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Guedira G, Petermann O, Scapozza L, Ismail HM. Diapocynin treatment induces functional and structural improvements in an advanced disease state in the mdx 5Cv mice. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 177:116957. [PMID: 38908198 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116957] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common muscular disorder affecting children. It affects nearly 1 male birth over 5000. Oxidative stress is a pervasive feature in the pathogenesis of DMD. Recent work shows that the main generators of ROS are NADPH oxidases (NOX), suggesting that they are an early and promising target in DMD. In addition, skeletal muscles of mdx mice, a murine model of DMD, overexpress NOXes. We investigated the impact of diapocynin, a dimer of the NOX inhibitor apocynin, on the chronic disease phase of mdx5Cv mice. Treatment of these mice with diapocynin from 7 to 10 months of age resulted in decreased hypertrophy of several muscles, prevented force loss induced by tetanic and eccentric contractions, improved muscle and respiratory functions, decreased fibrosis of the diaphragm and positively regulated the expression of disease modifiers. These encouraging results ensure the potential role of diapocynin in future treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghali Guedira
- Pharmaceutical Biochemistry/Chemistry Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Petermann
- Pharmaceutical Biochemistry/Chemistry Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Leonardo Scapozza
- Pharmaceutical Biochemistry/Chemistry Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Hesham M Ismail
- Pharmaceutical Biochemistry/Chemistry Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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2
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Waters EA, Haney CR, Vaught LA, McNally EM, Demonbreun AR. New semi-automated tool for the quantitation of MR imaging to estimate in vivo muscle disease severity in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.23.541310. [PMID: 37293050 PMCID: PMC10245844 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.23.541310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The pathology in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by degenerating muscle fibers, inflammation, fibro-fatty infiltrate, and edema, and these pathological processes replace normal healthy muscle tissue. The mdx mouse model is one of the most commonly used preclinical models to study DMD. Mounting evidence has emerged illustrating that muscle disease progression varies considerably in mdx mice, with inter-animal differences as well as intra-muscular differences in pathology in individual mdx mice. This variation is important to consider when conducting assessments of drug efficacy and in longitudinal studies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method that can be used qualitatively or quantitatively to measure muscle disease progression in the clinic and in preclinical models. Although MR imaging is highly sensitive, image acquisition and analysis can be time intensive. The purpose of this study was to develop a semi-automated muscle segmentation and quantitation pipeline that can quickly and accurately estimate muscle disease severity in mice. Herein, we show that the newly developed segmentation tool accurately divides muscle. We show that measures of skew and interdecile range based on segmentation sufficiently estimate muscle disease severity in healthy wildtype and diseased mdx mice. Moreover, the semi-automated pipeline reduced analysis time by nearly 10-fold. Use of this rapid, non-invasive, semi-automated MR imaging and analysis pipeline has the potential to transform preclinical studies, allowing for pre-screening of dystrophic mice prior to study enrollment to ensure more uniform muscle disease pathology across treatment groups, improving study outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A. Waters
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Chad R. Haney
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lauren. A Vaught
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. McNally
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Alexis R. Demonbreun
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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3
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Lazzarin MC, Dos Santos JF, Quintana HT, Pidone FAM, de Oliveira F. Duchenne muscular dystrophy progression induced by downhill running is accompanied by increased endomysial fibrosis and oxidative damage DNA in muscle of mdx mice. J Mol Histol 2023; 54:41-54. [PMID: 36348131 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-022-10109-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by progressive muscle necrosis. One of the major challenges for prescribing physical rehabilitation exercises for DMD patients is associated with the lack of a thorough knowledge of dystrophic muscle responsiveness to exercise. This study aims to understand the relationship between myogenic regulation, inflammation and oxidative stress parameters, and disease progression induced by downhill running in the skeletal muscle of an experimental model of DMD. Six-month-old C57BL/10 and C57BL/10-DMDmdx male mice were distributed into three groups: Control (C), mdx, and mdx + Exercise (mdx + Ex). Animals were trained in a downhill running protocol for seven weeks. The gastrocnemius muscle was subjected to histopathology, muscle regeneration (myoD and myogenin), inflammation (COX-2), oxidative stress (8-OHdG) immunohistochemistry markers, and gene expression (qPCR) of NF-kB and NADP(H)Oxidase 2 (NOX-2) analysis. In the mdx + Ex group, the gastrocnemius muscle showed a higher incidence of endomysial fibrosis and a lower myonecrosis percentage area. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed decreased myogenin immunoexpression in the mdx group, as well as accentuated immunoexpression of nuclear 8-OHdG in both mdx groups and increase in cytoplasmic 8-OHdG only in the mdx + Ex. COX-2 immunoexpression was related to areas of regeneration process and inflammatory infiltrate in the mdx group, while associated with areas of muscle fibrosis in the mdx + Ex. Moreover, the NF-kB gene expression was not influenced by exercise; however, a NAD(P)HOxidase 2 increase was observed. Oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage play a significant role in the DMD phenotype progression induced by exercise, compromising cellular patterns resulting in increased endomysial fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Cruz Lazzarin
- Department of Biosciences, Federal University of São Paulo - UNIFESP, Rua Silva Jardim, 136 - Lab 328, Santos, SP, CEP: 11015-020, Brazil.,Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - José Fontes Dos Santos
- Department of Biosciences, Federal University of São Paulo - UNIFESP, Rua Silva Jardim, 136 - Lab 328, Santos, SP, CEP: 11015-020, Brazil
| | - Hananiah Tardivo Quintana
- Department of Biosciences, Federal University of São Paulo - UNIFESP, Rua Silva Jardim, 136 - Lab 328, Santos, SP, CEP: 11015-020, Brazil
| | - Flavia Andressa Mazzuco Pidone
- Department of Biosciences, Federal University of São Paulo - UNIFESP, Rua Silva Jardim, 136 - Lab 328, Santos, SP, CEP: 11015-020, Brazil
| | - Flavia de Oliveira
- Department of Biosciences, Federal University of São Paulo - UNIFESP, Rua Silva Jardim, 136 - Lab 328, Santos, SP, CEP: 11015-020, Brazil.
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4
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Deng J, Zhang J, Shi K, Liu Z. Drug development progress in duchenne muscular dystrophy. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:950651. [PMID: 35935842 PMCID: PMC9353054 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.950651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe, progressive, and incurable X-linked disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Patients with DMD have an absence of functional dystrophin protein, which results in chronic damage of muscle fibers during contraction, thus leading to deterioration of muscle quality and loss of muscle mass over time. Although there is currently no cure for DMD, improvements in treatment care and management could delay disease progression and improve quality of life, thereby prolonging life expectancy for these patients. Furthermore, active research efforts are ongoing to develop therapeutic strategies that target dystrophin deficiency, such as gene replacement therapies, exon skipping, and readthrough therapy, as well as strategies that target secondary pathology of DMD, such as novel anti-inflammatory compounds, myostatin inhibitors, and cardioprotective compounds. Furthermore, longitudinal modeling approaches have been used to characterize the progression of MRI and functional endpoints for predictive purposes to inform Go/No Go decisions in drug development. This review showcases approved drugs or drug candidates along their development paths and also provides information on primary endpoints and enrollment size of Ph2/3 and Ph3 trials in the DMD space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiexin Deng
- School of Nursing and Health, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- *Correspondence: Jiexin Deng, ; Zhigang Liu,
| | - Junshi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Keli Shi
- School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Zhigang Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- *Correspondence: Jiexin Deng, ; Zhigang Liu,
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5
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Kilroy EA, Ignacz AC, Brann KL, Schaffer CE, Varney D, Alrowaished SS, Silknitter KJ, Miner JN, Almaghasilah A, Spellen TL, Lewis AD, Tilbury K, King BL, Kelley JB, Henry CA. Beneficial impacts of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on muscle structure and function in the zebrafish model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. eLife 2022; 11:62760. [PMID: 35324428 PMCID: PMC8947762 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) allows activation of muscle fibers in the absence of voluntary force generation. NMES could have the potential to promote muscle homeostasis in the context of muscle disease, but the impacts of NMES on diseased muscle are not well understood. We used the zebrafish Duchenne muscular dystrophy (dmd) mutant and a longitudinal design to elucidate the consequences of NMES on muscle health. We designed four neuromuscular stimulation paradigms loosely based on weightlifting regimens. Each paradigm differentially affected neuromuscular structure, function, and survival. Only endurance neuromuscular stimulation (eNMES) improved all outcome measures. We found that eNMES improves muscle and neuromuscular junction morphology, swimming, and survival. Heme oxygenase and integrin alpha7 are required for eNMES-mediated improvement. Our data indicate that neuromuscular stimulation can be beneficial, suggesting that the right type of activity may benefit patients with muscle disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth A Kilroy
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | - Amanda C Ignacz
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | - Kaylee L Brann
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | - Claire E Schaffer
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | - Devon Varney
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | | | - Kodey J Silknitter
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | - Jordan N Miner
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | - Ahmed Almaghasilah
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | - Tashawna L Spellen
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | - Alexandra D Lewis
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | - Karissa Tilbury
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, United States.,Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | - Benjamin L King
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, United States.,Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | - Joshua B Kelley
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, United States.,Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, United States
| | - Clarissa A Henry
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, United States.,School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, United States
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6
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Molecular and cellular basis of genetically inherited skeletal muscle disorders. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2021; 22:713-732. [PMID: 34257452 PMCID: PMC9686310 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-021-00389-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neuromuscular disorders comprise a diverse group of human inborn diseases that arise from defects in the structure and/or function of the muscle tissue - encompassing the muscle cells (myofibres) themselves and their extracellular matrix - or muscle fibre innervation. Since the identification in 1987 of the first genetic lesion associated with a neuromuscular disorder - mutations in dystrophin as an underlying cause of Duchenne muscular dystrophy - the field has made tremendous progress in understanding the genetic basis of these diseases, with pathogenic variants in more than 500 genes now identified as underlying causes of neuromuscular disorders. The subset of neuromuscular disorders that affect skeletal muscle are referred to as myopathies or muscular dystrophies, and are due to variants in genes encoding muscle proteins. Many of these proteins provide structural stability to the myofibres or function in regulating sarcolemmal integrity, whereas others are involved in protein turnover, intracellular trafficking, calcium handling and electrical excitability - processes that ensure myofibre resistance to stress and their primary activity in muscle contraction. In this Review, we discuss how defects in muscle proteins give rise to muscle dysfunction, and ultimately to disease, with a focus on pathologies that are most common, best understood and that provide the most insight into muscle biology.
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7
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da Silva HNM, Covatti C, da Rocha GL, Mizobuti DS, Mâncio RD, Hermes TDA, Kido LA, Cagnon VHA, Pereira ECL, Minatel E. Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Activators of Mitochondrial Biogenesis: Tempol Targets in the Diaphragm Muscle of Exercise Trained- mdx Mice. Front Physiol 2021; 12:649793. [PMID: 33981250 PMCID: PMC8107395 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.649793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The mdx mouse phenotype aggravated by chronic exercise on a treadmill makes this murine model more reliable for the study of muscular dystrophy. Thus, to better assess the Tempol effect on dystrophic pathways, the analyses in this study were performed in the blood samples and diaphragm muscle from treadmill trained adult (7–11-weeks old) mdx animals. The mdx mice were divided into three groups: mdxSed, sedentary controls (n = 28); mdxEx, exercise-trained animals (n = 28); and mdxEx+T, exercise-trained animals with the Tempol treatment (n = 28). The results demonstrated that the Tempol treatment promoted muscle strength gain, prevented muscle damage, reduced the inflammatory process, oxidative stress, and angiogenesis regulator, and up regulated the activators of mitochondrial biogenesis. The main new findings of this study are that Tempol reduced the NF-κB and increased the PGC1-α and PPARδ levels in the exercise-trained-mdx mice, which are probably related to the ability of this antioxidant to scavenge excessive ROS. These results reinforce the use of Tempol as a potential therapeutic strategy in DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caroline Covatti
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Luiz da Rocha
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Daniela Sayuri Mizobuti
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Rafael Dias Mâncio
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Túlio de Almeida Hermes
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Larissa Akemi Kido
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Valéria Helena Alves Cagnon
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Elaine Cristina Leite Pereira
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.,Faculty of Ceilândia, University of Brasília (UnB), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Elaine Minatel
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
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8
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Beneficial Role of Exercise in the Modulation of mdx Muscle Plastic Remodeling and Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10040558. [PMID: 33916762 PMCID: PMC8066278 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10040558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive progressive lethal disorder caused by the lack of dystrophin, which determines myofibers mechanical instability, oxidative stress, inflammation, and susceptibility to contraction-induced injuries. Unfortunately, at present, there is no efficient therapy for DMD. Beyond several promising gene- and stem cells-based strategies under investigation, physical activity may represent a valid noninvasive therapeutic approach to slow down the progression of the pathology. However, ethical issues, the limited number of studies in humans and the lack of consistency of the investigated training interventions generate loss of consensus regarding their efficacy, leaving exercise prescription still questionable. By an accurate analysis of data about the effects of different protocol of exercise on muscles of mdx mice, the most widely-used pre-clinical model for DMD research, we found that low intensity exercise, especially in the form of low speed treadmill running, likely represents the most suitable exercise modality associated to beneficial effects on mdx muscle. This protocol of training reduces muscle oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis process, and enhances muscle functionality, muscle regeneration, and hypertrophy. These conclusions can guide the design of appropriate studies on human, thereby providing new insights to translational therapeutic application of exercise to DMD patients.
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9
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Gibbs EM, McCourt JL, Shin KM, Hammond KG, Marshall JL, Crosbie RH. Loss of sarcospan exacerbates pathology in mdx mice, but does not affect utrophin amelioration of disease. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:149-159. [PMID: 33432327 PMCID: PMC8091037 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) is a membrane adhesion complex that provides structural stability at the sarcolemma by linking the myocyte's internal cytoskeleton and external extracellular matrix. In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the absence of dystrophin leads to the loss of the DGC at the sarcolemma, resulting in sarcolemmal instability and progressive muscle damage. Utrophin (UTRN), an autosomal homolog of dystrophin, is upregulated in dystrophic muscle and partially compensates for the loss of dystrophin in muscle from patients with DMD. Here, we examine the interaction between Utr and sarcospan (SSPN), a small transmembrane protein that is a core component of both UTRN-glycoprotein complex (UGC) and DGC. We show that additional loss of SSPN causes an earlier onset of disease in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice by reducing the expression of the UGC at the sarcolemma. In order to further evaluate the role of SSPN in maintaining therapeutic levels of Utr at the sarcolemma, we tested the effect of Utr transgenic overexpression in mdx mice lacking SSPN (mdx:SSPN -/-:Utr-Tg). We found that overexpression of Utr restored SSPN to the sarcolemma in mdx muscle but that the ablation of SSPN in mdx muscle reduced Utr at the membrane. Nevertheless, Utr overexpression reduced central nucleation and improved grip strength in both lines. These findings demonstrate that high levels of Utr transgenic overexpression ameliorate the mdx phenotype independently of SSPN expression but that loss of SSPN may impair Utr-based mechanisms that rely on lower levels of Utr protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Gibbs
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jackie L McCourt
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kara M Shin
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Katherine G Hammond
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jamie L Marshall
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Rachelle H Crosbie
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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10
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Garbincius JF, Merz LE, Cuttitta AJ, Bayne KV, Schrade S, Armstead EA, Converso-Baran KL, Whitesall SE, D'Alecy LG, Michele DE. Enhanced dimethylarginine degradation improves coronary flow reserve and exercise tolerance in Duchenne muscular dystrophy carrier mice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2020; 319:H582-H603. [PMID: 32762558 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00333.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked disease caused by null mutations in dystrophin and characterized by muscle degeneration. Cardiomyopathy is common and often prevalent at similar frequency in female DMD carriers irrespective of whether they manifest skeletal muscle disease. Impaired muscle nitric oxide (NO) production in DMD disrupts muscle blood flow regulation and exaggerates postexercise fatigue. We show that circulating levels of endogenous methylated arginines including asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), which act as NO synthase inhibitors, are elevated by acute necrotic muscle damage and in chronically necrotic dystrophin-deficient mice. We therefore hypothesized that excessive ADMA impairs muscle NO production and diminishes exercise tolerance in DMD. We used transgenic expression of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH), which degrades methylated arginines, to investigate their contribution to exercise-induced fatigue in DMD. Although infusion of exogenous ADMA was sufficient to impair exercise performance in wild-type mice, transgenic DDAH expression did not rescue exercise-induced fatigue in dystrophin-deficient male mdx mice. Surprisingly, DDAH transgene expression did attenuate exercise-induced fatigue in dystrophin-heterozygous female mdx carrier mice. Improved exercise tolerance was associated with reduced heart weight and improved cardiac β-adrenergic responsiveness in DDAH-transgenic mdx carriers. We conclude that DDAH overexpression increases exercise tolerance in female DMD carriers, possibly by limiting cardiac pathology and preserving the heart's responses to changes in physiological demand. Methylated arginine metabolism may be a new target to improve exercise tolerance and cardiac function in DMD carriers or act as an adjuvant to promote NO signaling alongside therapies that partially restore dystrophin expression in patients with DMD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) carriers are at risk for cardiomyopathy. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is released from damaged muscle in DMD and impairs exercise performance. Transgenic expression of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase to degrade ADMA prevents cardiac hypertrophy, improves cardiac function, and improves exercise tolerance in DMD carrier mice. These findings highlight the relevance of ADMA to muscular dystrophy and have important implications for therapies targeting nitric oxide in patients with DMD and DMD carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne F Garbincius
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Lauren E Merz
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Ashley J Cuttitta
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kaitlynn V Bayne
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Sara Schrade
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Emily A Armstead
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | - Steven E Whitesall
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Physiology Phenotyping Core, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Louis G D'Alecy
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Physiology Phenotyping Core, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Daniel E Michele
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Physiology Phenotyping Core, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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11
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Al-Khalili Szigyarto C. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: recent advances in protein biomarkers and the clinical application. Expert Rev Proteomics 2020; 17:365-375. [PMID: 32713262 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2020.1773806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Early biomarker discovery studies have praised the value of their emerging results, predicting an unprecedented impact on health care. Biomarkers are expected to provide tests with increased specificity and sensitivity compared to existing measures, improve the decision-making process, and accelerate the development of therapies. For rare disorders, like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) such biomarkers can assist the development of therapies, therefore also helping to find a cure for the disease. AREA COVERED State-of-the-art technologies have been used to identify blood biomarkers for DMD and efforts have been coordinated to develop and promote translation of biomarkers for clinical practice. Biomarker translation to clinical practice is however, adjoined by challenges related to the complexity of the disease, involving numerous biological processes, and the limited sample resources. This review highlights the current progress on the development of biomarkers, describing the proteomics technologies used, the most promising findings and the challenges encountered. EXPERT OPINION Strategies for effective use of samples combined with orthogonal proteomics methods for protein quantification are essential for translating biomarkers to the patient's bed side. Progress is achieved only if strong evidence is provided that the biomarker constitutes a reliable indicator of the patient's health status for a specific context of use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Al-Khalili Szigyarto
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , Solna, Sweden.,School of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology , Stockholm, Sweden
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12
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Torrente Y, Bella P, Tripodi L, Villa C, Farini A. Role of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptor 2 across Muscle Homeostasis: Implications for Treating Muscular Dystrophy. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020441. [PMID: 32075092 PMCID: PMC7072799 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (IGF2R) plays a major role in binding and regulating the circulating and tissue levels of the mitogenic peptide insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2). IGF2/IGF2R interaction influences cell growth, survival, and migration in normal tissue development, and the deregulation of IGF2R expression has been associated with growth-related disease and cancer. IGF2R overexpression has been implicated in heart and muscle disease progression. Recent research findings suggest novel approaches to target IGF2R action. This review highlights recent advances in the understanding of the IGF2R structure and pathways related to muscle homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvan Torrente
- Correspondence: (Y.T.); (A.F.); Tel.: +39-0255033874 (Y.T.); +39-0255033852 (A.F.)
| | | | | | | | - Andrea Farini
- Correspondence: (Y.T.); (A.F.); Tel.: +39-0255033874 (Y.T.); +39-0255033852 (A.F.)
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13
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Strijkers GJ, Araujo EC, Azzabou N, Bendahan D, Blamire A, Burakiewicz J, Carlier PG, Damon B, Deligianni X, Froeling M, Heerschap A, Hollingsworth KG, Hooijmans MT, Karampinos DC, Loudos G, Madelin G, Marty B, Nagel AM, Nederveen AJ, Nelissen JL, Santini F, Scheidegger O, Schick F, Sinclair C, Sinkus R, de Sousa PL, Straub V, Walter G, Kan HE. Exploration of New Contrasts, Targets, and MR Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques for Neuromuscular Disease - A Workshop Report of Working Group 3 of the Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences COST Action BM1304 MYO-MRI. J Neuromuscul Dis 2020; 6:1-30. [PMID: 30714967 PMCID: PMC6398566 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-180333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neuromuscular diseases are characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and muscle weakness resulting in functional disabilities. While each of these diseases is individually rare, they are common as a group, and a large majority lacks effective treatment with fully market approved drugs. Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy techniques (MRI and MRS) are showing increasing promise as an outcome measure in clinical trials for these diseases. In 2013, the European Union funded the COST (co-operation in science and technology) action BM1304 called MYO-MRI (www.myo-mri.eu), with the overall aim to advance novel MRI and MRS techniques for both diagnosis and quantitative monitoring of neuromuscular diseases through sharing of expertise and data, joint development of protocols, opportunities for young researchers and creation of an online atlas of muscle MRI and MRS. In this report, the topics that were discussed in the framework of working group 3, which had the objective to: Explore new contrasts, new targets and new imaging techniques for NMD are described. The report is written by the scientists who attended the meetings and presented their data. An overview is given on the different contrasts that MRI can generate and their application, clinical needs and desired readouts, and emerging methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ericky C.A. Araujo
- NMR Laboratory, Neuromuscular Investigation Center, Institute of Myology & NMR Laboratory, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/MIRCen, Paris, France
| | - Noura Azzabou
- NMR Laboratory, Neuromuscular Investigation Center, Institute of Myology & NMR Laboratory, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/MIRCen, Paris, France
| | | | - Andrew Blamire
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Jedrek Burakiewicz
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Pierre G. Carlier
- NMR Laboratory, Neuromuscular Investigation Center, Institute of Myology & NMR Laboratory, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/MIRCen, Paris, France
| | - Bruce Damon
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA
| | - Xeni Deligianni
- Department of Radiology, Division of Radiological Physics, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland & Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Arend Heerschap
- Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Benjamin Marty
- NMR Laboratory, Neuromuscular Investigation Center, Institute of Myology & NMR Laboratory, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/MIRCen, Paris, France
| | - Armin M. Nagel
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany & Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Francesco Santini
- Department of Radiology, Division of Radiological Physics, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland & Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Scheidegger
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Fritz Schick
- University of Tübingen, Section on Experimental Radiology, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Volker Straub
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | | | - Hermien E. Kan
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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14
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Sitzia C, Meregalli M, Belicchi M, Farini A, Arosio M, Bestetti D, Villa C, Valenti L, Brambilla P, Torrente Y. Preliminary Evidences of Safety and Efficacy of Flavonoids- and Omega 3-Based Compound for Muscular Dystrophies Treatment: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Pilot Clinical Trial. Front Neurol 2019; 10:755. [PMID: 31396142 PMCID: PMC6664031 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Nutritional compounds can exert both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Since these events exacerbate the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophies, we investigated nutraceutical supplementation as an adjuvant therapy in dystrophic patients, to low costs and easy route of administration. Moreover, this treatment could represent an alternative therapeutic strategy for dystrophic patients who do not respond to corticosteroid treatment. Objective: A 24 weeks randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study was aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of daily oral administration of flavonoids- and omega3-based natural supplement (FLAVOMEGA) in patients affected by muscular dystrophy with recognized muscle inflammation. Design: We screened 60 patients diagnosed for Duchenne (DMD), Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD), and Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD). Using a computer-generated random allocation sequence, we stratified patients in a 2:1:1 ratio (DMD:FSHD:LGMD) to one of two treatment groups: continuous FLAVOMEGA, continuous placebo. Of 29 patients included, only 24 completed the study: 15 were given FLAVOMEGA, 14 placebo. Results: FLAVOMEGA was well tolerated with no reported adverse events. Significant treatment differences in the change from baseline in 6 min walk distance (6MWD; secondary efficacy endpoint) (P = 0.033) and in isokinetic knee extension (P = 0.039) (primary efficacy endpoint) were observed in LGMD and FSHD subjects. Serum CK levels (secondary efficacy endpoint) decreased in all FLAVOMEGA treated groups with significant difference in DMD subjects (P = 0.039). Conclusions: Although the small number of patients and the wide range of disease severity among patients reduced statistical significance, we obtained an optimal profile of safety and tolerability for the compound, showing valuable data of efficacy in primary and secondary endpoints. Trial registration number: NCT03317171 Retrospectively registered 25/10/2017
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Affiliation(s)
- Clementina Sitzia
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Unit of Neurology, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Centro Dino Ferrari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Mirella Meregalli
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Unit of Neurology, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Centro Dino Ferrari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Marzia Belicchi
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Unit of Neurology, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Centro Dino Ferrari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Farini
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Unit of Neurology, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Centro Dino Ferrari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Maddalena Arosio
- Service of Physiotherapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Denise Bestetti
- Bianchi Bonomi Haemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Villa
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Unit of Neurology, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Centro Dino Ferrari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Valenti
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hepatology, Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Brambilla
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Desio Hospital, University Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Yvan Torrente
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Unit of Neurology, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Centro Dino Ferrari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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15
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a neuromuscular disease caused by a dystrophin protein deficiency. Dystrophin functions to stabilize and protect the muscle fiber during muscle contraction; thus, the absence of functional dystrophin protein leads to muscle injury. DMD patients experience progressive muscle necrosis, loss of function, and ultimately succumb to respiratory failure or cardiomyopathy. Exercise is known to improve muscle health and strength in healthy individuals as well as positively affect other systems. Because of this, exercise has been investigated as a potential therapeutic approach for DMD. METHODS This review aims to provide a concise presentation of the exercise literature with a focus on dystrophin-deficient muscle. Our intent was to identify trends and gaps in knowledge with an appreciation of exercise modality. RESULTS After compiling data from mouse and human studies, it became apparent that endurance exercises such as a swimming and voluntary wheel running have therapeutic potential in limb muscles of mice and respiratory training was beneficial in humans. However, in the comparatively few long-term investigations, the effect of low-intensity training on cardiac and respiratory muscles was contradictory. In addition, the effect of exercise on other systems is largely unknown. CONCLUSIONS To safely prescribe exercise as a therapy to DMD patients, multisystemic investigations are needed including the evaluation of respiratory and cardiac muscle.
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Wang DW, Mokhonova EI, Kendall GC, Becerra D, Naeini YB, Cantor RM, Spencer MJ, Nelson SF, Miceli MC. Repurposing Dantrolene for Long-Term Combination Therapy to Potentiate Antisense-Mediated DMD Exon Skipping in the mdx Mouse. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2018; 11:180-191. [PMID: 29858053 PMCID: PMC5992346 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in DMD, resulting in loss of dystrophin, which is essential to muscle health. DMD “exon skipping” uses anti-sense oligo-nucleotides (AONs) to force specific exon exclusion during mRNA processing to restore reading frame and rescue of partially functional dystrophin protein. Although exon-skipping drugs in humans show promise, levels of rescued dystrophin protein remain suboptimal. We previously identified dantrolene as a skip booster when combined with AON in human DMD cultures and short-term mdx dystrophic mouse studies. Here, we assess the effect of dantrolene/AON combination on DMD exon-23 skipping over long-term mdx treatment under conditions that better approximate potential human dosing. To evaluate the dantrolene/AON combination treatment effect on dystrophin induction, we assayed three AON doses, with and without oral dantrolene, to assess multiple outcomes across different muscles. Meta-analyses of the results of statistical tests from both the quadriceps and diaphragm assessing contributions of dantrolene beyond AON, across all AON treatment groups, provide strong evidence that dantrolene modestly boosts exon skipping and dystrophin rescue while reducing muscle pathology in mdx mice (p < 0.0087). These findings support a trial of combination dantrolene/AON to increase exon-skipping efficacy and highlight the value of combinatorial approaches and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug re-purposing for discovery of unsuspected therapeutic application and rapid translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek W Wang
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine and College of Letters and Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ekaterina I Mokhonova
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine and College of Letters and Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Genevieve C Kendall
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Diana Becerra
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yalda B Naeini
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rita M Cantor
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Melissa J Spencer
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stanley F Nelson
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - M Carrie Miceli
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine and College of Letters and Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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17
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Gibbs EM, Crosbie-Watson RH. A Simple and Low-cost Assay for Measuring Ambulation in Mouse Models of Muscular Dystrophy. J Vis Exp 2017:56772. [PMID: 29364281 PMCID: PMC5908392 DOI: 10.3791/56772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Measuring functional outcomes in the treatment of muscular dystrophy is an essential aspect of preclinical testing. The assessment of voluntary ambulation in mouse models is a non-invasive and reproducible activity assay that is directly analogous to measures of patient ambulation such as the 6-minute walk test and related mobility scores. Many common methods for testing mouse ambulation speed and distance are based on the open field test, where an animal's free movement within an arena is measured over time. One major downside to this approach is that commercial software and equipment for high-resolution motion tracking is expensive and may require transferring mice to specialized facilities for testing. Here, we describe a low-cost, video-based system for measuring mouse ambulation that utilizes free and open-source software. Using this protocol, we demonstrate that voluntary ambulation in the dystrophin-null mdx mouse model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is decreased relative to wild-type mouse activity. In mdx mice expressing the utrophin transgene, these activity deficits are not observed and the total distance traveled is indistinguishable from wild-type mice. This method is effective for measuring changes in voluntary ambulation associated with dystrophic pathology, and provides a versatile platform that can be readily adapted to diverse research settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Gibbs
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California; Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California
| | - Rachelle H Crosbie-Watson
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California; Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California;
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18
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Victor RG, Sweeney HL, Finkel R, McDonald CM, Byrne B, Eagle M, Goemans N, Vandenborne K, Dubrovsky AL, Topaloglu H, Miceli MC, Furlong P, Landry J, Elashoff R, Cox D. A phase 3 randomized placebo-controlled trial of tadalafil for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Neurology 2017; 89:1811-1820. [PMID: 28972192 PMCID: PMC5664308 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000004570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To conduct a randomized trial to test the primary hypothesis that once-daily tadalafil, administered orally for 48 weeks, lessens the decline in ambulatory ability in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). METHODS Three hundred thirty-one participants with DMD 7 to 14 years of age taking glucocorticoids were randomized to tadalafil 0.3 mg·kg-1·d-1, tadalafil 0.6 mg·kg-1·d-1, or placebo. The primary efficacy measure was 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) after 48 weeks. Secondary efficacy measures included North Star Ambulatory Assessment and timed function tests. Performance of Upper Limb (PUL) was a prespecified exploratory outcome. RESULTS Tadalafil had no effect on the primary outcome: 48-week declines in 6MWD were 51.0 ± 9.3 m with placebo, 64.7 ± 9.8 m with low-dose tadalafil (p = 0.307 vs placebo), and 59.1 ± 9.4 m with high-dose tadalafil (p = 0.538 vs placebo). Tadalafil also had no effect on secondary outcomes. In boys >10 years of age, total PUL score and shoulder subscore declined less with low-dose tadalafil than placebo. Adverse events were consistent with the known safety profile of tadalafil and the DMD disease state. CONCLUSIONS Tadalafil did not lessen the decline in ambulatory ability in boys with DMD. Further studies should be considered to confirm the hypothesis-generating upper limb data and to determine whether ambulatory decline can be slowed by initiation of tadalafil before 7 years of age. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER NCT01865084. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE This study provides Class I evidence that tadalafil does not slow ambulatory decline in 7- to 14-year-old boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald G Victor
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN.
| | - H Lee Sweeney
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - Richard Finkel
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - Craig M McDonald
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - Barry Byrne
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - Michelle Eagle
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - Nathalie Goemans
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - Krista Vandenborne
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - Alberto L Dubrovsky
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - Haluk Topaloglu
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - M Carrie Miceli
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - Pat Furlong
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - John Landry
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - Robert Elashoff
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
| | - David Cox
- From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (R.G.V.), Los Angeles, CA; University of Florida (H.L.S., B.B., K.V.), Gainesville; Nemours Children's Hospital (R.F.), Orlando, FL; University of California at Davis (C.M.M.), Sacramento; Newcastle University (M.E.), Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; University Hospitals Leuven (N.G.), Belgium; Instituto de Neurociencias-Fundacion Favaloro (A.L.D.), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hacettepe University School of Medicine (H.T.), Ankara, Turkey; UCLA (M.C.M., R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (P.F.), Hackensack, NJ; Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly and Company, Toronto, ON (J.L.); and Eli Lilly and Company (D.C.), Indianapolis, IN
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19
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Gibbs EM, Marshall JL, Ma E, Nguyen TM, Hong G, Lam JS, Spencer MJ, Crosbie-Watson RH. High levels of sarcospan are well tolerated and act as a sarcolemmal stabilizer to address skeletal muscle and pulmonary dysfunction in DMD. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 25:5395-5406. [PMID: 27798107 PMCID: PMC5418831 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness, ultimately leading to early mortality in affected teenagers and young adults. Previous work from our lab has shown that a small transmembrane protein called sarcospan (SSPN) can enhance the recruitment of adhesion complex proteins to the cell surface. When human SSPN is expressed at three-fold levels in mdx mice, this increase in adhesion complex abundance improves muscle membrane stability, preventing many of the histopathological changes associated with DMD. However, expressing higher levels of human SSPN (ten-fold transgenic expression) causes a severe degenerative muscle phenotype in wild-type mice. Since SSPN-mediated stabilization of the sarcolemma represents a promising therapeutic strategy in DMD, it is important to determine whether SSPN can be introduced at high levels without toxicity. Here, we show that mouse SSPN (mSSPN) can be overexpressed at 30-fold levels in wild-type mice with no deleterious effects. In mdx mice, mSSPN overexpression improves dystrophic pathology and sarcolemmal stability. We show that these mice exhibit increased resistance to eccentric contraction-induced damage and reduced fatigue following exercise. mSSPN overexpression improved pulmonary function and reduced dystrophic histopathology in the diaphragm. Together, these results demonstrate that SSPN overexpression is well tolerated in mdx mice and improves sarcolemma defects that underlie skeletal muscle and pulmonary dysfunction in DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Gibbs
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology.,Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
| | - Jamie L Marshall
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology.,Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
| | - Eva Ma
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology.,Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
| | - Thien M Nguyen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology.,Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
| | - Grace Hong
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology.,Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
| | - Jessica S Lam
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology.,Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
| | - Melissa J Spencer
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA 90095, USA
| | - Rachelle H Crosbie-Watson
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology.,Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.,Department of Neurology David Geffen School of Medicine.,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA 90095, USA
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20
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Acosta AR, Van Wie E, Stoughton WB, Bettis AK, Barnett HH, LaBrie NR, Balog-Alvarez CJ, Nghiem PP, Cummings KJ, Kornegay JN. Use of the six-minute walk test to characterize golden retriever muscular dystrophy. Neuromuscul Disord 2016; 26:865-872. [PMID: 27818009 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2016.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Revised: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disorder in which loss of the dystrophin protein causes progressive skeletal/cardiac muscle degeneration and death within the third decade. For clinical trials and supportive animal studies, DMD disease progression and response to treatment must be established using outcome parameters (biomarkers). The 6-minute walk test (6MWT), defined as the distance an individual can walk in 6 minutes, is commonly used in DMD clinical trials and has been employed in dogs to characterize cardiac and respiratory disease severity. Building on methods established in DMD and canine clinical studies, we assessed the 6MWT in dogs with the DMD genetic homolog, golden retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD). Twenty-one cross-bred golden retrievers were categorized as affected (DMD mutation and GRMD phenotype), carrier (female heterozygous for DMD mutation and no phenotype), and normal (wild type DMD gene and normal phenotype). When compared to grouped normal/carrier dogs, GRMD dogs walked shorter height-adjusted distances at 6 and 12 months of age and their distances walked declined with age. Percent change in creatine kinase after 6MWT was greater in GRMD versus normal/carrier dogs at 6 months, providing another potential biomarker. While these data generally support use of the 6MWT as a biomarker for preclinical GRMD treatment trials, there were certain limitations. Results of the 6MWT did not correlate with other outcome parameters for GRMD dogs when considered alone and an 80% increase in mean distance walked would be necessary to achieve satisfactory power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin R Acosta
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA
| | - Emiko Van Wie
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA
| | - William B Stoughton
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA
| | - Amanda K Bettis
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA
| | - Heather H Barnett
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA
| | - Nicholas R LaBrie
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA
| | - Cynthia J Balog-Alvarez
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA
| | - Peter P Nghiem
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA
| | - Kevin J Cummings
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA
| | - Joe N Kornegay
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA; Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4458, USA.
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21
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Hyzewicz J, Ruegg UT, Takeda S. Comparison of Experimental Protocols of Physical Exercise for mdx Mice and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients. J Neuromuscul Dis 2015; 2:325-342. [PMID: 27858750 PMCID: PMC5240598 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-150106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in the gene coding for dystrophin and leads to muscle degeneration, wheelchair dependence and death by cardiac or respiratory failure. Physical exercise has been proposed as a palliative therapy for DMD to maintain muscle strength and prevent contractures for as long as possible. However, its practice remains controversial because the benefits of training may be counteracted by muscle overuse and damage. The effects of physical exercise have been investigated in muscles of dystrophin-deficient mdx mice and in patients with DMD. However, a lack of uniformity among protocols limits comparability between studies and translatability of results from animals to humans. In the present review, we summarize and discuss published protocols used to investigate the effects of physical exercise on mdx mice and DMD patients, with the objectives of improving comparability between studies and identifying future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janek Hyzewicz
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Shin'ichi Takeda
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
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22
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Rouillon J, Poupiot J, Zocevic A, Amor F, Léger T, Garcia C, Camadro JM, Wong B, Pinilla R, Cosette J, Coenen-Stass AML, Mcclorey G, Roberts TC, Wood MJA, Servais L, Udd B, Voit T, Richard I, Svinartchouk F. Serum proteomic profiling reveals fragments of MYOM3 as potential biomarkers for monitoring the outcome of therapeutic interventions in muscular dystrophies. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:4916-32. [PMID: 26060189 PMCID: PMC4527491 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapy-responsive biomarkers are an important and unmet need in the muscular dystrophy field where new treatments are currently in clinical trials. By using a comprehensive high-resolution mass spectrometry approach and western blot validation, we found that two fragments of the myofibrillar structural protein myomesin-3 (MYOM3) are abnormally present in sera of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2D (LGMD2D) and their respective animal models. Levels of MYOM3 fragments were assayed in therapeutic model systems: (1) restoration of dystrophin expression by antisense oligonucleotide-mediated exon-skipping in mdx mice and (2) stable restoration of α-sarcoglycan expression in KO-SGCA mice by systemic injection of a viral vector. Following administration of the therapeutic agents MYOM3 was restored toward wild-type levels. In the LGMD model, where different doses of vector were used, MYOM3 restoration was dose-dependent. MYOM3 fragments showed lower inter-individual variability compared with the commonly used creatine kinase assay, and correlated better with the restoration of the dystrophin-associated protein complex and muscle force. These data suggest that the MYOM3 fragments hold promise for minimally invasive assessment of experimental therapies for DMD and other neuromuscular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Thibaut Léger
- Mass spectrometry Laboratory, Institut Jacques Monod, UMR 7592, University Paris Diderot, CNRS, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75205 Paris, France
| | - Camille Garcia
- Mass spectrometry Laboratory, Institut Jacques Monod, UMR 7592, University Paris Diderot, CNRS, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75205 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Michel Camadro
- Mass spectrometry Laboratory, Institut Jacques Monod, UMR 7592, University Paris Diderot, CNRS, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75205 Paris, France
| | - Brenda Wong
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | | | | | - Graham Mcclorey
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Thomas C Roberts
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK, Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Matthew J A Wood
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Laurent Servais
- Service of Clinical Trials and Databases, Institut de Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Bjarne Udd
- Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics and Department of Medical Genetics, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Thomas Voit
- UPMC Inserm, UMRS 974, CNRS FRE 3617, Paris, France, Université Pierre et Marie Curie- Paris 6, Institut de Myologie, GH Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France and
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23
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Gardner BB, Swaggart KA, Kim G, Watson S, McNally EM. Cardiac function in muscular dystrophy associates with abdominal muscle pathology. J Neuromuscul Dis 2015; 2:39-49. [PMID: 26029630 PMCID: PMC4447317 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-140062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The muscular dystrophies target muscle groups differentially. In mouse models of muscular dystrophy, notably the mdx model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the diaphragm muscle shows marked fibrosis and at an earlier age than other muscle groups, more reflective of the histopathology seen in human muscular dystrophy. METHODS Using a mouse model of limb girdle muscular dystrophy, the Sgcg mouse, we compared muscle pathology across different muscle groups and heart. A cohort of nearly 200 Sgcg mice were studied using multiple measures of pathology including echocardiography, Evans blue dye uptake and hydroxyproline content in multiple muscle groups. Spearman rank correlations were determined among echocardiographic and pathological parameters. FINDINGS The abdominal muscles were found to have more fibrosis than other muscle groups, including the diaphragm muscle. The abdominal muscles also had more Evans blue dye uptake than other muscle groups. The amount of diaphragm fibrosis was found to correlate positively with fibrosis in the left ventricle, and abdominal muscle fibrosis correlated with impaired left ventricular function. Fibrosis in the abdominal muscles negatively correlated with fibrosis in the diaphragm and right ventricles. Together these data reflect the recruitment of abdominal muscles as respiratory muscles in muscular dystrophy, a finding consistent with data from human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gene Kim
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago
| | - Sydeaka Watson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Northwestern University
| | - Elizabeth M McNally
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago ; Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago ; The University of Chicago, Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University
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24
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Martinez L, Ermolova NV, Ishikawa TO, Stout DB, Herschman HR, Spencer MJ. A reporter mouse for optical imaging of inflammation in mdx muscles. Skelet Muscle 2015; 5:15. [PMID: 25949789 PMCID: PMC4422315 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-015-0042-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is due to mutations in the gene coding for human DMD; DMD is characterized by progressive muscle degeneration, inflammation, fat accumulation, and fibrosis. The mdx mouse model of DMD lacks dystrophin protein and undergoes a predictable disease course. While this model has been a valuable resource for pre-clinical studies aiming to test therapeutic compounds, its utility is compromised by a lack of reliable biochemical tools to quantifiably assay muscle disease. Additionally, there are few non-invasive assays available to researchers for measuring early indicators of disease progression in mdx mice. Methods Mdx mice were crossed to knock-in mice expressing luciferase from the Cox2 promoter. These reporter mice (Cox2FLuc/+DMD−/−) were created to serve as a tool for researchers to evaluate muscle inflammation. Luciferase expression was assayed by immunohistochemistry to insure that it correlated with muscle lesions. The luciferase signal was quantified by optical imaging and luciferase assays to verify that the signal correlated with muscle damage. As proof of principle, Cox2FLuc/+DMD−/− mice were also treated with prednisolone to validate that a reduction in luciferase signal correlated with prednisone treatment. Results In this investigation, a novel reporter mouse (Cox2FLuc/+DMD−/− mice) was created and validated for non-invasive quantification of muscle inflammation in vivo. In this dystrophic mouse, luciferase is expressed from cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox2) expressing cells and bioluminescence is detected by optical imaging. Bioluminescence is significantly enhanced in damaged muscle of exercised Cox2FLuc/+DMD−/− mice compared to non-exercised Cox2FLuc/+DMD+/+ mice. Moreover, the Cox2 bioluminescent signal is reduced in Cox2FLuc/+DMD−/− mice in response to a course of steroid treatment. Reduction in bioluminescence is detectable prior to measurable therapy-elicited improvements in muscle strength, as assessed by traditional means. Biochemical assay of luciferase provides a second means to quantify muscle inflammation. Conclusions The Cox2FLuc/+DMD−/− mouse is a novel tool to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of drugs intended to target inflammatory aspects of dystrophic pathology. This mouse model will be a useful adjunct to traditional outcome measures in assessing potential therapeutic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonel Martinez
- Department of Neurology and Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 635 Charles Young Dr. South, NRB Room 401, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA ; Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Natalia V Ermolova
- Department of Neurology and Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 635 Charles Young Dr. South, NRB Room 401, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA ; Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Tomo-O Ishikawa
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 341 Boyer Hall, 611 Charles E Young Dr. So, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA ; Present address: Genomics Business Department, Trans Genic Inc, Kumamoto, 862-0976 Japan
| | - David B Stout
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Harvey R Herschman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 341 Boyer Hall, 611 Charles E Young Dr. So, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA ; Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA ; Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Melissa J Spencer
- Department of Neurology and Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 635 Charles Young Dr. South, NRB Room 401, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA ; Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA ; Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
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25
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Park J, Wicki J, Knoblaugh SE, Chamberlain JS, Lee D. Multi-parametric MRI at 14T for muscular dystrophy mice treated with AAV vector-mediated gene therapy. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124914. [PMID: 25856443 PMCID: PMC4391935 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a non-invasive tool for the monitoring of gene therapy for muscular dystrophy. The clinical investigations for this family of diseases often involve surgical biopsy which limits the amount of information that can be obtained due to the invasive nature of the procedure. Thus, other non-invasive tools may provide more opportunities for disease assessment and treatment responses. In order to explore this, dystrophic mdx4cv mice were systemically treated with a recombinant adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector containing a codon-optimized micro-dystrophin gene. Multi-parametric MRI of T2, magnetization transfer, and diffusion effects alongside 3-D volume measurements were then utilized to monitor disease/treatment progression. Mice were imaged at 10 weeks of age for pre-treatment, then again post-treatment at 8, 16, and 24 week time points. The efficacy of treatment was assessed by physiological assays for improvements in function and quantification of expression. Tissues from the hindlimbs were collected for histological analysis after the final time point for comparison with MRI results. We found that introduction of the micro-dystrophin gene restored some aspects of normal muscle histology and pathology such as decreased necrosis and resistance to contraction-induced injury. T2 relaxation values showed percentage decreases across all muscle types measured (tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, and soleus) when treated groups were compared to untreated groups. Additionally, the differences between groups were statistically significant for the tibialis anterior as well. The diffusion measurements showed a wider range of percentage changes and less statistical significance while the magnetization transfer effect measurements showed minimal change. MR images displayed hyper-intense regions of muscle that correlated with muscle pathology in histological sections. T2 relaxation, alongside diffusion and magnetization transfer effects provides useful data towards the goal of non-invasively monitoring the treatment of muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Park
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jacqueline Wicki
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Sue E. Knoblaugh
- Comparative Medicine Shared Resources, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey S. Chamberlain
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Donghoon Lee
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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26
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Wasala NB, Zhang K, Wasala LP, Hakim CH, Duan D. The FVB Background Does Not Dramatically Alter the Dystrophic Phenotype of Mdx Mice. PLOS CURRENTS 2015; 7. [PMID: 25737807 PMCID: PMC4339318 DOI: 10.1371/currents.md.28266819ca0ec5fefcac767ea9a3461c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The mdx mouse is the most frequently used animal model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a fatal muscle disease caused by the loss of dystrophin. Mdx mice are naturally occurring dystrophin-null mice on the C57BL/10 (BL10) background. We crossed black mdx to the white FVB background and generated mdx/FVB mice. Compared to that of age- and sex-matched FVB mice, mdx/FVB mice showed characteristic limb muscle pathology similar to that of original mdx mice. Further, the forelimb grip strength and limb muscle (tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus) specific force of mdx/FVB mice were significantly lower than that of wild type FVB mice. Consistent with what has been reported in original mdx mice, mdx/FVB mice also showed increased susceptibility to eccentric contraction-induced force loss and elevated serum creatine kinase. Our results suggest that the FVB background does not dramatically alter the dystrophic phenotype of mdx mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nalinda B Wasala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Keqing Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Lakmini P Wasala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Chady H Hakim
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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27
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Tranholm M, Kristensen AT, Broberg ML, Groth MP. Novel, high incidence exercise-induced muscle bleeding model in hemophilia B mice: rationale, development and prophylactic intervention. J Thromb Haemost 2015; 13:82-91. [PMID: 25370152 PMCID: PMC4309488 DOI: 10.1111/jth.12775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Muscle hematomas are the second most common complication of hemophilia and insufficient treatment may result in serious and even life-threatening complications. Hemophilic dogs and rats do experience spontaneous muscle bleeding, but currently, no experimental animal model is available specifically investigating spontaneous muscle bleeds in a hemophilic setting. AIM The objective of this study was to develop a model of spontaneous muscle bleeds in hemophilia B mice. We hypothesized that treadmill exercise would induce muscle bleeds in hemophilia B mice but not in normal non-hemophilic mice and that treatment with recombinant factor IX (rFIX) before treadmill exercise could prevent the occurrence of pathology. METHODS A total of 203 mice (123 F9-KO and 80 C57BL/6NTac) were included in three separate studies: (i) the model implementation study investigating the bleeding pattern in hemophilia B mice after treadmill exercise; (ii) a study evaluating the pharmacokinetics of recombinant FIX (rFIX) in hemophilia B mice and based on these data; (iii) the treatment study, which tested therapeutic intervention with rFIX. At termination of the treadmill studies the presence of bleeds was evaluated. RESULTS Treadmill exercise resulted in a high incidence of muscle bleeds in F9-KO mice but not in C57BL/6NTac mice. Treating hemophilia B mice with rFIX before treadmill exercise prevented muscle bleeds. CONCLUSION A novel model of muscle bleeds in hemophilia B mice, responsive to rFIX, has been developed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A T Kristensen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, University of CopenhagenFrederiksberg, Denmark
| | | | - M P Groth
- Novo Nordisk A/SMåløv, Denmark
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, University of CopenhagenFrederiksberg, Denmark
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Zhang A, Uaesoontrachoon K, Shaughnessy C, Das JR, Rayavarapu S, Brown KJ, Ray PE, Nagaraju K, van den Anker JN, Hoffman EP, Hathout Y. The use of urinary and kidney SILAM proteomics to monitor kidney response to high dose morpholino oligonucleotides in the mdx mouse. Toxicol Rep 2015. [PMID: 26213685 PMCID: PMC4512206 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2015.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PMO) are used as a promising exon-skipping gene therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). One potential complication of high dose PMO therapy is its transient accumulation in the kidneys. Therefore new urinary biomarkers are needed to monitor this treatment. Here, we carried out a pilot proteomic profiling study using stable isotope labeling in mammals (SILAM) strategy to identify new biomarkers to monitor the effect of PMO on the kidneys of the dystrophin deficient mouse model for DMD (mdx-23). We first assessed the baseline renal status of the mdx-23 mouse compared to the wild type (C57BL10) mouse, and then followed the renal outcome of mdx-23 mouse treated with a single high dose intravenous PMO injection (800 mg/kg). Surprisingly, untreated mdx-23 mice showed evidence of renal injury at baseline, which was manifested by albuminuria, increased urine output, and changes in established urinary biomarker of acute kidney injury (AKI). The PMO treatment induced further transient renal injury, which peaked at 7 days, and returned to almost the baseline status at 30 days post-treatment. In the kidney, the SILAM approach followed by western blot validation identified changes in Meprin A subunit alpha at day 2, then returned to normal levels at day 7 and 30 after PMO injection. In the urine, SILAM approach identified an increase in Clusterin and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase 1 as potential candidates to monitor the transient renal accumulation of PMO. These results, which were confirmed by Western blots or ELISA, demonstrate the value of the SILAM approach to identify new candidate biomarkers of renal injury in mdx-23 mice treated with high dose PMO. Chemical compounds studied in this article: Phosphorodiamidate morpholino (PubChem CID: 22140692); isoflurane (PubChem CID: 3763); formic acid (PubChem CID: 284); acetonitrile (PubChem CID: 6342); acetone (PubChem CID: 180); methanol (PubChem CID: 887).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiping Zhang
- The Centers for Genetic Medicine Research and Translational Science, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Kitipong Uaesoontrachoon
- The Centers for Genetic Medicine Research and Translational Science, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Conner Shaughnessy
- The Centers for Genetic Medicine Research and Translational Science, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Jharna R Das
- The Centers for Genetic Medicine Research and Translational Science, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Sree Rayavarapu
- The Centers for Genetic Medicine Research and Translational Science, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Kristy J Brown
- The Centers for Genetic Medicine Research and Translational Science, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Patricio E Ray
- The Centers for Genetic Medicine Research and Translational Science, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- The Centers for Genetic Medicine Research and Translational Science, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - John N van den Anker
- The Centers for Genetic Medicine Research and Translational Science, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Eric P Hoffman
- The Centers for Genetic Medicine Research and Translational Science, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Yetrib Hathout
- The Centers for Genetic Medicine Research and Translational Science, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
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29
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Tatem KS, Quinn JL, Phadke A, Yu Q, Gordish-Dressman H, Nagaraju K. Behavioral and locomotor measurements using an open field activity monitoring system for skeletal muscle diseases. J Vis Exp 2014:51785. [PMID: 25286313 PMCID: PMC4672952 DOI: 10.3791/51785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The open field activity monitoring system comprehensively assesses locomotor and behavioral activity levels of mice. It is a useful tool for assessing locomotive impairment in animal models of neuromuscular disease and efficacy of therapeutic drugs that may improve locomotion and/or muscle function. The open field activity measurement provides a different measure than muscle strength, which is commonly assessed by grip strength measurements. It can also show how drugs may affect other body systems as well when used with additional outcome measures. In addition, measures such as total distance traveled mirror the 6 min walk test, a clinical trial outcome measure. However, open field activity monitoring is also associated with significant challenges: Open field activity measurements vary according to animal strain, age, sex, and circadian rhythm. In addition, room temperature, humidity, lighting, noise, and even odor can affect assessment outcomes. Overall, this manuscript provides a well-tested and standardized open field activity SOP for preclinical trials in animal models of neuromuscular diseases. We provide a discussion of important considerations, typical results, data analysis, and detail the strengths and weaknesses of open field testing. In addition, we provide recommendations for optimal study design when using open field activity in a preclinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen S Tatem
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center;
| | - James L Quinn
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center
| | - Aditi Phadke
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center
| | - Qing Yu
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center
| | - Heather Gordish-Dressman
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center; Department of Integrative Systems Biology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center; Department of Integrative Systems Biology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
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30
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Alexander MS, Casar JC, Motohashi N, Vieira NM, Eisenberg I, Marshall JL, Gasperini MJ, Lek A, Myers JA, Estrella EA, Kang PB, Shapiro F, Rahimov F, Kawahara G, Widrick JJ, Kunkel LM. MicroRNA-486-dependent modulation of DOCK3/PTEN/AKT signaling pathways improves muscular dystrophy-associated symptoms. J Clin Invest 2014; 124:2651-67. [PMID: 24789910 DOI: 10.1172/jci73579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin, which results in dysfunctional signaling pathways within muscle. Previously, we identified microRNA-486 (miR-486) as a muscle-enriched microRNA that is markedly reduced in the muscles of dystrophin-deficient mice (Dmdmdx-5Cv mice) and in DMD patient muscles. Here, we determined that muscle-specific transgenic overexpression of miR-486 in muscle of Dmdmdx-5Cv mice results in reduced serum creatine kinase levels, improved sarcolemmal integrity, fewer centralized myonuclei, increased myofiber size, and improved muscle physiology and performance. Additionally, we identified dedicator of cytokinesis 3 (DOCK3) as a miR-486 target in skeletal muscle and determined that DOCK3 expression is induced in dystrophic muscles. DOCK3 overexpression in human myotubes modulated PTEN/AKT signaling, which regulates muscle hypertrophy and growth, and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, several components of the PTEN/AKT pathway were markedly modulated by miR-486 in dystrophin-deficient muscle. Skeletal muscle-specific miR-486 overexpression in Dmdmdx-5Cv animals decreased levels of DOCK3, reduced PTEN expression, and subsequently increased levels of phosphorylated AKT, which resulted in an overall beneficial effect. Together, these studies demonstrate that stable overexpression of miR-486 ameliorates the disease progression of dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Carrier Proteins/genetics
- Carrier Proteins/metabolism
- Cell Line
- Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors/genetics
- Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors/metabolism
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred mdx
- Mice, Transgenic
- MicroRNAs/genetics
- MicroRNAs/metabolism
- Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/metabolism
- Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/pathology
- Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/genetics
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/genetics
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/pathology
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism
- PTEN Phosphohydrolase/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
- Signal Transduction
- Up-Regulation
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31
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Kawahara G, Gasperini MJ, Myers JA, Widrick JJ, Eran A, Serafini PR, Alexander MS, Pletcher MT, Morris CA, Kunkel LM. Dystrophic muscle improvement in zebrafish via increased heme oxygenase signaling. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 23:1869-78. [PMID: 24234649 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by a lack of the dystrophin protein and has no effective treatment at present. Zebrafish provide a powerful in vivo tool for high-throughput therapeutic drug screening for the improvement of muscle phenotypes caused by dystrophin deficiency. Using the dystrophin-deficient zebrafish, sapje, we have screened a total of 2640 compounds with known modes of action from three drug libraries to identify modulators of the disease progression. Six compounds that target heme oxygenase signaling were found to rescue the abnormal muscle phenotype in sapje and sapje-like, while upregulating the inducible heme oxygenase 1 (Hmox1) at the protein level. Direct Hmox1 overexpression by injection of zebrafish Hmox1 mRNA into fertilized eggs was found to be sufficient for a dystrophin-independent restoration of normal muscle via an upregulation of cGMP levels. In addition, treatment of mdx(5cv) mice with the PDE5 inhibitor, sildenafil, which was one of the six drugs impacting the Hmox1 pathway in zebrafish, significantly increased the expression of Hmox1 protein, thus making Hmox1 a novel target for the improvement of dystrophic symptoms. These results demonstrate the translational relevance of our zebrafish model to mammalian models and support the use of zebrafish to screen for new drugs to treat human DMD. The discovery of a small molecule and a specific therapeutic pathway that might mitigate DMD disease progression could lead to significant clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genri Kawahara
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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