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Lam P, Zygmunt DA, Ashbrook A, Bennett M, Vetter TA, Martin PT. Dual FKRP/FST gene therapy normalizes ambulation, increases strength, decreases pathology, and amplifies gene expression in LGMDR9 mice. Mol Ther 2024; 32:2604-2623. [PMID: 38910327 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent clinical studies of single gene replacement therapy for neuromuscular disorders have shown they can slow or stop disease progression, but such therapies have had little impact on reversing muscle disease that was already present. To reverse disease in patients with muscular dystrophy, new muscle mass and strength must be rebuilt at the same time that gene replacement prevents subsequent disease. Here, we show that treatment of FKRPP448L mice with a dual FKRP/FST gene therapy packaged into a single adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector can build muscle strength and mass that exceed levels found in wild-type mice and can induce normal ambulation endurance in a 1-h walk test. Dual FKRP/FST therapy also showed more even increases in muscle mass and amplified muscle expression of both genes relative to either single gene therapy alone. These data suggest that treatment with single AAV-bearing dual FKRP/FST gene therapies can overcome loss of ambulation by improving muscle strength at the same time it prevents subsequent muscle damage. This design platform could be used to create therapies for other forms of muscular dystrophy that may improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Lam
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Deborah A Zygmunt
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Anna Ashbrook
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Macey Bennett
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Tatyana A Vetter
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Paul T Martin
- Center for Gene Therapy, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; Department of Pediatrics, and Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
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2
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Knapp M, Supruniuk E, Górski J. Myostatin and the Heart. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1777. [PMID: 38136649 PMCID: PMC10741510 DOI: 10.3390/biom13121777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Myostatin (growth differentiation factor 8) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily. It is secreted mostly by skeletal muscles, although small amounts of myostatin are produced by the myocardium and the adipose tissue as well. Myostatin binds to activin IIB membrane receptors to activate the downstream intracellular canonical Smad2/Smad3 pathway, and additionally acts on non-Smad (non-canonical) pathways. Studies on transgenic animals have shown that overexpression of myostatin reduces the heart mass, whereas removal of myostatin has an opposite effect. In this review, we summarize the potential diagnostic and prognostic value of this protein in heart-related conditions. First, in myostatin-null mice the left ventricular internal diameters along with the diastolic and systolic volumes are larger than the respective values in wild-type mice. Myostatin is potentially secreted as part of a negative feedback loop that reduces the effects of the release of growth-promoting factors and energy reprogramming in response to hypertrophic stimuli. On the other hand, both human and animal data indicate that myostatin is involved in the development of the cardiac cachexia and heart fibrosis in the course of chronic heart failure. The understanding of the role of myostatin in such conditions might initiate a development of targeted therapies based on myostatin signaling inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Knapp
- Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Białystok, 15-276 Białystok, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Supruniuk
- Department of Physiology, Medical University of Białystok, 15-222 Białystok, Poland;
| | - Jan Górski
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Łomża, 18-400 Łomża, Poland;
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3
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Omosule CL, Joseph D, Weiler B, Gremminger VL, Silvey S, Lafaver BN, Jeong Y, Kleiner S, Phillips CL. Whole-Body Metabolism and the Musculoskeletal Impacts of Targeting Activin A and Myostatin in Severe Osteogenesis Imperfecta. JBMR Plus 2023; 7:e10753. [PMID: 37457877 PMCID: PMC10339096 DOI: 10.1002/jbm4.10753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes, which encode type I collagen, are present in around 85%-90% of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) patients. Because type I collagen is the principal protein composition of bones, any changes in its gene sequences or synthesis can severely affect bone structure. As a result, skeletal deformity and bone frailty are defining characteristics of OI. Homozygous oim/oim mice are utilized as models of severe progressive type III OI. Bone adapts to external forces by altering its mass and architecture. Previous attempts to leverage the relationship between muscle and bone involved using a soluble activin receptor type IIB-mFc (sActRIIB-mFc) fusion protein to lower circulating concentrations of activin A and myostatin. These two proteins are part of the TGF-β superfamily that regulate muscle and bone function. While this approach resulted in increased muscle masses and enhanced bone properties, adverse effects emerged due to ligand promiscuity, limiting clinical efficacy and obscuring the precise contributions of myostatin and activin A. In this study, we investigated the musculoskeletal and whole-body metabolism effect of treating 5-week-old wildtype (Wt) and oim/oim mice for 11 weeks with either control antibody (Ctrl-Ab) or monoclonal anti-activin A antibody (ActA-Ab), anti-myostatin antibody (Mstn-Ab), or a combination of ActA-Ab and Mstn-Ab (Combo). We demonstrated that ActA-Ab treatment minimally impacts muscle mass in oim/oim mice, whereas Mstn-Ab and Combo treatments substantially increased muscle mass and overall lean mass regardless of genotype and sex. Further, while no improvements in cortical bone microarchitecture were observed with all treatments, minimal improvements in trabecular bone microarchitecture were observed with the Combo treatment in oim/oim mice. Our findings suggest that individual or combinatorial inhibition of myostatin and activin A alone is insufficient to robustly improve femoral biomechanical and microarchitectural properties in severely affected OI mice. © 2023 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominique Joseph
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMissouriUSA
| | - Brooke Weiler
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMissouriUSA
| | | | - Spencer Silvey
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMissouriUSA
| | | | - Youngjae Jeong
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMissouriUSA
| | | | - Charlotte L. Phillips
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMissouriUSA
- Department of Child HealthUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMissouriUSA
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4
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Li J, Fredericks M, Tang M, Cannell M, Joshi S, Kumar R, Andre P, Suragani RNVS. The activin receptor ligand trap ActRIIB:ALK4-Fc ameliorates cardiomyopathy induced by neuromuscular disease and diabetes. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:3145-3158. [PMID: 35920165 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cardiomyopathies are ascribed to a variety of etiologies, present with diverse clinical phenotypes, and lack disease-modifying treatments. Mounting evidence implicates dysregulated activin receptor signaling in heart disease and highlights inhibition of this pathway as a potential therapeutic target. Here, we explored the effects of activin ligand inhibition using ActRIIB:ALK4-Fc, a heterodimeric receptor fusion protein, in two mechanistically distinct murine models of cardiomyopathy. Treatment with ActRIIB:ALK4-Fc significantly improved systolic or diastolic function in cardiomyopathy induced by neuromuscular disease or diabetes mellitus. Moreover, ActRIIB:ALK4-Fc corrected Ca2+ handling protein expression in diseased heart tissues, suggesting that activin signaling inhibition could alleviate cardiomyopathies in part by rebalancing aberrant intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis-a common underlying pathomechanism in diverse heart diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Li
- Discovery Group, Acceleron Pharma Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Maureen Fredericks
- Discovery Group, Acceleron Pharma Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Mingxin Tang
- Discovery Group, Acceleron Pharma Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Marishka Cannell
- Discovery Group, Acceleron Pharma Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Sachindra Joshi
- Discovery Group, Acceleron Pharma Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Ravindra Kumar
- Discovery Group, Acceleron Pharma Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Patrick Andre
- Discovery Group, Acceleron Pharma Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
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5
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Myostatin deficiency decreases cardiac extracellular matrix in pigs. Transgenic Res 2022; 31:553-565. [PMID: 35978205 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-022-00322-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Myostatin (MSTN), a member of the TGF-β superfamily, negatively regulates muscle growth. MSTN inhibition has been known to cause a double-muscled phenotype in skeletal muscle and fibrosis reduction in the heart. However, the role of MSTN in the cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) needs more studies in various species of animal models to draw more objective conclusions. The main objective of the present study was to investigate whether loss of MSTN affects the cardiac extracellular matrix in pigs. Three MSTN knockouts (MSTN-/-) and three wild type (WT) male pigs were generated by crossing MSTN ± heterozygous gilts and boars. Cardiac ECM and underlying mechanisms were determined post-mortem. The role of MSTN on collagen expression was investigated by treating cardiac fibroblasts with active MSTN protein in vitro. MSTN protein was detected in WT hearts, while no expression was detected in MSTN-/- hearts. The heart-to-body weight ratio was significantly decreased in MSTN-/- pigs. The morphometric analyses, including picrosirius red staining, immunofluorescent staining, and ultra-structural thickness examination of the endomysium, revealed a significant reduction of connective tissue content in MSTN-/- hearts compared to WT. Hydroxyproline, type I collagen (Col1A), and p-Smad3/Smad3 levels were significantly lower in MSTN-/- hearts in vivo. On the contrary, cardiac fibroblasts treated with exogenous MSTN protein overexpressed Col1A and activated Smad and AKT signaling pathways in vitro. The present study suggests that inhibition of MSTN decreases cardiac extracellular matrix.
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6
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Wang S, Fang L, Cong L, Chung JPW, Li TC, Chan DYL. Myostatin: a multifunctional role in human female reproduction and fertility - a short review. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2022; 20:96. [PMID: 35780124 PMCID: PMC9250276 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-022-00969-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Myostatin (MSTN) is member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily and was originally identified in the musculoskeletal system as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. The functional roles of MSTN outside of the musculoskeletal system have aroused researchers' interest in recent years, with an increasing number of studies being conducted in this area. Notably, the expression of MSTN and its potential activities in various reproductive organs, including the ovary, placenta, and uterus, have recently been examined. Numerous studies published in the last few years demonstrate that MSTN plays a critical role in human reproduction and fertility, including the regulation of follicular development, ovarian steroidogenesis, granule-cell proliferation, and oocyte maturation regulation. Furthermore, findings from clinical samples suggest that MSTN may play a key role in the pathogenesis of several reproductive disorders such as uterine myoma, preeclampsia (PE), ovary hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). There is no comprehensive review regarding to MSTN related to the female reproductive system in the literature. This review serves as a summary of the genes in reproductive medicine and their potential influence. We summarized MSTN expression in different compartments of the female reproductive system. Subsequently, we discuss the role of MSTN in both physiological and several pathological conditions related to the female fertility and reproduction-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Wang
- Assisted reproductive technologies unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, SAR, China
| | - Lanlan Fang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Luping Cong
- Assisted reproductive technologies unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, SAR, China
| | - Jacqueline Pui Wah Chung
- Assisted reproductive technologies unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, SAR, China
| | - Tin Chiu Li
- Assisted reproductive technologies unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, SAR, China
| | - David Yiu Leung Chan
- Assisted reproductive technologies unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, SAR, China.
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7
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Gu M, Zhou X, Zhu L, Gao Y, Gao L, Bai C, Yang L, Li G. Myostatin Mutation Promotes Glycolysis by Increasing Phosphorylation of Phosphofructokinase via Activation of PDE5A-cGMP-PKG in Cattle Heart. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:774185. [PMID: 35155444 PMCID: PMC8831326 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.774185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Myostatin (MSTN) is a primary negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass and causes multiple metabolic changes. However, whether MSTN mutation affects heart morphology and physiology remains unclear. Myostatin mutation (MT) had no effect on cattle cardiac muscle in histological examination, but in biochemical assays, glycolysis increased in cattle hearts with MT. Compared with wild-type cattle, there were no differences in mRNA and protein levels of rate-limiting enzymes, but phosphofructokinase (PFK) phosphorylation increased in cattle hearts with MT. Transcriptome analysis showed that phosphodiesterase-5A (PDE5A), a target for inhibiting cGMP-PKG signaling, was downregulated. For the mechanism, chromatin immunoprecipitation qPCR showed that the SMAD2/SMAD3 complex in the canonical downstream pathway for MSTN combined with the promoter of PDE5A. The cGMP-PKG pathway was activated, and PKG increased phosphorylation of PFK in cattle hearts with MT. In addition, activation of PKG and the increase in PFK phosphorylation promoted glycolysis. Knockdown of PKG resulted in the opposite phenomena. The results indicated that MT potentiated PFK phosphorylation via the PDE5A-cGMP-PKG pathway and thereby promoted glycolysis in the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjuan Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- School of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Xinyu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- School of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- School of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yajie Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- School of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Li Gao
- Baotou Teachers’ College, Baotou, China
| | - Chunling Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- School of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Lei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- School of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- *Correspondence: Lei Yang, ; Guangpeng Li,
| | - Guangpeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- School of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- *Correspondence: Lei Yang, ; Guangpeng Li,
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8
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Starcher AE, Peissig K, Stanton JB, Churchill GA, Cai D, Maxwell JT, Grider A, Love K, Chen SY, Coleman AE, Strauss E, Pazdro R. A systems approach using Diversity Outbred mice distinguishes the cardiovascular effects and genetics of circulating GDF11 from those of its homolog, myostatin. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 11:6362884. [PMID: 34510201 PMCID: PMC8527520 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a member of the TGF-β protein family that has been implicated in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. While some studies have suggested that systemic GDF11 protects against cardiomyocyte enlargement and left ventricular wall thickening, there remains uncertainty about the true impact of GDF11 and whether its purported effects are actually attributable to its homolog myostatin. This study was conducted to resolve the statistical and genetic relationships among GDF11, myostatin, and cardiac hypertrophy in a mouse model of human genetics, the Diversity Outbred (DO) stock. In the DO population, serum GDF11 concentrations positively correlated with cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area, while circulating myostatin levels were negatively correlated with body weight, heart weight, and left ventricular wall thickness and mass. Genetic analyses revealed that serum GDF11 concentrations are modestly heritable (0.23) and identified a suggestive peak on murine chromosome 3 in close proximity to the gene Hey1, a transcriptional repressor. Bioinformatic analyses located putative binding sites for the HEY1 protein upstream of the Gdf11 gene in the mouse and human genomes. In contrast, serum myostatin concentrations were more heritable (0.57) than GDF11 concentrations, and mapping identified a significant locus near the gene FoxO1, which has binding motifs within the promoter regions of human and mouse myostatin genes. Together, these findings more precisely define the independent cardiovascular effects of GDF11 and myostatin, as well as their distinct regulatory pathways. Hey1 is a compelling candidate for the regulation of GDF11 and will be further evaluated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail E Starcher
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Kristen Peissig
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - James B Stanton
- Department of Pathology, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | | | - Dunpeng Cai
- Department of Physiology, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Joshua T Maxwell
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Arthur Grider
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Kim Love
- K. R. Love Quantitative Consulting and Collaboration, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Shi-You Chen
- Department of Physiology, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Amanda E Coleman
- Department of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Emma Strauss
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Robert Pazdro
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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Welsh BT, Cote SM, Meshulam D, Jackson J, Pal A, Lansita J, Kalra A. Preclinical Safety Assessment and Toxicokinetics of Apitegromab, an Antibody Targeting Proforms of Myostatin for the Treatment of Muscle-Atrophying Disease. Int J Toxicol 2021; 40:322-336. [PMID: 34255983 PMCID: PMC8326894 DOI: 10.1177/10915818211025477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Myostatin is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle and has become a therapeutic target for muscle atrophying disorders. Although previous inhibitors of myostatin offered promising preclinical data, these therapies demonstrated a lack of specificity toward myostatin signaling and have shown limited success in the clinic. Apitegromab is a fully human, monoclonal antibody that binds to human promyostatin and latent myostatin with a high degree of specificity, without binding mature myostatin and other closely related growth factors. To support the clinical development of apitegromab, we present data from a comprehensive preclinical assessment of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and safety across multiple species. In vitro studies confirmed the ability of apitegromab to inhibit the activation of promyostatin. Toxicology studies in monkeys for 4 weeks and in adult rats for up to 26 weeks showed that weekly intravenous administration of apitegromab achieved sustained serum exposure and target engagement and was well-tolerated, with no treatment-related adverse findings at the highest doses tested of up to 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg in monkeys and rats, respectively. Additionally, results from an 8-week juvenile rat study showed no adverse effects on any endpoint, including neurodevelopmental, motor, and reproductive outcomes at 300 mg/kg administered weekly IV. In summary, the nonclinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetic, and toxicology data demonstrate that apitegromab is a selective inhibitor of proforms of myostatin that does not exhibit toxicities observed with other myostatin pathway inhibitors. These data support the conduct of ongoing clinical studies of apitegromab in adult and pediatric patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ajai Pal
- Scholar Rock, Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA
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10
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The loss of contractile function after heart injury remains one of the major healthcare issues of our time. One strategy to deal with this problem would be to increase the number of cardiomyocytes to enhance cardiac function. In the last couple of years, reactivation of cardiomyocyte proliferation has repeatedly demonstrated to aid in functional recovery after cardiac injury. RECENT FINDINGS The Tgf-β superfamily plays key roles during development of the heart and populating the embryonic heart with cardiomyocytes. In this review, we discuss the role of Tgf-β signaling in regulating cardiomyocyte proliferation during development and in the setting of cardiac regeneration. Although various pathways to induce cardiomyocyte proliferation have been established, the extent to which cardiomyocyte proliferation requires or involves activation of the Tgf-β superfamily is not entirely clear. More research is needed to better understand cross-talk between pathways that regulate cardiomyocyte proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Sorensen
- Lillehei Heart Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jop H van Berlo
- Lillehei Heart Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. .,Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. .,Integrative Biology and Physiology graduate program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. .,Cancer and Cardiovascular Research Building, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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11
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Similar sequences but dissimilar biological functions of GDF11 and myostatin. Exp Mol Med 2020; 52:1673-1693. [PMID: 33077875 PMCID: PMC8080601 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-020-00516-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and myostatin (MSTN) are closely related TGFβ family members that are often believed to serve similar functions due to their high homology. However, genetic studies in animals provide clear evidence that they perform distinct roles. While the loss of Mstn leads to hypermuscularity, the deletion of Gdf11 results in abnormal skeletal patterning and organ development. The perinatal lethality of Gdf11-null mice, which contrasts with the long-term viability of Mstn-null mice, has led most research to focus on utilizing recombinant GDF11 proteins to investigate the postnatal functions of GDF11. However, the reported outcomes of the exogenous application of recombinant GDF11 proteins are controversial partly because of the different sources and qualities of recombinant GDF11 used and because recombinant GDF11 and MSTN proteins are nearly indistinguishable due to their similar structural and biochemical properties. Here, we analyze the similarities and differences between GDF11 and MSTN from an evolutionary point of view and summarize the current understanding of the biological processing, signaling, and physiological functions of GDF11 and MSTN. Finally, we discuss the potential use of recombinant GDF11 as a therapeutic option for a wide range of medical conditions and the possible adverse effects of GDF11 inhibition mediated by MSTN inhibitors.
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12
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Ojima C, Noguchi Y, Miyamoto T, Saito Y, Orihashi H, Yoshimatsu Y, Watabe T, Takayama K, Hayashi Y, Itoh F. Peptide-2 from mouse myostatin precursor protein alleviates muscle wasting in cancer-associated cachexia. Cancer Sci 2020; 111:2954-2964. [PMID: 32519375 PMCID: PMC7419029 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cachexia, characterized by continuous muscle wasting, is a key determinant of cancer‐related death; however, there are few medical treatments to combat it. Myostatin (MSTN)/growth differentiation factor 8 (GDF‐8), which is a member of the transforming growth factor‐β family, is secreted in an inactivated form noncovalently bound to the prodomain, negatively regulating the skeletal muscle mass. Therefore, inhibition of MSTN signaling is expected to serve as a therapeutic target for intractable muscle wasting diseases. Here, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of peptide‐2, an inhibitory core of mouse MSTN prodomain, on MSTN signaling. Peptide‐2 selectively suppressed the MSTN signal, although it had no effect on the activin signal. In contrast, peptide‐2 slightly inhibited the GDF‐11 signaling pathway, which is strongly related to the MSTN signaling pathway. Furthermore, we found that the i.m. injection of peptide‐2 to tumor‐implanted C57BL/6 mice alleviated muscle wasting in cancer cachexia. Although peptide‐2 was unable to improve the loss of heart weight and fat mass when cancer cachexia model mice were injected with it, peptide‐2 increased the gastrocnemius muscle weight and muscle cross‐sectional area resulted in the enhanced grip strength in cancer cachexia mice. Consequently, the model mice treated with peptide‐2 could survive longer than those that did not undergo this treatment. Our results suggest that peptide‐2 might be a novel therapeutic candidate to suppress muscle wasting in cancer cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiharu Ojima
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuri Noguchi
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuki Miyamoto
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Saito
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Orihashi
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Yoshimatsu
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Watabe
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kentaro Takayama
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshio Hayashi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumiko Itoh
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
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13
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Nguyen HQ, Iskenderian A, Ehmann D, Jasper P, Zhang Z, Rong H, Welty D, Narayanan R. Leveraging Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Approach into Development of Human Recombinant Follistatin Fusion Protein for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. CPT-PHARMACOMETRICS & SYSTEMS PHARMACOLOGY 2020; 9:342-352. [PMID: 32419339 PMCID: PMC7306616 DOI: 10.1002/psp4.12518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Quantitative understanding about the dynamics of drug-target interactions in biological systems is essential, especially in rare disease programs with small patient populations. Follistatin, by antagonism of myostatin and activin, which are negative regulators of skeletal muscle and inflammatory response, is a promising therapeutic target for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. In this study, we constructed a quantitative systems pharmacology model for FS-EEE-Fc, a follistatin recombinant protein to investigate its efficacy from dual target binding, and, subsequently, to project its human efficacious dose. Based on model simulations, with an assumed efficacy threshold of 7-10% muscle volume increase, 3-5 mg/kg weekly dosing of FS-EEE-Fc is predicted to achieve meaningful clinical outcome. In conclusion, the study demonstrated an application of mechanism driven approach at early stage of a rare disease drug development to support lead compound optimization, enable human dose, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoa Q Nguyen
- Shire HGT, Inc. (a Takeda company), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - David Ehmann
- Shire HGT, Inc. (a Takeda company), Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Paul Jasper
- RES Group, Inc., Needham, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Haojing Rong
- Kymera Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Devin Welty
- Nuventra Pharma Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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14
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Paddock SJ, O’Meara CC. Steps toward therapeutically targeting the activin type II receptor for treating heart failure. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2020; 318:H326-H328. [PMID: 31922889 PMCID: PMC7052619 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00004.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J. Paddock
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Genomics Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Caitlin C. O’Meara
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Genomics Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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15
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Castillero E, Akashi H, Najjar M, Ji R, Brandstetter LM, Wang C, Liao X, Zhang X, Sperry A, Gailes M, Guaman K, Recht A, Schlosberg I, Sweeney HL, Ali ZA, Homma S, Colombo PC, Ferrari G, Schulze PC, George I. Activin type II receptor ligand signaling inhibition after experimental ischemic heart failure attenuates cardiac remodeling and prevents fibrosis. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2019; 318:H378-H390. [PMID: 31886717 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00302.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Myostatin (MSTN) is a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily member that acts as a negative regulator of muscle growth and may play a role in cardiac remodeling. We hypothesized that inhibition of activin type II receptors (ACTRII) to reduce MSTN signaling would reduce pathological cardiac remodeling in experimental heart failure (HF). C57BL/6J mice underwent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation under anesthesia to induce myocardial infarction (MI) or no ligation (sham). MI and sham animals were each randomly divided into groups (n ≥ 10 mice/group) receiving an ACTRII or ACTRII/TGFβ receptor-signaling inhibiting strategy: 1) myo-Fc group (weekly 10 mg/kg Myo-Fc) or 2) Fol + TGFi group (daily 12 µg/kg follistatin plus 2 mg/kg TGFβ receptor inhibitor), versus controls. ACTRII/TGFBR signaling inhibition preserved cardiac function by echocardiography and prevented an increase in brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). ACTRII/TGFBR inhibition resulted in increased phosphorylation (P) of Akt and decreased P-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in MI mice. In vitro, Akt contributed to P-SMAD2,3, P-p38, and BNP regulation in cardiomyocytes. ACTRII/TGFBR inhibition increased sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2a) levels and decreased unfolded protein response (UPR) markers in MI mice. ACTRII/TGFBR inhibition was associated with a decrease in cardiac fibrosis and fibrosis markers, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), type I collagen, fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12 in MI mice. MSTN exerted a direct regulation on the UPR marker eukaryotic translation initiation factor-2α (eIf2α) in cardiomyocytes. Our study suggests that ACTRII ligand inhibition has beneficial effects on cardiac signaling and fibrosis after ischemic HF.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Activin type II receptor ligand inhibition resulted in preserved cardiac function, a decrease in cardiac fibrosis, improved SERCA2a levels, and a prevention of the unfolded protein response in mice with myocardial infarction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estibaliz Castillero
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Hirokazu Akashi
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Marc Najjar
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Ruiping Ji
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Lea Maria Brandstetter
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Catherine Wang
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Xianghai Liao
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Xiaokan Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Alexandra Sperry
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Marcia Gailes
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Karina Guaman
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Adam Recht
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Ira Schlosberg
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - H Lee Sweeney
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Ziad A Ali
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Shunichi Homma
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Paolo C Colombo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Giovanni Ferrari
- Division of Surgical Science, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - P Christian Schulze
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Isaac George
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York
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16
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Wallner C, Houschyar KS, Drysch M, Lehnhardt M, Behr B. [Elevation of Myostatin as a Potential Marker for Compartment Syndrome in Electrical Injuries]. Zentralbl Chir 2019; 145:514-518. [PMID: 31362329 DOI: 10.1055/a-0894-4880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Electrical accidents and particularly subsequent compartment syndromes are challenging injuries for clinical treatment. Creatinine kinase (CK) and myoglobin are known lab parameters to detect a compartment syndrome. METHODS We followed up patients with electrical injuries between the years 2006 and 2016 at our burn unit. We aimed to analyse the role of myostatin as marker for compartment syndrome through serum measurements within 48 hours after injury. RESULTS We collected data from 24 patients hospitalised with high-voltage electrical injury. All patients were male. We measured myostatin in 14 of these patients. While CK-MB (creatinine kinase muscle-brain type [MB]) showed no significant correlation to compartment syndrome, CK and myostatin gave highly significant increases. Interestingly, myostatin was significantly increased in electrical injuries but not burn injuries, while CK did not show a significant difference. CONCLUSION Thus, besides CK, myostatin can serve as reliable early marker for compartment syndrome in electrical injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Wallner
- Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie, BG Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil Bochum, Deutschland
| | | | - Marius Drysch
- Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie, BG Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Marcus Lehnhardt
- Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie, BG Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Björn Behr
- Klinik für Plastische Chirurgie, BG Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil Bochum, Deutschland
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17
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Murphy AP, Greally E, O'Hogain D, Blamire A, Caravan P, Straub V. Noninvasive quantification of fibrosis in skeletal and cardiac muscle in mdx mice using EP3533 enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Magn Reson Med 2018; 81:2728-2735. [PMID: 30394578 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic condition caused by mutations in the DMD gene leading to muscle degeneration, fatty replacement of muscle cells and fibrosis. A major obstacle to advancing therapeutic research into muscular dystrophies is development of sensitive, noninvasive outcome measures. To date, no validated method to noninvasively quantify fibrosis within skeletal muscle exists. EP3533 is a gadolinium-based MRI contrast agent with an affinity to collagen-1. The purpose of this study was to determine whether EP3533-enhanced MRI could quantify fibrosis in a murine model of DMD (mdx) in muscle. METHODS Mdx (n = 8) and control mice (BL10; n = 5) underwent contrast-enhanced MRI acquisitions with EP3533. T1 mapping pre- and postcontrast was performed in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Post-MRI the tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (GCN) muscles and the heart were removed for fibrosis quantification by means of Masson's trichrome staining and the hydroxyproline assay. RESULTS Significant differences in postcontrast R1 were demonstrated between mdx and BL10 mice using EP3533 (cardiac P = 0.02, GCN P = 0.04, TA P = 0.04). Change in R1 from baseline following EP3533 administration correlated strongly to hydroxyproline levels (GCN: r = 0.83, P = 0.001; TA: r = 0.73, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence for the suitability of EP3533 in the quantification of muscular fibrosis in mdx mice and demonstrated that EP3533-derived measurements correlated strongly to ex vivo fibrosis measurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Peter Murphy
- The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Institute of Genetic Medicine, The International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Greally
- The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Institute of Genetic Medicine, The International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Dara O'Hogain
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Blamire
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Caravan
- Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Volker Straub
- The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Institute of Genetic Medicine, The International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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18
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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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19
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Kong X, Yao T, Zhou P, Kazak L, Tenen D, Lyubetskaya A, Dawes BA, Tsai L, Kahn BB, Spiegelman BM, Liu T, Rosen ED. Brown Adipose Tissue Controls Skeletal Muscle Function via the Secretion of Myostatin. Cell Metab 2018; 28:631-643.e3. [PMID: 30078553 PMCID: PMC6170693 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue (BAT) are functionally linked, as exercise increases browning via secretion of myokines. It is unknown whether BAT affects muscle function. Here, we find that loss of the transcription factor IRF4 in BAT (BATI4KO) reduces exercise capacity, mitochondrial function, ribosomal protein synthesis, and mTOR signaling in muscle and causes tubular aggregate formation. Loss of IRF4 induces myogenic gene expression in BAT, including the secreted factor myostatin, a known inhibitor of muscle function. Reducing myostatin via neutralizing antibodies or soluble receptor rescues the exercise capacity of BATI4KO mice. In addition, overexpression of IRF4 in brown adipocytes reduces serum myostatin and increases exercise capacity in muscle. Finally, mice housed at thermoneutrality have reduced IRF4 in BAT, lower exercise capacity, and elevated serum myostatin; these abnormalities are corrected by excising BAT. Collectively, our data point to an unsuspected level of BAT-muscle crosstalk driven by IRF4 and myostatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Kong
- Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Ting Yao
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Peng Zhou
- Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Lawrence Kazak
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Danielle Tenen
- Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Anna Lyubetskaya
- Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Brian A Dawes
- Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Linus Tsai
- Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Barbara B Kahn
- Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Bruce M Spiegelman
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Tiemin Liu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China; Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China; Key Laboratory of Rare Metabolic Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Jiangning District, Nanjing 211166, PR China.
| | - Evan D Rosen
- Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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20
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Guo W, Pencina KM, Gagliano-Jucá T, Jasuja R, Morris N, O'Connell KE, Westmoreland S, Bhasin S. Effects of an ActRIIB.Fc Ligand Trap on Cardiac Function in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Male Rhesus Macaques. J Endocr Soc 2018; 2:817-831. [PMID: 30019021 PMCID: PMC6041778 DOI: 10.1210/js.2018-00099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An important safety consideration in the use of antagonists of myostatin and activins is whether these drugs induce myocardial hypertrophy and impair cardiac function. The current study evaluated the effects of a soluble ActRIIB receptor Fc fusion protein (ActRIIB.Fc), a ligand trap for TGF-β/activin family members including myostatin, on myocardial mass and function in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected juvenile rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Fourteen pair-housed, juvenile male rhesus macaques were inoculated with SIVmac239; 4 weeks postinoculation, they were treated with weekly injections of 10 mg/kg ActRIIB.Fc or saline for 12 weeks. Myocardial mass and function were evaluated using two-dimensional echocardiography at baseline and after 12 weeks. The administration of ActRIIB.Fc was associated with a significantly greater increase in thickness of left ventricular posterior wall and interventricular septum both in diastole and systole. Cardiac output and cardiac index increased with time, more in animals treated with ActRIIB.Fc than in those treated with saline, but the difference was not statistically significant. The changes in ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and stroke volume did not differ significantly between groups. The changes in end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes did not differ between groups. In addition to a large reduction in IGF1 mRNA expression in the ActRIIB.Fc-treated animals, complex changes were detected in the myocardial expression of proteins related to calcium transport and storage. In conclusion, ActRIIB.Fc administration for 12 weeks was associated with increased myocardial mass but did not adversely affect myocardial function in juvenile SIV-infected rhesus macaques. Further studies are necessary to establish long-term cardiac safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Guo
- Research Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Karol M Pencina
- Research Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Thiago Gagliano-Jucá
- Research Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ravi Jasuja
- Research Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nancy Morris
- Division of Comparative Pathology, New England Primate Research Center, Southborough, Massachusetts
| | - Karyn E O'Connell
- Division of Comparative Pathology, New England Primate Research Center, Southborough, Massachusetts
| | - Susan Westmoreland
- Division of Comparative Pathology, New England Primate Research Center, Southborough, Massachusetts
| | - Shalender Bhasin
- Research Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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21
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Hammers DW, Merscham-Banda M, Hsiao JY, Engst S, Hartman JJ, Sweeney HL. Supraphysiological levels of GDF11 induce striated muscle atrophy. EMBO Mol Med 2017; 9:531-544. [PMID: 28270449 PMCID: PMC5376753 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201607231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth and differentiation factor (GDF) 11 is a member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily recently identified as a potential therapeutic for age‐related cardiac and skeletal muscle decrements, despite high homology to myostatin (Mstn), a potent negative regulator of muscle mass. Though several reports have refuted these data, the in vivo effects of GDF11 on skeletal muscle mass have not been addressed. Using in vitro myoblast culture assays, we first demonstrate that GDF11 and Mstn have similar activities/potencies on activating p‐SMAD2/3 and induce comparable levels of differentiated myotube atrophy. We further demonstrate that adeno‐associated virus‐mediated systemic overexpression of GDF11 in C57BL/6 mice results in substantial atrophy of skeletal and cardiac muscle, inducing a cachexic phenotype not seen in mice expressing similar levels of Mstn. Greater cardiac expression of Tgfbr1 may explain this GDF11‐specific cardiac phenotype. These data indicate that bioactive GDF11 at supraphysiological levels cause wasting of both skeletal and cardiac muscle. Rather than a therapeutic agent, GDF11 should be viewed as a potential deleterious biomarker in muscle wasting diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Hammers
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Myology Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Melissa Merscham-Banda
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Myology Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | | | | | - H Lee Sweeney
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA .,Myology Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
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22
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Lim S, McMahon CD, Matthews KG, Devlin GP, Elston MS, Conaglen JV. Absence of Myostatin Improves Cardiac Function Following Myocardial Infarction. Heart Lung Circ 2017; 27:693-701. [PMID: 28690022 DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2017.05.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 05/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myostatin inhibits the development of skeletal muscle and regulates the proliferation of skeletal muscle fibroblasts. However, the role of myostatin in regulating cardiac muscle or myofibroblasts, specifically in acute myocardial infarction (MI), is less clear. This study sought to determine whether absence of myostatin altered left ventricular function post-MI. METHODS Myostatin-null mice (Mstn-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice underwent ligation of the left anterior descending artery to induce MI. Left ventricular function was measured at baseline, days 1 and 28 post-MI. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were obtained at day 28 for cellular proliferation, collagen deposition, and myofibroblastic activity. RESULTS Whilst left ventricular function at baseline and size of infarct were similar, significant differences in favour of Mstn-/- compared to WT mice post-MI include a greater recovery of ejection fraction (61.8±1.1% vs 57.1±2.3%, p<0.01), less collagen deposition (41.9±2.8% vs 54.7±3.4%, p<0.05), and lower mortality (0 vs. 20%, p<0.05). There was no difference in the number of BrdU positive cells, percentage of apoptotic cardiomyocytes, or size of cardiomyocytes post-MI between WT and Mstn-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS Absence of myostatin potentially protects the function of the heart post-MI with improved survival, possibly by limiting extent of fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarina Lim
- Waikato Clinical Campus, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Chris D McMahon
- Developmental Biology Group, AgResearch Limited, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | | | - Gerard P Devlin
- Waikato Clinical Campus, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Marianne S Elston
- Waikato Clinical Campus, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - John V Conaglen
- Waikato Clinical Campus, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
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Rashidlamir A, Attarzadeh Hosseini SR, Hejazi K, Motevalli Anberani SM. The effect of eight weeks resistance and aerobic training on myostatin and follistatin expression in cardiac muscle of rats. J Cardiovasc Thorac Res 2016; 8:164-169. [PMID: 28210472 PMCID: PMC5304099 DOI: 10.15171/jcvtr.2016.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The clinical studies have shown that the myostatin gene expression and its serum density occur more frequently in heart patients than in healthy individuals. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of 8-week resistance and aerobic exercise on the myostatin and follistatin gene expression of myocardium muscle of healthy male Wistar rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 20 five-week-old adult Wistar rats (250 ± 26.5 g) were divided into three groups: healthy control group (n = 6), resistance exercise group (n = 7), and aerobic exercise group (n = 7). The resistance and aerobic exercise plan consisted of 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. The resistance exercise group performed climbing a one-meter 26-stair ladder with a slope of 85 degrees for 3 sets of 5 repetitions per session. The aerobic exercise group performed running at a speed of 12 meters per minute for 30 minutes during the first sessions gradually increasing up to a speed of 30 meters per minute for 60 minutes during the final sessions (equivalent to 70% to 80% of maximum oxygen consumption). The differences between the groups were evaluated using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. When appropriate, LSD post-hoc test was used. The significance level for the study was less than 0.05.
Results: The results of this study shows that after 8 weeks of exercise, there is no significant difference between myostatin mRNA gene expression levels of the heart muscle among the three groups of control, resistance exercise, and aerobic exercise (P = 0.172, F = 1.953). However, the mean differences between follistatin mRNA levels of the heart muscle among the three groups of control, resistance exercise, and aerobic exercise are statistically significant (F = 38.022, P = 0.001). Furthermore, the ratio of follistatin to myostatin mRNA gene expression of the heart muscle (P = 0.001, F = 10.288) shows significant difference among the three groups.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that the resistance and aerobic exercise could cause a decrease in myostatin and an increase in follistatin levels, thus preventing many muscular physiological disorders such as arthritis and muscle weakness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Rashidlamir
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyyed Reza Attarzadeh Hosseini
- Professor in Sport Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Keyvan Hejazi
- PhD Student of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
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24
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Campbell C, McMillan HJ, Mah JK, Tarnopolsky M, Selby K, McClure T, Wilson DM, Sherman ML, Escolar D, Attie KM. Myostatin inhibitor ACE-031 treatment of ambulatory boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Muscle Nerve 2016; 55:458-464. [PMID: 27462804 DOI: 10.1002/mus.25268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Revised: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION ACE-031 is a fusion protein of activin receptor type IIB and IgG1-Fc, which binds myostatin and related ligands. It aims to disrupt the inhibitory effect on muscle development and provide potential therapy for myopathies like Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). METHODS ACE-031 was administered subcutaneously every 2-4 weeks to DMD boys in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending-dose trial. The primary objective was safety evaluation. Secondary objectives included characterization of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. RESULTS ACE-031 was not associated with serious or severe adverse events. The study was stopped after the second dosing regimen due to potential safety concerns of epistaxis and telangiectasias. A trend for maintenance of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance in the ACE-031 groups compared with a decline in the placebo group (not statistically significant) was noted, as was a trend for increased lean body mass and bone mineral density (BMD) and reduced fat mass. CONCLUSION ACE-031 use demonstrated trends for pharmacodynamic effects on lean mass, fat mass, BMD, and 6MWT. Non-muscle-related adverse events contributed to the decision to discontinue the study. Myostatin inhibition is a promising therapeutic approach for DMD. Muscle Nerve 55: 458-464, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Campbell
- Pediatrics, Epidemiology and Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hugh J McMillan
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean K Mah
- Alberta Children's Hospital, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Kathryn Selby
- British Columbia Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ty McClure
- Acceleron Pharma, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Diana Escolar
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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25
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Nitahara-Kasahara Y, Takeda S, Okada T. Inflammatory predisposition predicts disease phenotypes in muscular dystrophy. Inflamm Regen 2016; 36:14. [PMID: 29259687 PMCID: PMC5725653 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-016-0019-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an incurable genetic disease that presents with skeletal muscle weakness and chronic inflammation and is associated with early mortality. Indeed, immune cell infiltration into the skeletal muscle is a notable feature of the disease pathophysiology and is strongly associated with disease severity. Interleukin (IL)-10 regulates inflammatory immune responses by reducing both M1 macrophage activation and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby promoting the activation of the M2 macrophage phenotype. We previously reported that genetic ablation of IL-10 in dystrophic mice resulted in more severe phenotypes, in regard to heart and respiratory function, as evidenced by increased macrophage infiltration, high levels of inflammatory factors in the muscle, and progressive cardiorespiratory dysfunction. These data therefore indicate that IL-10 comprises an essential immune-modulator within dystrophic muscles. In this review, we highlight the pivotal role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy and discuss how an increased understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease may lead to novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Nitahara-Kasahara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin'ichi Takeda
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Okada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira Tokyo, Japan
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26
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Yang Y, Yang Y, Wang X, Du J, Hou J, Feng J, Tian Y, He L, Li X, Pei H. Does growth differentiation factor 11 protect against myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury? A hypothesis. J Int Med Res 2016; 45:1629-1635. [PMID: 27565745 PMCID: PMC5805180 DOI: 10.1177/0300060516658984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury is multifactorial. Understanding the mechanisms of myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion will benefit patients with ischaemic heart disease. Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), a member of the secreted transforming growth factor-β superfamily, has been found to reverse age-related hypertrophy, revealing the important role of GDF11 in cardiovascular disease. However, the functions of GDF11 in myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion have not been elucidated yet. A number of signalling molecules are known to occur downstream of GDF11, including mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (SMAD3) and forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a). A hypothesis is presented that GDF11 has protective effects in acute myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury through suppression of oxidative stress, prevention of calcium ion overload and promotion of the elimination of abnormal mitochondria via both canonical (SMAD3) and non-canonical (FOXO3a) pathways. Since circulating GDF11 may mainly derive from the spleen, the lack of a spleen may make the myocardium susceptible to damaging insults. Administration of GDF11 may be an efficacious therapy to protect against cardiovascular diseases in splenectomized patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjian Yang
- 1 Department of Cardiology, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Yang
- 1 Department of Cardiology, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiong Wang
- 2 Department of Cardiology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jin Du
- 1 Department of Cardiology, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Juanni Hou
- 1 Department of Cardiology, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Juan Feng
- 1 Department of Cardiology, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Tian
- 1 Department of Cardiology, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei He
- 1 Department of Cardiology, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiuchuan Li
- 1 Department of Cardiology, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Haifeng Pei
- 1 Department of Cardiology, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu, China
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27
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Walker RG, Poggioli T, Katsimpardi L, Buchanan SM, Oh J, Wattrus S, Heidecker B, Fong YW, Rubin LL, Ganz P, Thompson TB, Wagers AJ, Lee RT. Biochemistry and Biology of GDF11 and Myostatin: Similarities, Differences, and Questions for Future Investigation. Circ Res 2016; 118:1125-41; discussion 1142. [PMID: 27034275 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.116.308391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and myostatin (or GDF8) are closely related members of the transforming growth factor β superfamily and are often perceived to serve similar or overlapping roles. Yet, despite commonalities in protein sequence, receptor utilization and signaling, accumulating evidence suggests that these 2 ligands can have distinct functions in many situations. GDF11 is essential for mammalian development and has been suggested to regulate aging of multiple tissues, whereas myostatin is a well-described negative regulator of postnatal skeletal and cardiac muscle mass and modulates metabolic processes. In this review, we discuss the biochemical regulation of GDF11 and myostatin and their functions in the heart, skeletal muscle, and brain. We also highlight recent clinical findings with respect to a potential role for GDF11 and/or myostatin in humans with heart disease. Finally, we address key outstanding questions related to GDF11 and myostatin dynamics and signaling during development, growth, and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan G Walker
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.)
| | - Tommaso Poggioli
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.)
| | - Lida Katsimpardi
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.)
| | - Sean M Buchanan
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.)
| | - Juhyun Oh
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.)
| | - Sam Wattrus
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.)
| | - Bettina Heidecker
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.)
| | - Yick W Fong
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.)
| | - Lee L Rubin
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.)
| | - Peter Ganz
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.)
| | - Thomas B Thompson
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.)
| | - Amy J Wagers
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
| | - Richard T Lee
- From the Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH (R.G.W., T.B.T.); Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (T.P., L.K., S.M.B., J.O., S.W., L.L.R., A.J.W., R.T.L.); Department of Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (L.K.); Cardiovascular Division (T.P.), Department of Medicine, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Y.W.F., R.T.L.); Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA (J.O., S.W., A.J.W.); Division of Cardiology, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Zürich, Switzerland (B.H.); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (B.H., P.G.); and Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, CA (P.G.).
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28
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M McNally
- From the Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
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29
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Dewey CM, Spitler KM, Ponce JM, Hall DD, Grueter CE. Cardiac-Secreted Factors as Peripheral Metabolic Regulators and Potential Disease Biomarkers. J Am Heart Assoc 2016; 5:e003101. [PMID: 27247337 PMCID: PMC4937259 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.115.003101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Colleen M Dewey
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and François M. Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
| | - Kathryn M Spitler
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and François M. Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
| | - Jessica M Ponce
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and François M. Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
| | - Duane D Hall
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and François M. Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
| | - Chad E Grueter
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and François M. Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, Papajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
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30
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Connolly AM, Florence JM, Zaidman CM, Golumbek PT, Mendell JR, Flanigan KM, Karachunski PI, Day JW, McDonald CM, Darras BT, Kang PB, Siener CA, Gadeken RK, Anand P, Schierbecker JR, Malkus EC, Lowes LP, Alfano LN, Johnson L, Nicorici A, Kelecic JM, Quigley J, Pasternak AE, Miller JP. Clinical trial readiness in non-ambulatory boys and men with duchenne muscular dystrophy: MDA-DMD network follow-up. Muscle Nerve 2016; 54:681-9. [DOI: 10.1002/mus.25089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Revised: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anne M. Connolly
- Department of Neurology; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis Missouri USA
- Department of Pediatrics; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis Missouri USA
| | - Julaine M. Florence
- Department of Neurology; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis Missouri USA
| | - Craig M. Zaidman
- Department of Neurology; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis Missouri USA
- Department of Pediatrics; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis Missouri USA
| | - Paul T. Golumbek
- Department of Neurology; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis Missouri USA
- Department of Pediatrics; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis Missouri USA
| | - Jerry R. Mendell
- Department of Pediatrics; Ohio State University, and the Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children's Hospital; Columbus Ohio USA
| | - Kevin M. Flanigan
- Department of Pediatrics; Ohio State University, and the Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children's Hospital; Columbus Ohio USA
| | | | - John W. Day
- Department of Neurology; Stanford University; Stanford California USA
| | - Craig M. McDonald
- Department Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; University of California, Davis Medical Center; Sacramento California USA
| | - Basil T. Darras
- Department of Neurology; Harvard University, Boston Children's Hospital; Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Peter B. Kang
- Division of Pediatric Neurology; University of Florida College of Medicine; Gainesville Florida USA
| | - Catherine A. Siener
- Department of Neurology; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis Missouri USA
| | - Rebecca K. Gadeken
- Department of Neurology; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis Missouri USA
| | - Pallavi Anand
- Department of Neurology; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis Missouri USA
| | | | - Elizabeth C. Malkus
- Department of Neurology; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis Missouri USA
| | - Linda P. Lowes
- Department of Pediatrics; Ohio State University, and the Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children's Hospital; Columbus Ohio USA
| | - Lindsay N. Alfano
- Department of Pediatrics; Ohio State University, and the Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children's Hospital; Columbus Ohio USA
| | - Linda Johnson
- Department Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; University of California, Davis Medical Center; Sacramento California USA
| | - Alina Nicorici
- Department Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; University of California, Davis Medical Center; Sacramento California USA
| | - Jason M. Kelecic
- Department of Neurology; University of Minnesota; Minneapolis Minnesota USA
| | - Janet Quigley
- Department of Neurology; Harvard University, Boston Children's Hospital; Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Amy E. Pasternak
- Department of Neurology; Harvard University, Boston Children's Hospital; Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - J. Philip Miller
- Division of Biostatistics; Washington University School of Medicine; Saint Louis Missouri USA
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Yue Y, Binalsheikh IM, Leach SB, Domeier TL, Duan D. Prospect of gene therapy for cardiomyopathy in hereditary muscular dystrophy. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2015; 4:169-183. [PMID: 27340611 DOI: 10.1517/21678707.2016.1124039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cardiac involvement is a common feature in muscular dystrophies. It presents as heart failure and/or arrhythmia. Traditionally, dystrophic cardiomyopathy is treated with symptom-relieving medications. Identification of disease-causing genes and investigation on pathogenic mechanisms have opened new opportunities to treat dystrophic cardiomyopathy with gene therapy. Replacing/repairing the mutated gene and/or targeting the pathogenic process/mechanisms using alternative genes may attenuate heart disease in muscular dystrophies. AREAS COVERED Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common muscular dystrophy. Duchenne cardiomyopathy has been the primary focus of ongoing dystrophic cardiomyopathy gene therapy studies. Here, we use Duchenne cardiomyopathy gene therapy to showcase recent developments and to outline the path forward. We also discuss gene therapy status for cardiomyopathy associated with limb-girdle and congenital muscular dystrophies, and myotonic dystrophy. EXPERT OPINION Gene therapy for dystrophic cardiomyopathy has taken a slow but steady path forward. Preclinical studies over the last decades have addressed many fundamental questions. Adeno-associated virus-mediated gene therapy has significantly improved the outcomes in rodent models of Duchenne and limb girdle muscular dystrophies. Validation of these encouraging results in large animal models will pave the way to future human trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongping Yue
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri
| | | | - Stacey B Leach
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri
| | - Timothy L Domeier
- Department of Medical Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri
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Smith SC, Zhang X, Zhang X, Gross P, Starosta T, Mohsin S, Franti M, Gupta P, Hayes D, Myzithras M, Kahn J, Tanner J, Weldon SM, Khalil A, Guo X, Sabri A, Chen X, MacDonnell S, Houser SR. GDF11 does not rescue aging-related pathological hypertrophy. Circ Res 2015; 117:926-32. [PMID: 26383970 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.115.307527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β super family of secreted factors. A recent study showed that reduced GDF11 blood levels with aging was associated with pathological cardiac hypertrophy (PCH) and restoring GDF11 to normal levels in old mice rescued PCH. OBJECTIVE To determine whether and by what mechanism GDF11 rescues aging dependent PCH. METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-four-month-old C57BL/6 mice were given a daily injection of either recombinant (r) GDF11 at 0.1 mg/kg or vehicle for 28 days. rGDF11 bioactivity was confirmed in vitro. After treatment, rGDF11 levels were significantly increased, but there was no significant effect on either heart weight or body weight. Heart weight/body weight ratios of old mice were not different from 8- or 12-week-old animals, and the PCH marker atrial natriuretic peptide was not different in young versus old mice. Ejection fraction, internal ventricular dimension, and septal wall thickness were not significantly different between rGDF11 and vehicle-treated animals at baseline and remained unchanged at 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment. There was no difference in myocyte cross-sectional area rGDF11 versus vehicle-treated old animals. In vitro studies using phenylephrine-treated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, to explore the putative antihypertrophic effects of GDF11, showed that GDF11 did not reduce neonatal rat ventricular myocytes hypertrophy, but instead induced hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS Our studies show that there is no age-related PCH in disease-free 24-month-old C57BL/6 mice and that restoring GDF11 in old mice has no effect on cardiac structure or function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shavonn C Smith
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Xiaoxiao Zhang
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Xiaoying Zhang
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Polina Gross
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Timothy Starosta
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Sadia Mohsin
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Michael Franti
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Priyanka Gupta
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - David Hayes
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Maria Myzithras
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Julius Kahn
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - James Tanner
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Steven M Weldon
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Ashraf Khalil
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Xinji Guo
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Abdelkarim Sabri
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Xiongwen Chen
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Scott MacDonnell
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell)
| | - Steven R Houser
- From the Cardiovascular Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (S.C.S., Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, P.G., T.S., S Mohsin, X.G., A.S., X.C., S.R.H.); and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT (M.F., P.G., D.H., M.M., J.K., J.T., S.M.W., A.K., S. MacDonnell).
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Smith RC, Cramer MS, Mitchell PJ, Capen A, Huber L, Wang R, Myers L, Jones BE, Eastwood BJ, Ballard D, Hanson J, Credille KM, Wroblewski VJ, Lin BK, Heuer JG. Myostatin Neutralization Results in Preservation of Muscle Mass and Strength in Preclinical Models of Tumor-Induced Muscle Wasting. Mol Cancer Ther 2015; 14:1661-70. [PMID: 25908685 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-14-0681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle wasting occurs in a great majority of cancer patients with advanced disease and is associated with a poor prognosis and decreased survival. Myostatin functions as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass and has recently become a therapeutic target for reducing the loss of skeletal muscle and strength associated with clinical myopathies. We generated neutralizing antibodies to myostatin to test their potential use as therapeutic agents to attenuate the skeletal muscle wasting due to cancer. We show that our neutralizing antimyostatin antibodies significantly increase body weight, skeletal muscle mass, and strength in non-tumor-bearing mice with a concomitant increase in mean myofiber area. The administration of these neutralizing antibodies in two preclinical models of cancer-induced muscle wasting (C26 colon adenocarcinoma and PC3 prostate carcinoma) resulted in a significant attenuation of the loss of muscle mass and strength with no effect on tumor growth. We also show that the skeletal muscle mass- and strength-preserving effect of the antibodies is not affected by the coadministration of gemcitabine, a common chemotherapeutic agent, in both non-tumor-bearing mice and mice bearing C26 tumors. In addition, we show that myostatin neutralization with these antibodies results in the preservation of skeletal muscle mass following reduced caloric intake, a common comorbidity associated with advanced cancer. Our findings support the use of neutralizing antimyostatin antibodies as potential therapeutics for cancer-induced muscle wasting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosamund C Smith
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana.
| | - Martin S Cramer
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Pamela J Mitchell
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Andrew Capen
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Lysiane Huber
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Rong Wang
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Laura Myers
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Bryan E Jones
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Brian J Eastwood
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Darryl Ballard
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Jeff Hanson
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Kelly M Credille
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Victor J Wroblewski
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Boris K Lin
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Josef G Heuer
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Biesemann N, Mendler L, Kostin S, Wietelmann A, Borchardt T, Braun T. Myostatin induces interstitial fibrosis in the heart via TAK1 and p38. Cell Tissue Res 2015; 361:779-87. [PMID: 25725788 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-015-2139-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Myostatin, a member of the TGF-β superfamily of secreted growth factors, is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. In the heart, it is expressed at lower levels compared to skeletal muscle but up-regulated under disease conditions. Cre recombinase-mediated inactivation of myostatin in adult cardiomyocytes leads to heart failure and increased mortality but cardiac function of surviving mice is restored after several weeks probably due to compensatory expression in non-cardiomyocytes. To study long-term effects of increased myostatin expression in the heart and to analyze the putative crosstalk between cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts, we overexpressed myostatin in cardiomyocytes. Increased expression of myostatin in heart muscle cells caused interstitial fibrosis via activation of the TAK-1-MKK3/6-p38 signaling pathway, compromising cardiac function in older mice. Our results uncover a novel role of myostatin in the heart and highlight the necessity for tight regulation of myostatin to maintain normal heart function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Biesemann
- Department of Cardiac Development and Remodelling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Ludwigstrasse 43, D-61231, Bad Nauheim, Germany
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Connolly AM, Malkus EC, Mendell JR, Flanigan KM, Miller JP, Schierbecker JR, Siener CA, Golumbek PT, Zaidman CM, Mcdonald CM, Johnson L, Nicorici A, Karachunski PI, Day JW, Kelecic JM, Lowes LP, Alfano LN, Darras BT, Kang PB, Quigley J, Pasternak AE, Florence JM. Outcome reliability in non-ambulatory boys/men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Muscle Nerve 2015; 51:522-32. [PMID: 25056178 DOI: 10.1002/mus.24346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Therapeutic trials in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) often exclude non-ambulatory individuals. Here we establish optimal and reliable assessments in a multicenter trial. METHODS Non-ambulatory boys/men with DMD (N = 91; 16.7 ± 4.5 years of age) were assessed by trained clinical evaluators. Feasibility (percentage completing task) and reliability [intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) between morning and afternoon tests] were measured. RESULTS Forced vital capacity (FVC), assessed in all subjects, showed a mean of 47.8 ± 22% predicted (ICC 0.98). Brooke Upper Extremity Functional Rating (Brooke) and Egen Klassifikation (EK) scales in 100% of subjects showed ICCs ranging from 0.93 to 0.99. Manual muscle testing, range of motion, 9-hole peg test, and Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JHFT) demonstrated varied feasibility (99% to 70%), with ICCs ranging from 0.99 to 0.64. We found beneficial effects of different forms of corticosteroids for the Brooke scale, percent predicted FVC, and hand and finger strength. CONCLUSIONS Reliable assessment of non-ambulatory boys/men with DMD is possible. Clinical trials will have to consider corticosteroid use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M Connolly
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Steinberger M, Föller M, Vogelgesang S, Krautwald M, Landsberger M, Winkler CK, Kasch J, Füchtbauer EM, Kuhl D, Voelkl J, Lang F, Brinkmeier H. Lack of the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase SGK1 improves muscle force characteristics and attenuates fibrosis in dystrophic mdx mouse muscle. Pflugers Arch 2014; 467:1965-74. [DOI: 10.1007/s00424-014-1645-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Biesemann N, Mendler L, Wietelmann A, Hermann S, Schäfers M, Krüger M, Boettger T, Borchardt T, Braun T. Myostatin regulates energy homeostasis in the heart and prevents heart failure. Circ Res 2014; 115:296-310. [PMID: 24807786 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.115.304185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Myostatin is a major negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass and initiates multiple metabolic changes, including enhanced insulin sensitivity. However, the function of myostatin in the heart is barely understood, although it is upregulated in the myocardium under several pathological conditions. OBJECTIVE Here, we aimed to decipher the role of myostatin and myostatin-dependent signaling pathways for cardiac function and cardiac metabolism in adult mice. To avoid potential counterregulatory mechanisms occurring in constitutive and germ-line-based myostatin mutants, we generated a mouse model that allows myostatin inactivation in adult cardiomyocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS Cardiac MRI revealed that genetic inactivation of myostatin signaling in the adult murine heart caused cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, partially recapitulating effects of the age-dependent decline of the myostatin paralog growth and differentiation factor 11. We found that myostatin represses AMP-activated kinase activation in the heart via transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1, thereby preventing a metabolic switch toward glycolysis and glycogen accumulation. Furthermore, myostatin stimulated expression of regulator of G-protein signaling 2, a GTPase-activating protein that restricts Gaq and Gas signaling and thereby protects against cardiac failure. Inhibition of AMP-activated kinase in vivo rescued cardiac hypertrophy and prevented enhanced glycolytic flow and glycogen accumulation after inactivation of myostatin in cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSIONS Our results uncover an important role of myostatin in the heart for maintaining cardiac energy homeostasis and preventing cardiac hypertrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Biesemann
- From the Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (N.B., L.M., A.W., M.K., T. Boettger, T. Borchardt, T. Braun); Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (N.B.); Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary (L.M.); and European Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of Münster, Münster, Germany (S.H., M.S.)
| | - Luca Mendler
- From the Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (N.B., L.M., A.W., M.K., T. Boettger, T. Borchardt, T. Braun); Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (N.B.); Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary (L.M.); and European Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of Münster, Münster, Germany (S.H., M.S.)
| | - Astrid Wietelmann
- From the Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (N.B., L.M., A.W., M.K., T. Boettger, T. Borchardt, T. Braun); Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (N.B.); Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary (L.M.); and European Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of Münster, Münster, Germany (S.H., M.S.)
| | - Sven Hermann
- From the Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (N.B., L.M., A.W., M.K., T. Boettger, T. Borchardt, T. Braun); Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (N.B.); Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary (L.M.); and European Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of Münster, Münster, Germany (S.H., M.S.)
| | - Michael Schäfers
- From the Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (N.B., L.M., A.W., M.K., T. Boettger, T. Borchardt, T. Braun); Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (N.B.); Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary (L.M.); and European Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of Münster, Münster, Germany (S.H., M.S.)
| | - Marcus Krüger
- From the Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (N.B., L.M., A.W., M.K., T. Boettger, T. Borchardt, T. Braun); Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (N.B.); Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary (L.M.); and European Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of Münster, Münster, Germany (S.H., M.S.)
| | - Thomas Boettger
- From the Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (N.B., L.M., A.W., M.K., T. Boettger, T. Borchardt, T. Braun); Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (N.B.); Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary (L.M.); and European Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of Münster, Münster, Germany (S.H., M.S.)
| | - Thilo Borchardt
- From the Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (N.B., L.M., A.W., M.K., T. Boettger, T. Borchardt, T. Braun); Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (N.B.); Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary (L.M.); and European Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of Münster, Münster, Germany (S.H., M.S.).
| | - Thomas Braun
- From the Department of Cardiac Development and Remodeling, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (N.B., L.M., A.W., M.K., T. Boettger, T. Borchardt, T. Braun); Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany (N.B.); Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary (L.M.); and European Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of Münster, Münster, Germany (S.H., M.S.).
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38
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Swanson DL, King MO, Harmon E. Seasonal variation in pectoralis muscle and heart myostatin and tolloid-like proteinases in small birds: a regulatory role for seasonal phenotypic flexibility? J Comp Physiol B 2014; 184:249-58. [PMID: 24395519 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-013-0798-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Revised: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Seasonally variable environments produce seasonal phenotypes in small birds such that winter birds have higher thermogenic capacities and pectoralis and heart masses. One potential regulator of these seasonal phenotypes is myostatin, a muscle growth inhibitor, which may be downregulated under conditions promoting increased energy demand. We examined summer-to-winter variation in skeletal muscle and heart masses and used qPCR and Western blots to measure levels of myostatin and its metalloproteinase activators TLL-1 and TLL-2 for two small temperate-zone resident birds, American goldfinches (Spinus tristis) and black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). Winter pectoralis and heart masses were significantly greater than in summer for American goldfinches. Neither myostatin expression nor protein levels differed significantly between seasons for goldfinch pectoralis. However, myostatin levels in goldfinch heart were significantly greater in summer than in winter, although heart myostatin expression was seasonally stable. In addition, expression of both metalloproteinase activators was greater in summer than in winter goldfinches for both pectoralis and heart, significantly so except for heart TLL-2 (P = 0.083). Black-capped chickadees showed no significant seasonal variation in muscle or heart masses. Seasonal patterns of pectoralis and heart expression and/or protein levels for myostatin and its metalloproteinase activators in chickadees showed no consistent seasonal trends, which may help explain the absence of significant seasonal variation in muscle or heart masses for chickadees in this study. These data are partially consistent with a regulatory role for myostatin, and especially myostatin processing capacity, in mediating seasonal metabolic phenotypes of small birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Swanson
- Department of Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, 57069, USA,
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39
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Abstract
In an intriguing new study, Loffredo et al report that joining the circulation of old mice with that of young mice reduces age-related cardiac hypertrophy. They also found that the growth factor growth/differentiation factor 11 is a circulating negative regulator of cardiac hypertrophy which suggests that raising growth/differentiation factor 11 levels may be useful to treat cardiac hypertrophy associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra C McPherron
- Genetics of Development and Disease Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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40
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Loffredo FS, Steinhauser ML, Jay SM, Gannon J, Pancoast JR, Yalamanchi P, Sinha M, Dall'Osso C, Khong D, Shadrach JL, Miller CM, Singer BS, Stewart A, Psychogios N, Gerszten RE, Hartigan AJ, Kim MJ, Serwold T, Wagers AJ, Lee RT. Growth differentiation factor 11 is a circulating factor that reverses age-related cardiac hypertrophy. Cell 2013; 153:828-39. [PMID: 23663781 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 707] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2012] [Revised: 02/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The most common form of heart failure occurs with normal systolic function and often involves cardiac hypertrophy in the elderly. To clarify the biological mechanisms that drive cardiac hypertrophy in aging, we tested the influence of circulating factors using heterochronic parabiosis, a surgical technique in which joining of animals of different ages leads to a shared circulation. After 4 weeks of exposure to the circulation of young mice, cardiac hypertrophy in old mice dramatically regressed, accompanied by reduced cardiomyocyte size and molecular remodeling. Reversal of age-related hypertrophy was not attributable to hemodynamic or behavioral effects of parabiosis, implicating a blood-borne factor. Using modified aptamer-based proteomics, we identified the TGF-β superfamily member GDF11 as a circulating factor in young mice that declines with age. Treatment of old mice to restore GDF11 to youthful levels recapitulated the effects of parabiosis and reversed age-related hypertrophy, revealing a therapeutic opportunity for cardiac aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco S Loffredo
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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41
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Connolly AM, Florence JM, Cradock MM, Malkus EC, Schierbecker JR, Siener CA, Wulf CO, Anand P, Golumbek PT, Zaidman CM, Philip Miller J, Lowes LP, Alfano LN, Viollet-Callendret L, Flanigan KM, Mendell JR, McDonald CM, Goude E, Johnson L, Nicorici A, Karachunski PI, Day JW, Dalton JC, Farber JM, Buser KK, Darras BT, Kang PB, Riley SO, Shriber E, Parad R, Bushby K, Eagle M. Motor and cognitive assessment of infants and young boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: results from the Muscular Dystrophy Association DMD Clinical Research Network. Neuromuscul Disord 2013; 23:529-39. [PMID: 23726376 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2013.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Revised: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/23/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic trials in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) exclude young boys because traditional outcome measures rely on cooperation. The Bayley III Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley III) have been validated in developing children and those with developmental disorders but have not been studied in DMD. Expanded Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale (HFMSE) and North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) may also be useful in this young DMD population. Clinical evaluators from the MDA-DMD Clinical Research Network were trained in these assessment tools. Infants and boys with DMD (n = 24; 1.9 ± 0.7 years) were assessed. The mean Bayley III motor composite score was low (82.8 ± 8; p ≤ .0001) (normal = 100 ± 15). Mean gross motor and fine motor function scaled scores were low (both p ≤ .0001). The mean cognitive comprehensive (p=.0002), receptive language (p ≤ .0001), and expressive language (p = .0001) were also low compared to normal children. Age was negatively associated with Bayley III gross motor (r = -0.44; p = .02) but not with fine motor, cognitive, or language scores. HFMSE (n=23) showed a mean score of 31 ± 13. NSAA (n = 18 boys; 2.2 ± 0.4 years) showed a mean score of 12 ± 5. Outcome assessments of young boys with DMD are feasible and in this multicenter study were best demonstrated using the Bayley III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M Connolly
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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42
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Jackson MF, Luong D, Vang DD, Garikipati DK, Stanton JB, Nelson OL, Rodgers BD. The aging myostatin null phenotype: reduced adiposity, cardiac hypertrophy, enhanced cardiac stress response, and sexual dimorphism. J Endocrinol 2012; 213:263-75. [PMID: 22431133 DOI: 10.1530/joe-11-0455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The natural aging process results in the physiological decline of multiple tissues and organ systems. Changes commonly occur with middle age and include decreased skeletal muscle mass, bone mineral density, cardiac output, and insulin sensitivity, and increased adiposity, all of which can contribute to the onset of sarcopenia, osteoporosis, heart failure, or type 2 diabetes. Recent studies suggest that myostatin may influence many of these systems. We therefore sought to determine whether they are affected by aging, especially in 'middle-aged' Mstn-/- mice (12-20 months old (m.o.)). Although body weights were similar in wild-type (WT) and Mstn-/- mice, lean fat-free mass and skeletal muscles composed of predominantly type I, II, and mixed fibers were significantly heavier in Mstn-/- mice. These differences were accompanied by lower total adiposity, especially in female mice, white and brown fat pad weights, and adipocyte size. Hearts were heavier in Mstn-/- mice across a large age range (3-24 m.o.) and exhibited signs of dilated cardiomyopathy at rest, which include lower strain measurements compared with WT myocardium. However, Mstn-/- mice responded better to isoproterenol stress tests with greater increases in fractional shortening and ejection fraction-differences that were again more apparent in females and which are consistent with physiological cardiac hypertrophy. Spleens and kidneys were also smaller, although histologically normal, in Mstn-/- mice. These data together suggest that attenuating myostatin could potentially prevent or possibly treat pathological conditions that develop with age. Additional studies are nevertheless needed to definitively assess potential risks to cardiac function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa F Jackson
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, 124 ASLB, Washington Center for Muscle Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA
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43
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Effect of insulin on dexamethasone-induced ultrastructural changes in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Biologia (Bratisl) 2012. [DOI: 10.2478/s11756-012-0031-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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44
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Beastrom N, Lu H, Macke A, Canan BD, Johnson EK, Penton CM, Kaspar BK, Rodino-Klapac LR, Zhou L, Janssen PML, Montanaro F. mdx(⁵cv) mice manifest more severe muscle dysfunction and diaphragm force deficits than do mdx Mice. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2011; 179:2464-74. [PMID: 21893021 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2010] [Revised: 07/06/2011] [Accepted: 07/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by progressive skeletal muscle dysfunction leading to premature death by the third decade of life. The mdx mouse, the most widely used animal model of DMD, has been extremely useful to study disease mechanisms and to screen new therapeutics. However, unlike patients with DMD, mdx mice have a very mild motor function deficit, posing significant limitations for its use as a platform to assess the impact of treatments on motor function. It has been suggested that an mdx variant, the mdx(5cv) mouse, might be more severely affected. Here, we compared the motor activity, histopathology, and individual muscle force measurements of mdx and mdx(⁵cv) mice. Our study revealed that mdx(⁵cv) mice showed more severe exercise-induced fatigue, Rotarod performance deficits, and gait anomalies than mdx mice and that these deficits began at a younger age. Muscle force studies showed more severe strength deficits in the diaphragm of mdx(⁵cv) mice compared to mdx mice, but similar force generation in the extensor digitorum longus. Muscle histology was similar between the two strains. Differences in genetic background (genetic modifiers) probably account for these functional differences between mdx strains. Overall, our findings indicate that the mdx and mdx(⁵cv) mouse models of DMD are not interchangeable and identify the mdx(⁵cv) mouse as a valuable platform for preclinical studies that require assessment of muscle function in live animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Beastrom
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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45
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Bish LT, Sleeper MM, Forbes SC, Morine KJ, Reynolds C, Singletary GE, Trafny D, Pham J, Bogan J, Kornegay JN, Vandenborne K, Walter GA, Sweeney HL. Long-term systemic myostatin inhibition via liver-targeted gene transfer in golden retriever muscular dystrophy. Hum Gene Ther 2011; 22:1499-509. [PMID: 21787232 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2011.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal, X-linked recessive disease affecting 1 in 3,500 newborn boys for which there is no effective treatment or cure. One novel strategy that has therapeutic potential for DMD is inhibition of myostatin, a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass that may also promote fibrosis. Therefore, our goal in this study was to evaluate systemic myostatin inhibition in the golden retriever model of DMD (GRMD). GRMD canines underwent liver-directed gene transfer of a self-complementary adeno-associated virus type 8 vector designed to express a secreted dominant-negative myostatin peptide (n = 4) and were compared with age-matched, untreated GRMD controls (n = 3). Dogs were followed with serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for 13 months to assess cross-sectional area and volume of skeletal muscle, then euthanized so that tissue could be harvested for morphological and histological analysis. We found that systemic myostatin inhibition resulted in increased muscle mass in GRMD dogs as assessed by MRI and confirmed at tissue harvest. We also found that hypertrophy of type IIA fibers was largely responsible for the increased muscle mass and that reductions in serum creatine kinase and muscle fibrosis were associated with long-term myostatin inhibition in GRMD. This is the first report describing the effects of long-term, systemic myostatin inhibition in a large-animal model of DMD, and we believe that the simple and effective nature of our liver-directed gene-transfer strategy makes it an ideal candidate for evaluation as a novel therapeutic approach for DMD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence T Bish
- Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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46
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Serrano AL, Mann CJ, Vidal B, Ardite E, Perdiguero E, Muñoz-Cánoves P. Cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating fibrosis in skeletal muscle repair and disease. Curr Top Dev Biol 2011; 96:167-201. [PMID: 21621071 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-385940-2.00007-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The repair of an injured tissue is a complex biological process involving the coordinated activities of tissue-resident and infiltrating cells in response to local and systemic signals. Following acute tissue injury, inflammatory cell infiltration and activation/proliferation of resident stem cells is the first line of defense to restore tissue homeostasis. However, in the setting of chronic tissue damage, such as in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, inflammatory infiltrates persist, the ability of stem cells (satellite cells) is blocked and fibrogenic cells are continuously activated, eventually leading to the conversion of muscle into nonfunctional fibrotic tissue. This review explores our current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying efficient muscle repair that are dysregulated in muscular dystrophy-associated fibrosis and in aging-related muscle dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio L Serrano
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Cell Biology Unit, CIBERNED, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
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47
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Rahimov F, King OD, Warsing LC, Powell RE, Emerson CP, Kunkel LM, Wagner KR. Gene expression profiling of skeletal muscles treated with a soluble activin type IIB receptor. Physiol Genomics 2011; 43:398-407. [PMID: 21266502 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00223.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of the myostatin signaling pathway is emerging as a promising therapeutic means to treat muscle wasting and degenerative disorders. Activin type IIB receptor (ActRIIB) is the putative myostatin receptor, and a soluble activin receptor (ActRIIB-Fc) has been demonstrated to potently inhibit a subset of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family members including myostatin. To determine reliable and valid biomarkers for ActRIIB-Fc treatment, we assessed gene expression profiles for quadriceps muscles from mice treated with ActRIIB-Fc compared with mice genetically lacking myostatin and control mice. Expression of 134 genes was significantly altered in mice treated with ActRIIB-Fc over a 2-wk period relative to control mice (fold change > 1.5, P < 0.001), whereas the number of significantly altered genes in mice treated for 2 days was 38, demonstrating a time-dependent response to ActRIIB-Fc in overall muscle gene expression. The number of significantly altered genes in Mstn(-/-) mice relative to control mice was substantially higher (360), but for most of these genes the expression levels in the 2-wk treated mice were closer to the levels in the Mstn(-/-) mice than in control mice (P < 10⁻³⁰). Expression levels of 30 selected genes were further validated with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and a correlation of ≥ 0.89 was observed between the fold changes from the microarray analysis and the qPCR analysis. These data suggest that treatment with ActRIIB-Fc results in overlapping but distinct gene expression signatures compared with myostatin genetic mutation. Differentially expressed genes identified in this study can be used as potential biomarkers for ActRIIB-Fc treatment, which is currently in clinical trials as a therapeutic agent for muscle wasting and degenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fedik Rahimov
- Program in Genomics, Division of Genetics, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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48
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Costas JM, Nye DJ, Henley JB, Plochocki JH. Voluntary exercise induces structural remodeling in the hearts of dystrophin-deficient mice. Muscle Nerve 2011; 42:881-5. [PMID: 21104863 DOI: 10.1002/mus.21783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In this exploratory study, we test the hypothesis that voluntary exercise affects the progression of dystrophic changes in the left ventricle of the heart. Wild-type (C57BL/10ScSn) and dystrophin-deficient (mdx) mice, aged 7 weeks, were divided into sedentary and exercise-treated groups and tested for differences in cardiac histomorphometry. Exercised mdx mice were found to exhibit significantly enlarged ventricles and thinner lateral ventricular walls than sedentary mdx mice (P < 0.05). Trichrome staining indicated the presence of fibrotic lesions in the left ventricular myocardium in 20% of the exercised mdx group. Fibrotic lesions were not found in control or sedentary mdx mice. No histomorphometric differences were found between treatment groups in wild-type mice. Our findings suggest voluntary exercise may accelerate the progression of ventricular dilation and fibrosis in young mdx mice. The effects of exercise on cardiac remodeling should be considered during the treatment of cardiac disease in dystrophin-deficient patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Costas
- Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona 85308, USA
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49
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Morine KJ, Bish LT, Selsby JT, Gazzara JA, Pendrak K, Sleeper MM, Barton ER, Lee SJ, Sweeney HL. Activin IIB receptor blockade attenuates dystrophic pathology in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Muscle Nerve 2010; 42:722-30. [PMID: 20730876 DOI: 10.1002/mus.21743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Modulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling to promote muscle growth holds tremendous promise for the muscular dystrophies and other disorders involving the loss of functional muscle mass. Previous studies have focused on the TGF-β family member myostatin and demonstrated that inhibition of myostatin leads to muscle growth in normal and dystrophic mice. We describe a unique method of systemic inhibition of activin IIB receptor signaling via adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene transfer of a soluble form of the extracellular domain of the activin IIB receptor to the liver. Treatment of mdx mice with activin IIB receptor blockade led to increased skeletal muscle mass, increased force production in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and reduced serum creatine kinase. No effect on heart mass or function was observed. Our results indicate that activin IIB receptor blockade represents a novel and effective therapeutic strategy for the muscular dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Morine
- Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
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50
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Adamo CM, Dai DF, Percival JM, Minami E, Willis MS, Patrucco E, Froehner SC, Beavo JA. Sildenafil reverses cardiac dysfunction in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:19079-83. [PMID: 20956307 PMCID: PMC2973894 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1013077107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive and fatal genetic disorder of muscle degeneration. Patients with DMD lack expression of the protein dystrophin as a result of mutations in the X-linked dystrophin gene. The loss of dystrophin leads to severe skeletal muscle pathologies as well as cardiomyopathy, which manifests as congestive heart failure and arrhythmias. Like humans, dystrophin-deficient mice (mdx mice) show cardiac dysfunction as evidenced by a decrease in diastolic function followed by systolic dysfunction later in life. We have investigated whether sildenafil citrate (Viagra), a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, can be used to ameliorate the age-related cardiac dysfunction present in the mdx mice. By using echocardiography, we show that chronic sildenafil treatment reduces functional deficits in the cardiac performance of aged mdx mice, with no effect on normal cardiac function in WT controls. More importantly, when sildenafil treatment was started after cardiomyopathy had developed, the established symptoms were rapidly reversed within a few days. It is recognized that PDE5 inhibitors can have cardioprotective effects in other models of cardiac damage, but the present study reports a prevention and reversal of pathological cardiac dysfunction as measured by functional analysis in a mouse model of DMD. Overall, the data suggest that PDE5 inhibitors may be a useful treatment for the cardiomyopathy affecting patients with DMD at early and late stages of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Elina Minami
- Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195; and
| | - Monte S. Willis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
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