skipping in the absence of any mutation at the consensus splice sites. This led to identification of a splicing enhancer sequence within exon 19. Remarkably, AOs against this sequence were shown to induce exon skipping. This encouraged us to propose AO-mediated exon skipping therapy for DMD in 1995. The therapy's effectiveness was verified in a Japanese patient with a nonsense dystrophin mutation manifesting as Becker muscular dystrophy. The patient showed skipping of the nonsense mutation-encoding exon. Finally, a DMD patient carrying a deletion of exon 20 volunteered to undergo intravenous AO infusion, enabling us to obtain proof of concept. The findings from these three patients greatly facilitated studies on exon skipping therapy. As a result, more than 300 reports on AO-mediated exon skipping therapy for DMD have been published, including at least two a month during the last few years. CONCLUSION We greatly appreciate the important contributions of Japanese patients to development of the exon skipping therapy for DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masafumi Matsuo
- Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Kobe Gakuin University, Japan.
| | | | - Hisahide Nishio
- Department of Community Medicine and Social Healthcare Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
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Hakim CH, Peters AA, Feng F, Yao G, Duan D. Night Activity Reduction is a Signature Physiological Biomarker for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Dogs. J Neuromuscul Dis 2015; 2:397-407. [PMID: 27812508 PMCID: PMC5089072 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-150114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked lethal muscle disease. Dystrophic dogs are excellent models to test novel therapies for DMD. However, the use of the dog model has been hindered by the lack of an effective method to evaluate whole-body mobility. We recently showed that night activity is a good indicator of dog mobility. However, our published method relies on frame-by-frame manual processing of a 12-hour video for each dog. This labor-intensive and time-consuming approach makes it unrealistic to use this assay as a routine outcome measurement. OBJECTIVE To solve this problem, we developed an automatic video-capturing/imaging processing system. The new system reduces the data analysis time over 1,000 fold and also provides a more detailed activity profile of the dog. METHODS Using the new system, we analyzed more than 120 twelve-hour recordings from 12 normal and 22 affected dogs. RESULTS We observed similar activity profiles during repeated recording of the same dog. Throughout the night, normal dogs were in motion 10.4 ± 0.9% of the time while affected dogs were in motion 4.6 ± 0.2% of the time (p < 0.0001). Further, normal dogs made significantly more movements (p < 0.0001) while affected dogs rested significantly longer (p < 0.0001) during the period of recording (from 6 pm to 6 am next day). Importantly, statistical significance persisted irrespective of the coat color, gender and mutation type. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that night activity reduction is a robust, quantitative physiological biomarker for dystrophic dogs. The new system may be applicable to study mobility in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chady H Hakim
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Austin A Peters
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Feng Feng
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Gang Yao
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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Heller KN, Montgomery CL, Shontz KM, Clark KR, Mendell JR, Rodino-Klapac LR. Human α7 Integrin Gene (ITGA7) Delivered by Adeno-Associated Virus Extends Survival of Severely Affected Dystrophin/Utrophin-Deficient Mice. Hum Gene Ther 2015; 26:647-56. [PMID: 26076707 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2015.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in the DMD gene. It is the most common, severe childhood form of muscular dystrophy. We investigated an alternative to dystrophin replacement by overexpressing ITGA7 using adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery. ITGA7 is a laminin receptor in skeletal muscle that, like the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, links the extracellular matrix to the internal actin cytoskeleton. ITGA7 is expressed in DMD patients and overexpression does not elicit an immune response to the transgene. We delivered rAAVrh.74.MCK.ITGA7 systemically at 5-7 days of age to the mdx/utrn(-/-) mouse deficient for dystrophin and utrophin, a severe mouse model of DMD. At 8 weeks postinjection, widespread expression of ITGA7 was observed at the sarcolemma of multiple muscle groups following gene transfer. The increased expression of ITGA7 significantly extended longevity and reduced common features of the mdx/utrn(-/-) mouse, including kyphosis. Overexpression of α7 expression protected against loss of force following contraction-induced damage and increased specific force in the diaphragm and EDL muscles 8 weeks after gene transfer. Taken together, these results further support the use of α7 integrin as a potential therapy for DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin N Heller
- 1 Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, Ohio.,2 Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio
| | - Chrystal L Montgomery
- 1 Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, Ohio.,2 Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio
| | - Kimberly M Shontz
- 1 Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, Ohio.,2 Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio
| | - K Reed Clark
- 1 Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, Ohio.,2 Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jerry R Mendell
- 1 Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, Ohio.,2 Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio
| | - Louise R Rodino-Klapac
- 1 Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, Ohio.,2 Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio
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28
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Plantié E, Migocka-Patrzałek M, Daczewska M, Jagla K. Model organisms in the fight against muscular dystrophy: lessons from drosophila and Zebrafish. Molecules 2015; 20:6237-53. [PMID: 25859781 PMCID: PMC6272363 DOI: 10.3390/molecules20046237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophies (MD) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders that cause muscle weakness, abnormal contractions and muscle wasting, often leading to premature death. More than 30 types of MD have been described so far; those most thoroughly studied are Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and congenital MDs. Structurally, physiologically and biochemically, MDs affect different types of muscles and cause individual symptoms such that genetic and molecular pathways underlying their pathogenesis thus remain poorly understood. To improve our knowledge of how MD-caused muscle defects arise and to find efficacious therapeutic treatments, different animal models have been generated and applied. Among these, simple non-mammalian Drosophila and zebrafish models have proved most useful. This review discusses how zebrafish and Drosophila MD have helped to identify genetic determinants of MDs and design innovative therapeutic strategies with a special focus on DMD, DM1 and congenital MDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Plantié
- GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development laboratory), INSERM U1103, CNRS UMR6293, University of Clermont-Ferrand, 28 place Henri-Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; E-Mail:
| | - Marta Migocka-Patrzałek
- Department of Animal Developmental Biology, Institute of Experimental Biology, University of Wroclaw, 21 Sienkiewicza Street, 50-335 Wroclaw, Poland; E-Mails: (M.M.-P.); (M.D.)
| | - Małgorzata Daczewska
- Department of Animal Developmental Biology, Institute of Experimental Biology, University of Wroclaw, 21 Sienkiewicza Street, 50-335 Wroclaw, Poland; E-Mails: (M.M.-P.); (M.D.)
| | - Krzysztof Jagla
- GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development laboratory), INSERM U1103, CNRS UMR6293, University of Clermont-Ferrand, 28 place Henri-Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; E-Mail:
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Bobadilla M, Sáinz N, Rodriguez JA, Abizanda G, Orbe J, de Martino A, García Verdugo JM, Páramo JA, Prósper F, Pérez-Ruiz A. MMP-10 is required for efficient muscle regeneration in mouse models of injury and muscular dystrophy. Stem Cells 2014; 32:447-61. [PMID: 24123596 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Revised: 08/20/2013] [Accepted: 08/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of endopeptidases that are involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix components, have been implicated in skeletal muscle regeneration. Among the MMPs, MMP-2 and MMP-9 are upregulated in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a fatal X-linked muscle disorder. However, inhibition or overexpression of specific MMPs in a mouse model of DMD (mdx) has yielded mixed results regarding disease progression, depending on the MMP studied. Here, we have examined the role of MMP-10 in muscle regeneration during injury and muscular dystrophy. We found that skeletal muscle increases MMP-10 protein expression in response to damage (notexin) or disease (mdx mice), suggesting its role in muscle regeneration. In addition, we found that MMP-10-deficient muscles displayed impaired recruitment of endothelial cells, reduced levels of extracellular matrix proteins, diminished collagen deposition, and decreased fiber size, which collectively contributed to delayed muscle regeneration after injury. Also, MMP-10 knockout in mdx mice led to a deteriorated dystrophic phenotype. Moreover, MMP-10 mRNA silencing in injured muscles (wild-type and mdx) reduced muscle regeneration, while addition of recombinant human MMP-10 accelerated muscle repair, suggesting that MMP-10 is required for efficient muscle regeneration. Furthermore, our data suggest that MMP-10-mediated muscle repair is associated with VEGF/Akt signaling. Thus, our findings indicate that MMP-10 is critical for skeletal muscle maintenance and regeneration during injury and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Míriam Bobadilla
- Cell Therapy Area, Division of Cancer, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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Filamentous structures in skeletal muscle: anchors for the subsarcolemmal space. Med Mol Morphol 2014; 48:1-12. [PMID: 24519712 DOI: 10.1007/s00795-014-0070-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Accepted: 12/25/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
In skeletal muscle fibers, intermediate filaments and actin filaments provide structural support to the myofibrils and the sarcolemma. For many years, it was poorly understood from ultrastructural observations that how these filamentous structures were kept anchored. The present study was conducted to determine the architecture of filamentous anchoring structures in the subsarcolemmal space and the intermyofibrils. The diaphragms (Dp) of adult wild type and mdx mice (mdx is a model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy) were subjected to tension applied perpendicular to the long axis of the muscle fibers, with or without treatment with 1% Triton X-100 or 0.03% saponin. These experiments were conducted to confirm the presence and integrity of the filamentous anchoring structures. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that these structures provide firm transverse connections between the sarcolemma and peripheral myofibrils. Most of the filamentous structures appeared to be inserted into subsarcolemmal densities, forming anchoring connections between the sarcolemma and peripheral myofibrils. In some cases, actin filaments were found to run longitudinally in the subsarcolemmal space to connect to the sarcolemma or in some cases to connect to the intermyofibrils as elongated thin filaments. These filamentous anchoring structures were less common in the mdx Dp. Our data suggest that the transverse and longitudinal filamentous structures form an anchoring system in the subsarcolemmal space and the intermyofibrils.
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Li M, Andersson‐Lendahl M, Sejersen T, Arner A. Muscle dysfunction and structural defects of dystrophin‐null
sapje
mutant zebrafish larvae are rescued by ataluren treatment. FASEB J 2013; 28:1593-9. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.13-240044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mei Li
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologyKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | | | - Thomas Sejersen
- Department of Women's and Children's HealthKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Anders Arner
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologyKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
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Wnt signaling in skeletal muscle dynamics: myogenesis, neuromuscular synapse and fibrosis. Mol Neurobiol 2013; 49:574-89. [PMID: 24014138 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-013-8540-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2013] [Accepted: 08/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The signaling pathways activated by Wnt ligands are related to a wide range of critical cell functions, such as cell division, migration, and synaptogenesis. Here, we summarize compelling evidence on the role of Wnt signaling on several features of skeletal muscle physiology. We briefly review the role of Wnt pathways on the formation of muscle fibers during prenatal and postnatal myogenesis, highlighting its role on the activation of stem cells of the adult muscles. We also discuss how Wnt signaling regulates the precise formation of neuromuscular synapses, by modulating the differentiation of presynaptic and postsynaptic components, particularly regarding the clustering of acetylcholine receptors on the muscle membrane. In addition, based on previous evidence showing that Wnt pathways are linked to several diseases, such as Alzheimer's and cancer, we address recent studies indicating that Wnt signaling plays a key role in skeletal muscle fibrosis, a disease characterized by an increase in the extracellular matrix components leading to failure in muscle regeneration, tissue disorganization and loss of muscle activity. In this context, we also discuss the possible cross-talk between the Wnt/β-catenin pathway with two other critical profibrotic pathways, transforming growth factor β and connective tissue growth factor, which are potent stimulators of the accumulation of connective tissue, an effect characteristic of the fibrotic condition. As it has emerged in other pathological conditions, we suggests that muscle fibrosis may be a consequence of alterations of Wnt signaling activity.
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Systemic delivery of human mesenchymal stromal cells combined with IGF-1 enhances muscle functional recovery in LAMA2 dy/2j dystrophic mice. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2013; 9:93-109. [PMID: 22664740 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-012-9380-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The combination of cell therapy with growth factors could be a useful approach to treat progressive muscular dystrophies. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, that IGF-1 considerably enhances the myogenesis of human umbilical cord (UC) mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in vitro and that IGF-1 enhances interaction and restoration of dystrophin expression in co-cultures of MSCs and muscle cells from Duchenne patients. In vivo studies showed that human MSCs were able to reach the skeletal muscle of LAMA2(dy/2j) dystrophic mice, through systemic delivery, without immunosuppression. Moreover, we showed, for the first time, that IGF-1 injected systemically together with MSCs markedly reduced muscle inflammation and fibrosis, and significantly improved muscle strength in dystrophic mice. Our results suggest that a combined treatment with IGF-1 and MSCs enhances efficiency of muscle repair and, therefore, should be further considered as a potential therapeutic approach in muscular dystrophies.
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Kawakami E, Kawai N, Kinouchi N, Mori H, Ohsawa Y, Ishimaru N, Sunada Y, Noji S, Tanaka E. Local applications of myostatin-siRNA with atelocollagen increase skeletal muscle mass and recovery of muscle function. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64719. [PMID: 23717655 PMCID: PMC3661523 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Growing evidence suggests that small-interfering RNA (siRNA) can promote gene silencing in mammalian cells without induction of interferon synthesis or nonspecific gene suppression. Recently, a number of highly specific siRNAs targeted against disease-causing or disease-promoting genes have been developed. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of atelocollagen (ATCOL)-mediated application of siRNA targeting myostatin (Mst), a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth, into skeletal muscles of muscular dystrophy model mice. Methods and Findings We injected a nanoparticle complex containing myostatin-siRNA and ATCOL (Mst-siRNA/ATCOL) into the masseter muscles of mutant caveolin-3 transgenic (mCAV-3Tg) mice, an animal model for muscular dystrophy. Scrambled (scr) -siRNA/ATCOL complex was injected into the contralateral muscles as a control. Two weeks after injection, the masseter muscles were dissected for histometric analyses. To investigate changes in masseter muscle activity by local administration of Mst-siRNA/ATCOL complex, mouse masseter electromyography (EMG) was measured throughout the experimental period via telemetry. After local application of the Mst-siRNA/ATCOL complex, masseter muscles were enlarged, while no significant change was observed on the contralateral side. Histological analysis showed that myofibrils of masseter muscles treated with the Mst-siRNA/ATCOL complex were significantly larger than those of the control side. Real-time PCR analysis revealed a significant downregulation of Mst expression in the treated masseters of mCAV-3Tg mice. In addition, expression of myogenic transcription factors was upregulated in the Mst-siRNA-treated masseter muscle, while expression of adipogenic transcription factors was significantly downregulated. EMG results indicate that masseter muscle activity in mCAV-3Tg mice was increased by local administration of the Mst-siRNA/ATCOL complex. Conclusion These data suggest local administration of Mst-siRNA/ATCOL complex could lead to skeletal muscle hypertrophy and recovery of motor disability in mCAV-3Tg mice. Therefore, ATCOL-mediated application of siRNA is a potential tool for therapeutic use in muscular atrophy diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emi Kawakami
- Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Kawai
- Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Nao Kinouchi
- Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Hiroyo Mori
- Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yutaka Ohsawa
- Department of Neurology, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Naozumi Ishimaru
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yoshihide Sunada
- Department of Neurology, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Sumihare Noji
- Department of Life Systems, Institute of Technology and Science, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Eiji Tanaka
- Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
- * E-mail:
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35
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Abstract
Satellite cells are rare mononuclear skeletal muscle-resident cells that are the chief contributors to regenerative myogenesis following muscle injury. Although first identified more than 50 years ago, it is only recently that the murine satellite cell has become molecularly defined with the ability to prospectively isolate these cells from their niche. Human satellite cells are considerably less well understood with relatively few studies having been performed on them. In this review, a critical evaluation of this literature is provided along with a discussion of the practical and methodological issues involved with research on human satellite cells. The therapeutic potential of these and other cells types is also discussed, and the various challenges that face satellite cell therapy are addressed.
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36
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AAV-mediated overexpression of human α7 integrin leads to histological and functional improvement in dystrophic mice. Mol Ther 2013; 21:520-5. [PMID: 23319059 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2012.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe muscle disease caused by mutations in the DMD gene, with loss of its gene product, dystrophin. Dystrophin helps link integral membrane proteins to the actin cytoskeleton and stabilizes the sarcolemma during muscle activity. We investigated an alternative therapeutic approach to dystrophin replacement by overexpressing human α7 integrin (ITGA7) using adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery. ITGA7 is a laminin receptor in skeletal and cardiac muscle that links the extracellular matrix (ECM) to the actin skeleton. It is modestly upregulated in DMD muscle and has been proposed to be an important modifier of dystrophic symptoms. We delivered rAAV8.MCK.ITGA7 to the lower limb of mdx mice through isolated limb perfusion (ILP) of the femoral artery. We demonstrated ~50% of fibers in the tibialis anterior (TA) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) overexpressing α7 integrin at the sarcolemma following AAV gene transfer. The increase in ITGA7 in skeletal muscle significantly protected against loss of force following eccentric contraction-induced injury compared with untreated (contralateral) muscles while specific force following tetanic contraction was unchanged. Reversal of additional dystrophic features included reduced Evans blue dye (EBD) uptake and increased muscle fiber diameter. Taken together, this data shows that rAAV8.MCK.ITGA7 gene transfer stabilizes the sarcolemma potentially preserving mdx muscle from further damage. This therapeutic approach demonstrates promise as a viable treatment for DMD with further implications for other forms of muscular dystrophy.
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37
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Vitale JM, Schneider JS, Beck AJ, Zhao Q, Chang C, Gordan R, Michaels J, Bhaumik M, Fraidenraich D. Dystrophin-compromised sarcoglycan-δ-knockout diaphragm requires full wild-type embryonic stem cell reconstitution for correction. J Cell Sci 2012; 125:1807-13. [PMID: 22328522 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.100537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy-2F (LGMD-2F) is an incurable degenerative muscle disorder caused by a mutation in the sarcoglycan-δ (SGδ)-encoding gene (SGCD in humans). The lack of SGδ results in the complete disruption of the sarcoglycan complex (SGC) in the skeletal and cardiac muscle within the larger dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC). The long-term consequences of SG ablation on other members of the DGC are currently unknown. We produced mosaic mice through the injection of wild-type (WT) embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into SGδ-knockout (KO) blastocysts. ESC-derived SGδ was supplied to the sarcolemma of 18-month-old chimeric muscle, which resulted in the restoration of the SGC. Despite SGC rescue, and contrary to previous observations obtained with WT/mdx chimeras (a mouse rescue paradigm for Duchenne muscular dystrophy), low levels of ESC incorporation were insufficient to produce histological corrections in SGδ-KO skeletal muscle or heart. The inefficient process of ESC rescue was more evident in the SGδ-KO diaphragm, which had reduced levels of dystrophin and no compensatory utrophin, and needed almost full WT ESC reconstitution for histological improvement. The results suggest that the SGδ-KO mouse model of LGMD is not amenable to ESC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Vitale
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07107, USA
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38
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Kravtsova VV, Mikhailov VM, Sokolova AV, Mikhailova EV, Timonina NA, Nikol'skii EE, Krivoi II. Recovery of electrogenesis in skeletal muscles after cell therapy of myodystrophy in MDX mice. DOKLADY BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES : PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE USSR, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SECTIONS 2012; 441:357-9. [PMID: 22227679 DOI: 10.1134/s0012496611060093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- V V Kravtsova
- St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia
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39
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Chan S, Head SI. The role of branched fibres in the pathogenesis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Exp Physiol 2011; 96:564-71. [DOI: 10.1113/expphysiol.2010.056713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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40
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Kravtsova VV, Shenkman BS, Mikhailov VM, Nikolsky EE, Krivoi II. Effect of functional unloading and the deficit of dystrophin on the local hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane of a skeletal muscle fiber. Biophysics (Nagoya-shi) 2010. [DOI: 10.1134/s000635091005009x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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41
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Verma M, Asakura Y, Hirai H, Watanabe S, Tastad C, Fong GH, Ema M, Call JA, Lowe DA, Asakura A. Flt-1 haploinsufficiency ameliorates muscular dystrophy phenotype by developmentally increased vasculature in mdx mice. Hum Mol Genet 2010; 19:4145-59. [PMID: 20705734 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddq334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive genetic disease caused by mutations in the gene coding for the protein dystrophin. Recent work demonstrates that dystrophin is also found in the vasculature and its absence results in vascular deficiency and abnormal blood flow. This induces a state of ischemia further aggravating the muscular dystrophy pathogenesis. For an effective form of therapy of DMD, both the muscle and the vasculature need to be addressed. To reveal the developmental relationship between muscular dystrophy and vasculature, mdx mice, an animal model for DMD, were crossed with Flt-1 gene knockout mice to create a model with increased vasculature. Flt-1 is a decoy receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor, and therefore both homozygous (Flt-1(-/-)) and heterozygous (Flt-1(+/-)) Flt-1 gene knockout mice display increased endothelial cell proliferation and vascular density during embryogenesis. Here, we show that Flt-1(+/-) and mdx:Flt-1(+/-) adult mice also display a developmentally increased vascular density in skeletal muscle compared with the wild-type and mdx mice, respectively. The mdx:Flt-1(+/-) mice show improved muscle histology compared with the mdx mice with decreased fibrosis, calcification and membrane permeability. Functionally, the mdx:Flt-1(+/-) mice have an increase in muscle blood flow and force production, compared with the mdx mice. Consequently, the mdx:utrophin(-/-):Flt-1(+/-) mice display improved muscle histology and significantly higher survival rates compared with the mdx:utrophin(-/-) mice, which show more severe muscle phenotypes than the mdx mice. These data suggest that increasing the vasculature in DMD may ameliorate the histological and functional phenotypes associated with this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayank Verma
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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42
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Lewis C, Ohlendieck K. Proteomic profiling of naturally protected extraocular muscles from the dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 396:1024-9. [PMID: 20471957 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.05.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2010] [Accepted: 05/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most frequent neuromuscular disorder of childhood. Although this x-linked muscle disease is extremely progressive, not all subtypes of skeletal muscles are affected in the same way. While extremities and trunk muscles are drastically weakened, extraocular muscles are usually spared in Duchenne patients. In order to determine the global protein expression pattern in these naturally protected muscles we have performed a comparative proteomic study of the established mdx mouse model of x-linked muscular dystrophy. Fluorescence difference in-gel electrophoretic analysis of 9-week-old dystrophin-deficient versus age-matched normal extraocular muscle, using a pH 4-7 gel range, identified out of 1088 recognized protein spots a moderate expression change in only seven protein species. Desmin, apolipoprotein A-I binding protein and perilipin-3 were found to be increased and gelsolin, gephyrin, transaldolase, and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase were shown to be decreased in mdx extraocular muscles. Immunoblotting revealed a drastic up-regulation of utrophin, comparable levels of beta-dystroglycan and key Ca(2+)-regulatory elements, and an elevated concentration of small stress proteins in mdx extraocular muscles. This suggests that despite the lack of dystrophin only a limited number of cellular systems are perturbed in mdx extraocular muscles, probably due to the substitution of dystrophin by its autosomal homolog. Utrophin appears to prevent the loss of dystrophin-associated proteins and Ca(2+)-handling elements in extraocular muscle tissue. Interestingly, the adaptive mechanisms that cause the sparing of extraocular fibers seem to be closely linked to an enhanced cellular stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Lewis
- Department of Biology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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43
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Capote J, DiFranco M, Vergara JL. Excitation-contraction coupling alterations in mdx and utrophin/dystrophin double knockout mice: a comparative study. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2010; 298:C1077-86. [PMID: 20130206 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00428.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The double knockout mouse for utrophin and dystrophin (utr(-/-)/mdx) has been proposed to be a better model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) than the mdx mouse because the former displays more similar muscle pathology to that of the DMD patients. In this paper the properties of action potentials (APs) and Ca(2+) transients elicited by single and repetitive stimulation were studied to understand the excitation-contraction (EC) coupling alterations observed in muscle fibers from mdx and utr(-/-)/mdx mice. Based on the comparison of the AP durations with those of fibers from wild-type (WT) mice, fibers from both mdx and utr(-/-)/mdx mice could be divided in two groups: fibers with WT-like APs (group 1) and fibers with significantly longer APs (group 2). Although the proportion of fibers in group 2 was larger in utr(-/-)/mdx (36%) than in mdx mice (27%), the Ca(2+) release elicited by single stimulation was found to be similarly depressed (32-38%) in utr(-/-)/mdx and mdx fibers compared with WT counterparts regardless of the fiber's group. Stimulation at 100 Hz revealed that, with the exception of those from utr(-/-)/mdx mice, group 1 fibers were able to sustain Ca(2+) release for longer than group 2 fibers, which displayed an abrupt limitation even at the onset of the train. The differences in behavior between fibers in groups 1 and 2 became almost unnoticeable at 50 Hz stimulation. In general, fibers from utr(-/-)/mdx mice seem to display more persistent alterations in the EC coupling than those observed in the mdx model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Capote
- Dept. of Physiology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1751, USA
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44
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Roffe S, Hagai Y, Pines M, Halevy O. Halofuginone inhibits Smad3 phosphorylation via the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK pathways in muscle cells: effect on myotube fusion. Exp Cell Res 2010; 316:1061-9. [PMID: 20060825 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2010.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2009] [Revised: 01/02/2010] [Accepted: 01/04/2010] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Halofuginone, a novel inhibitor of Smad3 phosphorylation, has been shown to inhibit muscle fibrosis and to improve cardiac and skeletal muscle functions in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Here, we demonstrate that halofuginone promotes the phosphorylation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members in a C2 muscle cell line and in primary myoblasts derived from wild-type and mdx mice diaphragms. Halofuginone enhanced the association of phosphorylated Akt and MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) with the non-phosphorylated form of Smad3, accompanied by a reduction in Smad3 phosphorylation levels. This reduction was reversed by inhibitors of the phosphoinositide 3'-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) and MAPK/ERK pathways, suggesting their specific role in mediating halofuginone's inhibitory effect on Smad3 phosphorylation. Halofuginone enhanced Akt, MAPK/ERK and p38 MAPK phosphorylation and inhibited Smad3 phosphorylation in myotubes, all of which are crucial for myotube fusion. In addition, halofuginone increased the association Akt and MAPK/ERK with Smad3. As a consequence, halofuginone promoted myotube fusion, as reflected by an increased percentage of C2 and mdx myotubes containing high numbers of nuclei, and this was reversed by specific inhibitors of the PI3K and MAPK/ERK pathways. Together, the data suggest a role, either direct or via inhibition of Smad3 phosphorylation, for Akt or MAPK/ERK in halofuginone-enhanced myotube fusion, a feature which is crucial to improving muscle function in muscular dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzy Roffe
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO Box 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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45
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Kim H, Pierce-Shimomura JT, Oh HJ, Johnson BE, Goodman MB, McIntire SL. The dystrophin complex controls bk channel localization and muscle activity in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Genet 2009; 5:e1000780. [PMID: 20019812 PMCID: PMC2788698 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2009] [Accepted: 11/19/2009] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic defects in the dystrophin-associated protein complex (DAPC) are responsible for a variety of pathological conditions including muscular dystrophy, cardiomyopathy, and vasospasm. Conserved DAPC components from humans to Caenorhabditis elegans suggest a similar molecular function. C. elegans DAPC mutants exhibit a unique locomotory deficit resulting from prolonged muscle excitation and contraction. Here we show that the C. elegans DAPC is essential for proper localization of SLO-1, the large conductance, voltage-, and calcium-dependent potassium (BK) channel, which conducts a major outward rectifying current in muscle under the normal physiological condition. Through analysis of mutants with the same phenotype as the DAPC mutants, we identified the novel islo-1 gene that encodes a protein with two predicted transmembrane domains. We demonstrate that ISLO-1 acts as a novel adapter molecule that links the DAPC to SLO-1 in muscle. We show that a defect in either the DAPC or ISLO-1 disrupts normal SLO-1 localization in muscle. Consistent with observations that SLO-1 requires a high calcium concentration for full activation, we find that SLO-1 is localized near L-type calcium channels in muscle, thereby providing a mechanism coupling calcium influx with the outward rectifying current. Our results indicate that the DAPC modulates muscle excitability by localizing the SLO-1 channel to calcium-rich regions of C. elegans muscle. Dystrophin is a long rod-shaped protein that forms a complex with several membrane and cytoplasmic proteins in muscle. Genetic defects in components of this dystrophin complex are responsible for many forms of muscular dystrophy, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy. C. elegans possesses the dystrophin complex and mutations in its components cause muscular defects, indicating that the dystrophin complex has an evolutionary conserved role in muscle. Accumulating evidence in mammals indicates that dystrophic muscle exhibits an abnormal calcium homeostasis. It is not clear how defects in the dystrophin complex are linked to calcium homeostasis, however. In a C. elegans genetic study we found that a novel adaptor protein links the dystrophin complex to a calcium-sensitive potassium channel that mediates muscle inactivation. We further demonstrated that both the dystrophin complex and the adaptor protein localize the potassium channel in a close proximity to a muscle-activating calcium channel. This arrangement ensures that calcium increases accompanied by muscle activation are coupled to muscle inactivation. Defects in the dystrophin complex or the adaptor disrupt the localization of the potassium channel, thereby resulting in prolonged muscle activation and calcium ion increases. Our study provides a mechanism by which the dystrophin complex regulates cellular signaling and muscle excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongkyun Kim
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Science and Medicine, North Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, Emeryville, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (HK); (SLM)
| | - Jonathan T. Pierce-Shimomura
- Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - Hyun J. Oh
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Science and Medicine, North Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Brandon E. Johnson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Miriam B. Goodman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Steven L. McIntire
- Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, Emeryville, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (HK); (SLM)
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46
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Ruszczak C, Mirza A, Menhart N. Differential stabilities of alternative exon-skipped rod motifs of dystrophin. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2009; 1794:921-8. [PMID: 19286484 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2009.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2008] [Revised: 02/16/2009] [Accepted: 02/27/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Exon skipping repair is a strategy being investigated in early stage clinical trials to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This is most applicable to the majority of cases which arise when genetic defects cause frame shift mutations, and induced exon skipping of out-of-phase exons restores the reading frame. However, the consequences to the edited protein so produced have not been considered. In many cases alternative routes to restoring the reading frame are possible, and we show in a test case involving exon 44 that the resulting differently edited proteins greatly vary in stability, with one of them very similar to normal unskipped dystrophin, and the other much less stable as assessed by the thermodynamics of folding as well as resistance to proteolysis. This has implications for the design of optimal therapeutic exon skipping strategies, which presumably wish to result repairs with as much fidelity to normal dystrophin as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Ruszczak
- Division of Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago IL 60616, USA
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47
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Ghedini PC, Viel TA, Honda L, Avellar MCW, Godinho RO, Lima-Landman MTR, Lapa AJ, Souccar C. Increased expression of acetylcholine receptors in the diaphragm muscle of MDX mice. Muscle Nerve 2009; 38:1585-94. [PMID: 19016551 DOI: 10.1002/mus.21183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The absence of dystrophin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and in the mutant mdx mouse causes muscle degeneration and disruption of the neuromuscular junction. Based on evidence from the denervation-like properties of these muscles, we assessed the ligand-binding constants of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and the mRNA expression of individual subunits in membrane preparations of diaphragm muscles from adult (4-month-old) and aged (20-month-old) control and mdx mice. The concentration of nAChRs as determined by the maximal specific [(125)I]-alpha-bungarotoxin binding (Bmax) in the muscle membranes did not change with aging in both animal strains. When compared to age-matched control groups, the Bmax in mdx muscles was increased by 65% in adults, and by 103% in aged mice with no alteration of toxin affinity for nAChRs. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assays showed that mRNA transcripts for the nAChR alpha1, gamma, alpha7, and beta2, but not the epsilon subunits, were more abundant in mdx than in control muscles. The results indicate increased expression of extrajunctional nAChRs in the mdx diaphragm and reflect impairment of nAChR regulation in dystrophin-deficient muscles. These observations may be related to the resistance to nondepolarizing muscle relaxants and the high sensitivity to depolarizing agents reported in DMD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo C Ghedini
- Department of Pharmacology, Natural Products Section, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, 04044-020, Rua Três de Maio 100, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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48
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Mavrogeni S, Papavasiliou A, Douskou M, Kolovou G, Papadopoulou E, Cokkinos DV. Effect of deflazacort on cardiac and sternocleidomastoid muscles in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a magnetic resonance imaging study. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2009; 13:34-40. [PMID: 18406648 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2008.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2007] [Revised: 11/04/2007] [Accepted: 02/11/2008] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the involvement of cardiac and sternocleidomastoid muscles by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurement of T2 relaxation time and the left ventricular systolic function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) on treatment with deflazacort and compare them with DMD patients without treatment. SUBJECTS Seventeen patients with DMD (aged 17-22 years) on treatment with deflazacort for at least 7 years and 17 boys with DMD of younger age (12-15 years) without steroid treatment. All patients were free of cardiac or respiratory symptoms and had normal ECG and Holter monitor examination. METHODS T2 relaxation time of the myocardium (H), left (SCM-L) and right sternocleidomastoid (SCM-R) muscles and left ventricular systolic function were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in two groups of DMD patients. Myocardial and sternocleidomastoid muscles T2 relaxation time was calculated using 16 TEs (10-85 msec) and TR at least 2000 ms and T2 maps were created. RESULTS DMD on deflazacort had higher T2 relaxation time values of the heart and of both sternocleidomastoid muscles (T2H median (range): 47 (41-48) vs. 33 (31-37)ms, p<0.001, T2 SCM-L median (range): 35 (30-37) vs. 23 (20-26)ms, p<0.001, T2 SCM-R median (range): 35 (32-37) vs. 23 (20-27)ms, p<0.001) and left ventricular systolic function (LVEDV median (range): 95 (75-120) vs. 90 (80-105)ml, p=0.03, LVESV median (range): 45 (38-55) vs. 47 (41-51)ml, p=0.81(NS), LVEF median (range): 53% (51-57) vs. 48% (42-51), p<0.001) compared to DMD without treatment. CONCLUSIONS DMD patients on deflazacort are characterized by better preservation of the T2 relaxation time of myocardium and sternocleidomastoid muscles and better LV systolic function. The duration of this beneficial effect needs to be studied prospectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Mavrogeni
- Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Pendeli Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
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49
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Michel RN, Chin ER, Chakkalakal JV, Eibl JK, Jasmin BJ. Ca2+/calmodulin-based signalling in the regulation of the muscle fibre phenotype and its therapeutic potential via modulation of utrophin A and myostatin expression. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2008; 32:921-9. [PMID: 18059617 DOI: 10.1139/h07-093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Ca2+ signalling plays an important role in excitation-contraction coupling and the resultant force output of skeletal muscle. It is also known to play a crucial role in modulating both short- and long-term muscle cellular phenotypic adaptations associated with these events. Ca2+ signalling via the Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent phosphatase calcineurin (CnA) and via Ca2+/CaM-dependent kinases, such as CaMKI and CaMKII, is known to regulate hypertrophic growth in response to overload, to direct slow versus fast fibre gene expression, and to contribute to mitochondrial biogenesis. The CnA- and CaMK-dependent regulation of the downstream transcription factors nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2 are known to activate muscle-specific genes associated with a slower, more oxidative fibre phenotype. We have also recently shown the expression of utrophin A, a cytoskeletal protein that accumulates at the neuromuscular junction and plays a role in maturation of the postsynaptic apparatus, to be regulated by CnA-NFAT and Ca2+/CaM signalling. This regulation is fibre-type specific and potentiated by interactions with the transcriptional regulators and coactivators GA binding protein (also known as nuclear respiratory factor 2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1 alpha. Another downstream target of CnA signalling may be myostatin, a transforming growth factor-beta family member that is a negative regulator of muscle growth. While the list of the downstream targets of CnA/NFAT- and Ca2+/CaM-dependent signalling is emerging, the precise interaction of these pathways with the Ca2+-independent pathways p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2, phosphoinositide-3 kinase, and protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) must also be considered when deciphering fibre responses and plasticity to altered contractile load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin N Michel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,Concordia University, The Richard J. Renaud Science Complex, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada.
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50
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Costa MF, Oliveira AGF, Feitosa-Santana C, Zatz M, Ventura DF. Red-green color vision impairment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Am J Hum Genet 2007; 80:1064-75. [PMID: 17503325 PMCID: PMC1867095 DOI: 10.1086/518127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2007] [Accepted: 03/15/2007] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study evaluated the color vision of 44 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) (mean age 14.8 years; SD 4.9) who were submitted to a battery of four different color tests: Cambridge Colour Test (CCT), Neitz Anomaloscope, Ishihara, and American Optical Hardy-Rand-Rittler (AO H-R-R). Patients were divided into two groups according to the region of deletion in the dystrophin gene: upstream of exon 30 (n=12) and downstream of exon 30 (n=32). The control group was composed of 70 age-matched healthy male subjects with no ophthalmological complaints. Of the patients with DMD, 47% (21/44) had a red-green color vision defect in the CCT, confirmed by the Neitz Anomaloscope with statistical agreement (P<.001). The Ishihara and the AO H-R-R had a lower capacity to detect color defects--5% and 7%, respectively, with no statistical similarity between the results of these two tests nor between CCT and Anomaloscope results (P>.05). Of the patients with deletion downstream of exon 30, 66% had a red-green color defect. No color defect was found in the patients with deletion upstream of exon 30. A negative correlation between the color thresholds and age was found for the controls and patients with DMD, suggesting a nonprogressive color defect. The percentage (66%) of patients with a red-green defect was significantly higher than the expected <10% for the normal male population (P<.001). In contrast, patients with DMD with deletion upstream of exon 30 had normal color vision. This color defect might be partially explained by a retina impairment related to dystrophin isoform Dp260.
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