1
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Zarén P, Gawlik KI. Thrombospondin-4 deletion does not exacerbate muscular dystrophy in β-sarcoglycan-deficient and laminin α2 chain-deficient mice. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14757. [PMID: 38926599 PMCID: PMC11208443 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65473-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophy is a group of genetic disorders that lead to muscle wasting and loss of muscle function. Identifying genetic modifiers that alleviate symptoms or enhance the severity of a primary disease helps to understand mechanisms behind disease pathology and facilitates discovery of molecular targets for therapy. Several muscular dystrophies are caused by genetic defects in the components of the dystrophin-glycoprotein adhesion complex (DGC). Thrombospondin-4 overexpression has been shown to mitigate dystrophic disease in mouse models for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (dystrophin deficiency) and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2F (LGMD2F, δ-sarcoglycan deficiency), while deletion of the thrombospondin-4 gene exacerbated the diseases. Hence, thrombospondin-4 has been considered a candidate molecule for therapy of muscular dystrophies involving the DGC. We have investigated whether thrombospondin-4 could act as a genetic modifier for other DGC-associated diseases: limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2E (LGMD2E, β-sarcoglycan deficiency) and laminin α2 chain-deficient muscular dystrophy (LAMA2-RD). Deletion of the thrombospondin-4 gene in mouse models for LGMD2E and LAMA2-RD, respectively, did not result in worsening of the dystrophic phenotype. Loss of thrombospondin-4 did not enhance sarcolemma damage and did not impair trafficking of transmembrane receptors integrin α7β1 and dystroglycan in double knockout muscles. Our results suggest that thrombospondin-4 might not be a relevant therapeutic target for all muscular dystrophies involving the DGC. This data also demonstrates that molecular pathology between very similar diseases like LGMD2E and 2F can differ significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Zarén
- Muscle Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC C12, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kinga I Gawlik
- Muscle Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC C12, 221 84, Lund, Sweden.
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2
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Sandonà M, Saccone V. Post-translational Modification in Muscular Dystrophies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1382:71-84. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-05460-0_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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3
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Stirm M, Fonteyne LM, Shashikadze B, Lindner M, Chirivi M, Lange A, Kaufhold C, Mayer C, Medugorac I, Kessler B, Kurome M, Zakhartchenko V, Hinrichs A, Kemter E, Krause S, Wanke R, Arnold GJ, Wess G, Nagashima H, de Angelis MH, Flenkenthaler F, Kobelke LA, Bearzi C, Rizzi R, Bähr A, Reese S, Matiasek K, Walter MC, Kupatt C, Ziegler S, Bartenstein P, Fröhlich T, Klymiuk N, Blutke A, Wolf E. A scalable, clinically severe pig model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:273744. [PMID: 34796900 PMCID: PMC8688409 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Large animal models for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are crucial for evaluation of diagnostic procedures and treatment strategies. Pigs cloned from male cells lacking DMD exon 52 (DMDΔ52) resemble molecular, clinical and pathological hallmarks of DMD, but die before sexual maturity and cannot be propagated by breeding. Therefore, we generated female DMD+/- carriers. A single founder animal had 11 litters with 29 DMDY/-, 34 DMD+/- as well as 36 male and 29 female wild-type offspring. Breeding with F1 and F2 DMD+/- carriers resulted in additional 114 DMDY/- piglets. With intensive neonatal management, the majority survived for 3-4 months, providing statistically relevant cohorts for experimental studies. Pathological investigations and proteome studies of skeletal muscles and myocardium confirmed the resemblance of human disease mechanisms. Importantly, DMDY/- pigs reveal progressive myocardial fibrosis and increased expression of connexin-43, associated with significantly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction already at age 3 months. Furthermore, behavioral tests provided evidence for impaired cognitive ability. Our breeding cohort of DMDΔ52 pigs and standardized tissue repositories provide important resources for studying DMD disease mechanisms and for testing novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Stirm
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lina Marie Fonteyne
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bachuki Shashikadze
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Magdalena Lindner
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maila Chirivi
- Fondazione Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare, Milan, Italy.,Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy
| | - Andreas Lange
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Clara Kaufhold
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Mayer
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ivica Medugorac
- Population Genomics Group, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Barbara Kessler
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mayuko Kurome
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Valeri Zakhartchenko
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Arne Hinrichs
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kemter
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine Krause
- Friedrich Baur Institute, Department of Neurology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Wanke
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Georg J Arnold
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gerhard Wess
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hiroshi Nagashima
- Meiji University International Institute for Bio-Resource Research, Kawasaki, Japan
| | | | - Florian Flenkenthaler
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Levin Arne Kobelke
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Claudia Bearzi
- Fondazione Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare, Milan, Italy.,Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, UOS of Milan, National Research Council (IRGB-CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Rizzi
- Fondazione Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare, Milan, Italy.,Institute for Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Bähr
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Sven Reese
- Chair for Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kaspar Matiasek
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maggie C Walter
- Friedrich Baur Institute, Department of Neurology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Kupatt
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Sibylle Ziegler
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Bartenstein
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Fröhlich
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nikolai Klymiuk
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Blutke
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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Systemically Administered Homing Peptide Targets Dystrophic Lesions and Delivers Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGFβ) Inhibitor to Attenuate Murine Muscular Dystrophy Pathology. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13091506. [PMID: 34575582 PMCID: PMC8471674 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13091506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophy is a progressively worsening and lethal disease, where accumulation of functionality-impairing fibrosis plays a key pathogenic role. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) is a central signaling molecule in the development of fibrosis in muscular dystrophic humans and mice. Inhibition of TGFβ1 has proven beneficial in mouse models of muscular dystrophy, but the global strategies of TGFβ1 inhibition produce significant detrimental side effects. Here, we investigated whether murine muscular dystrophy lesion-specific inhibition of TGFβ1 signaling by the targeted delivery of therapeutic decorin (a natural TGFβ inhibitor) by a vascular homing peptide CAR (CARSKNKDC) would reduce skeletal muscle fibrosis and pathology and increase functional characteristics of skeletal muscle. We demonstrate that CAR peptide homes to dystrophic lesions with specificity in two muscular dystrophy models. Recombinant fusion protein consisting of CAR peptide and decorin homes selectively to sites of skeletal muscle damage in mdxDBA2/J and gamma-sarcoglycan deficient DBA2/J mice. This targeted delivery reduced TGFβ1 signaling as demonstrated by reduced nuclear pSMAD staining. Three weeks of targeted decorin treatment decreased both membrane permeability and fibrosis and improved skeletal muscle function in comparison to control treatments in the mdxD2 mice. These results show that selective delivery of decorin to the sites of skeletal muscle damage attenuates the progression of murine muscular dystrophy.
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The increasing role of muscle MRI to monitor changes over time in untreated and treated muscle diseases. Curr Opin Neurol 2021; 33:611-620. [PMID: 32796278 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000000851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review aims to discuss the recent results of studies published applying quantitative MRI sequences to large cohorts of patients with neuromuscular diseases. RECENT FINDINGS Quantitative MRI sequences are now available to identify and quantify changes in muscle water and fat content. These two components have been associated with acute and chronic injuries, respectively. Studies show that the increase in muscle water is not only reversible if therapies are applied successfully but can also predict fat replacement in neurodegenerative diseases. Muscle fat fraction correlates with muscle function tests and increases gradually over time in parallel with the functional decline of patients with neuromuscular diseases. There are new spectrometry-based sequences to quantify other components, such as glycogen, electrolytes or the pH of the muscle fibre, extending the applicability of MRI to the study of several processes in neuromuscular diseases. SUMMARY The latest results obtained from the study of long cohorts of patients with various neuromuscular diseases open the door to the use of this technology in clinical trials, which would make it possible to obtain a new measure for assessing the effectiveness of new treatments. The challenge is currently the popularization of these studies and their application to the monitoring of patients in the daily clinic.
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6
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Fabian L, Dowling JJ. Zebrafish Models of LAMA2-Related Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (MDC1A). Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:122. [PMID: 32742259 PMCID: PMC7364686 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
LAMA2-related congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD; LAMA2-MD), also referred to as merosin deficient CMD (MDC1A), is a severe neonatal onset muscle disease caused by recessive mutations in the LAMA2 gene. LAMA2 encodes laminin α2, a subunit of the extracellular matrix (ECM) oligomer laminin 211. There are currently no treatments for MDC1A, and there is an incomplete understanding of disease pathogenesis. Zebrafish, due to their high degree of genetic conservation with humans, large clutch sizes, rapid development, and optical clarity, have emerged as an excellent model system for studying rare Mendelian diseases. They are particularly suitable as a model for muscular dystrophy because they contain at least one orthologue to all major human MD genes, have muscle that is similar to human muscle in structure and function, and manifest obvious and easily measured MD related phenotypes. In this review article, we present the existing zebrafish models of MDC1A, and discuss their contribution to the understanding of MDC1A pathomechanisms and therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lacramioara Fabian
- Program for Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James J Dowling
- Program for Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Neurology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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7
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Implications of increased S100β and Tau5 proteins in dystrophic nerves of two mdx mouse models for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Mol Cell Neurosci 2020; 105:103484. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
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8
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Bello L, D'Angelo G, Villa M, Fusto A, Vianello S, Merlo B, Sabbatini D, Barp A, Gandossini S, Magri F, Comi GP, Pedemonte M, Tacchetti P, Lanzillotta V, Trucco F, D'Amico A, Bertini E, Astrea G, Politano L, Masson R, Baranello G, Albamonte E, De Mattia E, Rao F, Sansone VA, Previtali S, Messina S, Vita GL, Berardinelli A, Mongini T, Pini A, Pane M, Mercuri E, Vianello A, Bruno C, Hoffman EP, Morgenroth L, Gordish-Dressman H, McDonald CM, Pegoraro E. Genetic modifiers of respiratory function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:786-798. [PMID: 32343055 PMCID: PMC7261745 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Respiratory insufficiency is a major complication of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Its progression shows considerable interindividual variability, which has been less thoroughly characterized and understood than in skeletal muscle. We collected pulmonary function testing (PFT) data from a large retrospective cohort followed at Centers collaborating in the Italian DMD Network. Furthermore, we analyzed PFT associations with different DMD mutation types, and with genetic variants in SPP1, LTBP4, CD40, and ACTN3, known to modify skeletal muscle weakness in DMD. Genetic association findings were independently validated in the Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group Duchenne Natural History Study (CINRG‐DNHS). Methods and Results Generalized estimating equation analysis of 1852 PFTs from 327 Italian DMD patients, over an average follow‐up time of 4.5 years, estimated that forced vital capacity (FVC) declined yearly by −4.2%, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec by −5.0%, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) by −2.9%. Glucocorticoid (GC) treatment was associated with higher values of all PFT measures (approximately + 15% across disease stages). Mutations situated 3’ of DMD intron 44, thus predicted to alter the expression of short dystrophin isoforms, were associated with lower (approximately −6%) PFT values, a finding independently validated in the CINRG‐DNHS. Deletions amenable to skipping of exon 51 and 53 were independently associated with worse PFT outcomes. A meta‐analysis of the two cohorts identified detrimental effects of SPP1 rs28357094 and CD40 rs1883832 minor alleles on both FVC and PEF. Interpretation These findings support GC efficacy in delaying respiratory insufficiency, and will be useful for the design and interpretation of clinical trials focused on respiratory endpoints in DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Bello
- Department of Neurosciences DNS, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Grazia D'Angelo
- NeuroMuscular Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini (Lecco), Italy
| | - Matteo Villa
- Department of Neurosciences DNS, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Aurora Fusto
- Department of Neurosciences DNS, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Sara Vianello
- Department of Neurosciences DNS, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Beatrice Merlo
- Department of Neurosciences DNS, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Daniele Sabbatini
- Department of Neurosciences DNS, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Barp
- Department of Neurosciences DNS, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Sandra Gandossini
- NeuroMuscular Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini (Lecco), Italy
| | - Francesca Magri
- IRCSS Foundation, Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Dino Ferrari Centre, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo P Comi
- IRCSS Foundation, Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Dino Ferrari Centre, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Pedemonte
- Center of Translational and Experimental Myology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Paola Tacchetti
- Center of Translational and Experimental Myology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Valentina Lanzillotta
- Center of Translational and Experimental Myology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Federica Trucco
- Center of Translational and Experimental Myology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Adele D'Amico
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Bertini
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Guja Astrea
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luisa Politano
- Cardiomyology and Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, "Vanvitelli" University of Campania, Naples, Italy
| | - Riccardo Masson
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Baranello
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.,The Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, NIHR BRC University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health & Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emilio Albamonte
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Centro Clinico NeMO, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa De Mattia
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Centro Clinico NeMO, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Rao
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Centro Clinico NeMO, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria A Sansone
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Centro Clinico NeMO, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Previtali
- Neuromuscular Repair Unit, Inspe and Division of Neuroscience, IRCSS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Sonia Messina
- Department of Neurosciences and Nemo Sud Clinical Center, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Vita
- Department of Neurosciences and Nemo Sud Clinical Center, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Tiziana Mongini
- Neuromuscular Center, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Antonella Pini
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marika Pane
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Centro Clinico Nemo, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Mercuri
- Pediatric Neurology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Centro Clinico Nemo, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Vianello
- Department of Cardio-Thoracic Sciences, Respiratory Pathophysiology Division, University-City Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Claudio Bruno
- Center of Translational and Experimental Myology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Eric P Hoffman
- Binghamton University - SUNY, Binghamton, New York.,Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Lauren Morgenroth
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Heather Gordish-Dressman
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Craig M McDonald
- University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
| | | | - Elena Pegoraro
- Department of Neurosciences DNS, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Petrosino JM, Leask A, Accornero F. Genetic manipulation of CCN2/CTGF unveils cell-specific ECM-remodeling effects in injured skeletal muscle. FASEB J 2019; 33:2047-2057. [PMID: 30216109 PMCID: PMC6338641 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201800622rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In skeletal muscle, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling can either support the complete regeneration of injured muscle or facilitate pathologic fibrosis and muscle degeneration. Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of genetic disorders that results in a progressive decline in muscle function and is characterized by the abundant deposition of fibrotic tissue. Unlike acute injury, where ECM remodeling is acute and transient, in MD, remodeling persists until fibrosis obstructs the regenerative efforts of diseased muscles. Thus, understanding how ECM is deposited and organized is critical in the context of muscle repair. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF or CCN2) is a matricellular protein expressed by multiple cell types in response to tissue injury. Although used as a general marker of fibrosis, the cell type-dependent role of CTGF in dystrophic muscle has not been elucidated. To address this question, a conditional Ctgf myofiber and fibroblast-knockout mouse lines were generated and crossed to a dystrophic background. Only myofiber-selective inhibition of CTGF protected δ-sarcoglycan-null ( Sgcd-/-) mice from the dystrophic phenotype, and it did so by affecting collagen organization in a way that allowed for improvements in dystrophic muscle regeneration and function. To confirm that muscle-specific CTGF functions to mediate collagen organization, we generated mice with transgenic muscle-specific overexpression of CTGF. Again, genetic modulation of CTGF in muscle was not sufficient to drive fibrosis, but altered collagen content and organization after injury. Our results show that the myofibers are critical mediators of the deleterious effects associated with CTGF in MD and acutely injured skeletal muscle.-Petrosino, J. M., Leask, A., Accornero, F. Genetic manipulation of CCN2/CTGF unveils cell-specific ECM-remodeling effects in injured skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Petrosino
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrew Leask
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Federica Accornero
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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10
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Iskenderian A, Liu N, Deng Q, Huang Y, Shen C, Palmieri K, Crooker R, Lundberg D, Kastrapeli N, Pescatore B, Romashko A, Dumas J, Comeau R, Norton A, Pan J, Rong H, Derakhchan K, Ehmann DE. Myostatin and activin blockade by engineered follistatin results in hypertrophy and improves dystrophic pathology in mdx mouse more than myostatin blockade alone. Skelet Muscle 2018; 8:34. [PMID: 30368252 PMCID: PMC6204036 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-018-0180-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myostatin antagonists are being developed as therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy due to their strong hypertrophic effects on skeletal muscle. Engineered follistatin has the potential to combine the hypertrophy of myostatin antagonism with the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of activin A antagonism. METHODS Engineered follistatin was administered to C57BL/6 mice for 4 weeks, and muscle mass and myofiber size was measured. In the mdx model, engineered follistatin was dosed for 12 weeks in two studies comparing to an Fc fusion of the activin IIB receptor or an anti-myostatin antibody. Functional measurements of grip strength and tetanic force were combined with tissue analysis for markers of necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis to evaluate improvement in dystrophic pathology. RESULTS In wild-type and mdx mice, dose-dependent increases in muscle mass and quadriceps myofiber size were observed for engineered follistatin. In mdx, increases in grip strength and tetanic force were combined with improvements in muscle markers for necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Improvements in dystrophic pathology were greater for engineered follistatin than the anti-myostatin antibody. CONCLUSIONS Engineered follistatin generated hypertrophy and anti-fibrotic effects in the mdx model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Iskenderian
- Discovery Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nan Liu
- Discovery Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Qingwei Deng
- Research, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yan Huang
- Discovery Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Chuan Shen
- Discovery Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kathleen Palmieri
- Research, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Robert Crooker
- Research, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dianna Lundberg
- Discovery Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Niksa Kastrapeli
- Discovery Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Brian Pescatore
- Discovery Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alla Romashko
- Discovery Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - John Dumas
- Discovery Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Robert Comeau
- Discovery Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Angela Norton
- Discovery Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jing Pan
- Discovery Therapeutics, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Haojing Rong
- Nonclinical Development, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Katayoun Derakhchan
- Nonclinical Development, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA.,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David E Ehmann
- Research, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA. .,Drug Discovery, Shire, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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11
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Casey TM, Walker JF, Bhide K, Thimmapuram J, Schoonmaker JP. Global transcriptional differences in myokine and inflammatory genes in muscle of mature steer progeny are related to maternal lactation diet and muscle composition. Physiol Genomics 2018; 50:884-892. [PMID: 30074426 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00060.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Steer progeny suckled by cows fed a dried distillers grains and solubles (DDGS) diet the first 3 mo of lactation were heavier during feedlot finishing and had significantly lower marbling and larger longissimus muscles than steers suckled by cows fed a control diet (CON). These differences were profound in that progeny were managed and fed identically from weaning until finishing, and findings suggest that the suckling period established the developmental program of muscle composition. Here transcriptomes of longissimus muscle were measured by next-generation sequencing to investigate whether there were any developmental clues to the differences in marbling scores and muscle content between steers suckled by DDGS ( n = 5) vs. control (CON; n = 5) diet-fed cows during lactation. There were 809 genes differentially expressed ( P-adj<0.1) between CON and DDGS muscle. Of these 636 were upregulated and 173 downregulated in DDGS relative to CON. Overall the DDGS vs. CON muscle transcriptomic signature was promyogenic and antiadipogenic. In particular, myokines/satellite cell maintenance factors were found among upregulated (LIF, CNTF, FGFB1, EPHB1) genes. The antiadipogenic signature was typified by the upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines and receptors (IL1RAP, IL1RL2, IL13RA2, IL1F10), and downregulation of expression of inflammation/inflammatory cytokines and receptor (TNF, IL6R, CXCL9), which suggests a selection of differentiation pathways away from adipogenic line. The upregulation of TGFB, SPP1, and INHBA supports selection of fibroblast lineage of cells. Thus, the lactation phase of production can effect meat quality by affecting transcriptional signatures that favor myogenesis and depress inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. M. Casey
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - J. F. Walker
- Bioinformatics Core, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - K. Bhide
- Bioinformatics Core, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - J. Thimmapuram
- Bioinformatics Core, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | - J. P. Schoonmaker
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
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12
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Weiss RB, Vieland VJ, Dunn DM, Kaminoh Y, Flanigan KM. Long-range genomic regulators of THBS1 and LTBP4 modify disease severity in duchenne muscular dystrophy. Ann Neurol 2018; 84:234-245. [PMID: 30014611 PMCID: PMC6168392 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe X-linked recessive disease caused by loss-of-function dystrophin (DMD) mutations in boys, who typically suffer loss of ambulation by age 12. Previously, we reported that coding variants in latent transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)-binding protein 4 (LTBP4) were associated with reduced TGFβ signaling and prolonged ambulation (p = 1.0 × 10-3 ) in DMD patients; this result was subsequently replicated by other groups. In this study, we evaluated whether additional DMD modifier genes are observed using whole-genome association in the original cohort. METHODS We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) influencing loss of ambulation (LOA) in the same cohort of 253 DMD patients used to detect the candidate association with LTBP4 coding variants. Gene expression and chromatin interaction databases were used to fine-map association signals above the threshold for genome-wide significance. RESULTS Despite the small sample size, two loci associated with prolonged ambulation met genome-wide significance and were tagged by rs2725797 (chr15, p = 6.6 × 10-9 ) and rs710160 (chr19, p = 4.7 × 10-8 ). Gene expression and chromatin interaction data indicated that the latter SNP tags regulatory variants of LTBP4, whereas the former SNP tags regulatory variants of thrombospondin-1 (THBS1): an activator of TGFβ signaling by direct binding to LTBP4 and an inhibitor of proangiogenic nitric oxide signaling. INTERPRETATION Together with previous evidence implicating LTBP4, the THBS1 modifier locus emphasizes the role that common regulatory variants in gene interaction networks can play in mitigating disease progression in muscular dystrophy. Ann Neurol 2018;84:234-245.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert B. Weiss
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Veronica J. Vieland
- Battelle Center for Mathematical Medicine, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Statistics,The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Diane M. Dunn
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Yuuki Kaminoh
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Kevin M. Flanigan
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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13
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Cury SS, Freire PP, Martinucci B, Dos Santos VC, de Oliveira G, Ferretti R, Dal-Pai-Silva M, Pacagnelli FL, Delella FK, Carvalho RF. Fractal dimension analysis reveals skeletal muscle disorganization in mdx mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 503:109-115. [PMID: 29852164 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.05.189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by muscle extracellular matrix disorganization due to the increased collagen deposition leading to fibrosis that significantly exacerbates disease progression. Fractal dimension analysis is a method that quantifies tissue/cellular disorganization and characterizes complex structures. The first objective of the present study was use fractal analysis to evaluate extracellular matrix disorganization in mdx mice soleus muscle. Next, we mimic a hyper-proliferation of fibrogenic cells by co-culturing NIH3T3 fibroblasts and C2C12 myoblasts to test whether fibroblasts induce disorganization in myoblast arrangement. Here, we show mdx presented high skeletal muscle disorganization as revealed by fractal analysis. Similarly, this method revealed that myoblasts co-cultured with fibroblast also presented cellular arrangement disorganization. We also reanalyzed skeletal muscle microarrays transcriptomic data from mdx and DMD patients that revealed transcripts related to extracellular matrix organization. This analysis also identified Osteoglycin, which was validated as a potential regulator of ECM organization in mdx dystrophic muscles. Our results demonstrate that fractal dimension is useful tool for the analysis of skeletal muscle disorganization in DMD and also reveal a fibroblast-myoblast cross-talk that contributes to "in vitro" myoblast disarrangement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Santiloni Cury
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paula Paccielli Freire
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruno Martinucci
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Grasieli de Oliveira
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renato Ferretti
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maeli Dal-Pai-Silva
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francis Lopes Pacagnelli
- Department of Physiotherapy, University of Western São Paulo (UNOESTE), Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Flávia Karina Delella
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Robson Francisco Carvalho
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
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14
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At the Crossroads of Clinical and Preclinical Research for Muscular Dystrophy-Are We Closer to Effective Treatment for Patients? Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051490. [PMID: 29772730 PMCID: PMC5983724 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Among diseases affecting skeletal muscle, muscular dystrophy is one of the most devastating and complex disorders. The term ‘muscular dystrophy’ refers to a heterogeneous group of genetic diseases associated with a primary muscle defect that leads to progressive muscle wasting and consequent loss of muscle function. Muscular dystrophies are accompanied by numerous clinical complications and abnormalities in other tissues that cause extreme discomfort in everyday life. The fact that muscular dystrophy often takes its toll on babies and small children, and that many patients die at a young age, adds to the cruel character of the disease. Clinicians all over the world are facing the same problem: they have no therapy to offer except for symptom-relieving interventions. Patients, their families, but also clinicians, are in urgent need of an effective cure. Despite advances in genetics, increased understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying muscle disease, despite a sweeping range of successful preclinical strategies and relative progress of their implementation in the clinic, therapy for patients is currently out of reach. Only a greater comprehension of disease mechanisms, new preclinical studies, development of novel technologies, and tight collaboration between scientists and physicians can help improve clinical treatment. Fortunately, inventiveness in research is rapidly extending the limits and setting new standards for treatment design. This review provides a synopsis of muscular dystrophy and considers the steps of preclinical and clinical research that are taking the muscular dystrophy community towards the fundamental goal of combating the traumatic disease.
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15
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Fallon JR, McNally EM. Non-Glycanated Biglycan and LTBP4: Leveraging the extracellular matrix for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy therapeutics. Matrix Biol 2018; 68-69:616-627. [PMID: 29481844 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2018.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays key roles in normal and diseased skeletal and cardiac muscle. In healthy muscle the ECM is essential for transmitting contractile force, maintaining myofiber integrity and orchestrating cellular signaling. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is caused by loss of dystrophin, a cytosolic protein that anchors a transmembrane complex and serves as a vital link between the actin cytoskeleton and the basal lamina. Loss of dystrophin leads to membrane fragility and impaired signaling, resulting in myofiber death and cycles of inflammation and regeneration. Fibrosis is also a cardinal feature of DMD. In this review, we will focus on two cases where understanding the normal function and regulation of ECM in muscle has led to the discovery of candidate therapeutics for DMD. Biglycan is a small leucine rich repeat ECM protein present as two glycoforms in muscle that have dramatically different functions. One widely expressed form is biglycan proteoglycan (PG) that bears two chondroitin sulfate GAG chains (typically chondroitin sulfate) and two N-linked carbohydrates. The second glycoform, referred to as 'NG' (non-glycanated) biglycan, lacks the GAG side chains. NG, but not PG biglycan recruits utrophin, an autosomal paralog of dystrophin, and an NOS-containing signaling complex to the muscle cell membrane. Recombinant NG biglycan can be systemically delivered to dystrophic mice where it upregulates utrophin at the membrane and improves muscle health and function. An optimized version of NG biglycan, 'TVN-102', is under development as a candidate therapeutic for DMD. A second matrix-embedded protein being evaluated for therapeutic potential is latent TGFβ binding protein 4 (LTBP4). Identified in a genomic screen for modifiers of muscular dystrophy, LTBP4 binds both TGFβ and myostatin. Genetic studies identified the hinge region of LTBP4 as linked to TGFβ release and contributing to the "hyper-TGFβ" signaling state that promotes fibrosis in muscular dystrophy. This hinge region can be stabilized by antibodies directed towards this domain. Stabilizing the hinge region of LTBP4 is expected to reduce latent TGFβ release and thus reduce fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin R Fallon
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
| | - Elizabeth M McNally
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
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16
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Contreras O, Villarreal M, Brandan E. Nilotinib impairs skeletal myogenesis by increasing myoblast proliferation. Skelet Muscle 2018; 8:5. [PMID: 29463296 PMCID: PMC5819301 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-018-0150-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are effective therapies with demonstrated antineoplastic activity. Nilotinib is a second-generation FDA-approved TKI designed to overcome Imatinib resistance and intolerance in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Interestingly, TKIs have also been shown to be an efficient treatment for several non-malignant disorders such fibrotic diseases, including those affecting skeletal muscles. Methods We investigated the role of Nilotinib on skeletal myogenesis using the well-established C2C12 myoblast cell line. We evaluated the impact of Nilotinib during the time course of skeletal myogenesis. We compared the effect of Nilotinib with the well-known p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. MEK1/2 UO126 and PI3K/AKT LY294002 inhibitors were used to identify the signaling pathways involved in Nilotinib-related effects on myoblast. Adult primary myoblasts were also used to corroborate the inhibition of myoblasts fusion and myotube-nuclei positioning by Nilotinib. Results We found that Nilotinib inhibited myogenic differentiation, reducing the number of myogenin-positive myoblasts and decreasing myogenin and MyoD expression. Furthermore, Nilotinib-mediated anti-myogenic effects impair myotube formation, myosin heavy chain expression, and compromise myotube-nuclei positioning. In addition, we found that p38 MAPK is a new off-target protein of Nilotinib, which causes inhibition of p38 phosphorylation in a similar manner as the well-characterized p38 inhibitor SB203580. Nilotinib induces the activation of ERK1/2 and AKT on myoblasts but not in myotubes. We also found that Nilotinib stimulates myoblast proliferation, a process dependent on ERK1/2 and AKT activation. Conclusions Our findings suggest that Nilotinib may have important negative effects on muscle homeostasis, inhibiting myogenic differentiation but stimulating myoblasts proliferation. Additionally, we found that Nilotinib stimulates the activation of ERK1/2 and AKT. On the other hand, we suggest that p38 MAPK is a new off-target of Nilotinib. Thus, there is a necessity for future studies to investigate the long-term effects of TKIs on skeletal muscle homeostasis, along with potential detrimental effects in cell differentiation and proliferation in patients receiving TKI therapies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13395-018-0150-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osvaldo Contreras
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular and Center for Aging and Regeneration (CARE-ChileUC), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, 8331150, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maximiliano Villarreal
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular and Center for Aging and Regeneration (CARE-ChileUC), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, 8331150, Santiago, Chile
| | - Enrique Brandan
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular and Center for Aging and Regeneration (CARE-ChileUC), Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, 8331150, Santiago, Chile.
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17
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DiMario JX. KLF10 Gene Expression Modulates Fibrosis in Dystrophic Skeletal Muscle. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2018; 188:1263-1275. [PMID: 29458012 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2018.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Dystrophic skeletal muscle is characterized by fibrotic accumulation of extracellular matrix components that compromise muscle structure, function, and capacity for regeneration. Tissue fibrosis is often initiated and sustained through transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling, and Krüppel-like factor 10 (KLF10) is an immediate early gene that is transcriptionally activated in response to TGF-β signaling. It encodes a transcriptional regulator that mediates the effects of TGF-β signaling in a variety of cell types. This report presents results of investigation of the effects of loss of KLF10 gene expression in wild-type and dystrophic (mdx) skeletal muscle. On the basis of RT-PCR, Western blot, and histological analyses of mouse tibialis anterior and diaphragm muscles, collagen type I (Col1a1) and fibronectin gene expression and protein deposition were increased in KLF10-/- mice, contributing to increased fibrosis. KLF10-/- mice displayed increased expression of genes encoding SMAD2, SMAD3, and SMAD7, particularly in diaphragm muscle. SMAD4 gene expression was unchanged. Expression of the extracellular matrix remodeling genes, MMP2 and TIMP1, was also increased in KLF10-deficient mouse muscle. Histological analyses and assays of hydroxyproline content indicated that the loss of KLF10 increased fibrosis. Dystrophic KLF10-null mice also had reduced grip strength. The effects of loss of KLF10 gene expression were most pronounced in dystrophic diaphragm muscle, suggesting that KLF10 moderates the fibrotic effects of TGF-β signaling in chronically damaged regenerating muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph X DiMario
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, Illinois.
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18
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Wilson K, Faelan C, Patterson-Kane JC, Rudmann DG, Moore SA, Frank D, Charleston J, Tinsley J, Young GD, Milici AJ. Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophies: A Review of Animal Models, Clinical End Points, and Biomarker Quantification. Toxicol Pathol 2017; 45:961-976. [PMID: 28974147 DOI: 10.1177/0192623317734823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) are neuromuscular disorders that primarily affect boys due to an X-linked mutation in the DMD gene, resulting in reduced to near absence of dystrophin or expression of truncated forms of dystrophin. Some newer therapeutic interventions aim to increase sarcolemmal dystrophin expression, and accurate dystrophin quantification is critical for demonstrating pharmacodynamic relationships in preclinical studies and clinical trials. Current challenges with measuring dystrophin include the variation in protein expression within individual muscle fibers and across whole muscle samples, the presence of preexisting dystrophin-positive revertant fibers, and trace amounts of residual dystrophin. Immunofluorescence quantification of dystrophin can overcome many of these challenges, but manual quantification of protein expression may be complicated by variations in the collection of images, reproducible scoring of fluorescent intensity, and bias introduced by manual scoring of typically only a few high-power fields. This review highlights the pathology of DMD and BMD, discusses animal models of DMD and BMD, and describes dystrophin biomarker quantitation in DMD and BMD, with several image analysis approaches, including a new automated method that evaluates protein expression of individual muscle fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Wilson
- 1 Flagship Biosciences, Inc., Westminster, Colorado, USA
| | - Crystal Faelan
- 1 Flagship Biosciences, Inc., Westminster, Colorado, USA
| | | | | | - Steven A Moore
- 2 Department of Pathology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Diane Frank
- 3 Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jay Charleston
- 3 Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jon Tinsley
- 4 Summit Therapeutics, Abingdon, United Kingdom
| | - G David Young
- 1 Flagship Biosciences, Inc., Westminster, Colorado, USA
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19
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Quattrocelli M, Capote J, Ohiri JC, Warner JL, Vo AH, Earley JU, Hadhazy M, Demonbreun AR, Spencer MJ, McNally EM. Genetic modifiers of muscular dystrophy act on sarcolemmal resealing and recovery from injury. PLoS Genet 2017; 13:e1007070. [PMID: 29065150 PMCID: PMC5669489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic disruption of the dystrophin complex produces muscular dystrophy characterized by a fragile muscle plasma membrane leading to excessive muscle degeneration. Two genetic modifiers of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy implicate the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) pathway, osteopontin encoded by the SPP1 gene and latent TGFβ binding protein 4 (LTBP4). We now evaluated the functional effect of these modifiers in the context of muscle injury and repair to elucidate their mechanisms of action. We found that excess osteopontin exacerbated sarcolemmal injury, and correspondingly, that loss of osteopontin reduced injury extent both in isolated myofibers and in muscle in vivo. We found that ablation of osteopontin was associated with reduced expression of TGFβ and TGFβ-associated pathways. We identified that increased TGFβ resulted in reduced expression of Anxa1 and Anxa6, genes encoding key components of the muscle sarcolemma resealing process. Genetic manipulation of Ltbp4 in dystrophic muscle also directly modulated sarcolemmal resealing, and Ltbp4 alleles acted in concert with Anxa6, a distinct modifier of muscular dystrophy. These data provide a model in which a feed forward loop of TGFβ and osteopontin directly impacts the capacity of muscle to recover from injury, and identifies an intersection of genetic modifiers on muscular dystrophy.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Annexin A1/genetics
- Annexin A1/metabolism
- Annexin A6/genetics
- Annexin A6/metabolism
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Genes, Modifier
- Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins/physiology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred DBA
- Mice, Knockout
- Muscle, Skeletal/injuries
- Muscle, Skeletal/physiology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/genetics
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/pathology
- Osteopontin/genetics
- Osteopontin/metabolism
- Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics
- Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism
- Recovery of Function
- Sarcolemma/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Quattrocelli
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Joanna Capote
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Joyce C. Ohiri
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - James L. Warner
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Andy H. Vo
- Committee on Development, Regeneration, and Stem Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Judy U. Earley
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Michele Hadhazy
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Alexis R. Demonbreun
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Melissa J. Spencer
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth M. McNally
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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20
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Quattrocelli M, Salamone IM, Page PG, Warner JL, Demonbreun AR, McNally EM. Intermittent Glucocorticoid Dosing Improves Muscle Repair and Function in Mice with Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2017; 187:2520-2535. [PMID: 28823869 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2017.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The muscular dystrophies are genetically diverse. Shared pathological features among muscular dystrophies include breakdown, or loss of muscle, and accompanying fibrotic replacement. Novel strategies are needed to enhance muscle repair and function and to slow this pathological remodeling. Glucocorticoid steroids, like prednisone, are known to delay loss of ambulation in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy but are accompanied by prominent adverse effects. However, less is known about the effects of steroid administration in other types of muscular dystrophies, including limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs). LGMD 2B is caused by loss of dysferlin, a membrane repair protein, and LGMD 2C is caused by loss of the dystrophin-associated protein, γ-sarcoglycan. Herein, we assessed the efficacy of steroid dosing on sarcolemmal repair, muscle function, histopathology, and the regenerative capacity of primary muscle cells. We found that in murine models of LGMD 2B and 2C, daily prednisone dosing reduced muscle damage and fibroinflammatory infiltration. However, daily prednisone dosing also correlated with increased muscle adipogenesis and atrophic remodeling. Conversely, intermittent dosing of prednisone, provided once weekly, enhanced muscle repair and did not induce atrophy or adipogenesis, and was associated with improved muscle function. These data indicate that dosing frequency of glucocorticoid steroids affects muscle remodeling in non-Duchenne muscular dystrophies, suggesting a positive outcome associated with intermittent steroid dosing in LGMD 2B and 2C muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Quattrocelli
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Isabella M Salamone
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Patrick G Page
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - James L Warner
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Alexis R Demonbreun
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Elizabeth M McNally
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
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Gonzalez D, Contreras O, Rebolledo DL, Espinoza JP, van Zundert B, Brandan E. ALS skeletal muscle shows enhanced TGF-β signaling, fibrosis and induction of fibro/adipogenic progenitor markers. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177649. [PMID: 28520806 PMCID: PMC5433732 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in which upper and lower motoneurons degenerate leading to muscle wasting, paralysis and eventually death from respiratory failure. Several studies indicate that skeletal muscle contributes to disease progression; however the molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Fibrosis is a common feature in skeletal muscle under chronic damage conditions such as those caused by muscular dystrophies or denervation. However, the exact mechanisms of fibrosis induction and the cellular bases of this pathological response are unknown. We show that extracellular matrix (ECM) components are augmented in skeletal muscles of symptomatic hSOD1G93A mice, a widely used murine model of ALS. These mice also show increased TGF-β1 mRNA levels, total Smad3 protein levels and p-Smad3 positive nuclei. Furthermore, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α (PDGFRα), Tcf4 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) levels are augmented in the skeletal muscle of symptomatic hSOD1G93A mice. Additionally, the fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), which are the main producers of ECM constituents, are also increased in these pathogenic conditions. Therefore, FAPs and ECM components are more abundant in symptomatic stages of the disease than in pre-symptomatic stages. We present evidence that fibrosis observed in skeletal muscle of symptomatic hSOD1G93A mice is accompanied with an induction of TGF-β signaling, and also that FAPs might be involved in triggering a fibrotic response. Co-localization of p-Smad3 positive cells together with PDGFRα was observed in the interstitial cells of skeletal muscles from symptomatic hSOD1G93A mice. Finally, the targeting of pro-fibrotic factors such as TGF-β, CTGF/CCN2 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling pathway might be a suitable therapeutic approach to improve muscle function in several degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gonzalez
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración, CARE Chile UC y Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Osvaldo Contreras
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración, CARE Chile UC y Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela L. Rebolledo
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración, CARE Chile UC y Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Pablo Espinoza
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración, CARE Chile UC y Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Brigitte van Zundert
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Enrique Brandan
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración, CARE Chile UC y Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- * E-mail:
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