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Gasparella F, Nogara L, Germinario E, Tibaudo L, Ciciliot S, Piccoli G, Venegas FC, Fontana F, Sales G, Sabbatini D, Foot J, Jarolimek W, Blaauw B, Canton M, Vitiello L. A Novel MAO-B/SSAO Inhibitor Improves Multiple Aspects of Dystrophic Phenotype in mdx Mice. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:622. [PMID: 38929061 PMCID: PMC11201281 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13060622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is one of the most frequent and severe childhood muscle diseases. Its pathophysiology is multifaceted and still incompletely understood, but we and others have previously shown that oxidative stress plays an important role. In particular, we have demonstrated that inhibition of mitochondrial monoamine oxidases could improve some functional and biohumoral markers of the pathology. In the present study we report the use of dystrophic mdx mice to evaluate the efficacy of a dual monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B)/semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) inhibitor, PXS-5131, in reducing inflammation and fibrosis and improving muscle function. We found that a one-month treatment starting at three months of age was able to decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, fibrosis, and inflammatory infiltrate in the tibialis anterior (TA) and diaphragm muscles. Importantly, we also observed a marked improvement in the capacity of the gastrocnemius muscle to maintain its force when challenged with eccentric contractions. Upon performing a bulk RNA-seq analysis, PXS-5131 treatment affected the expression of genes involved in inflammatory processes and tissue remodeling. We also studied the effect of prolonged treatment in older dystrophic mice, and found that a three-month administration of PXS-5131 was able to greatly reduce the progression of fibrosis not only in the diaphragm but also in the heart. Taken together, these results suggest that PXS-5131 is an effective inhibitor of fibrosis and inflammation in dystrophic muscles, a finding that could open a new therapeutic avenue for DMD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Gasparella
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.G.); (F.F.); (G.S.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.N.); (E.G.); (G.P.); (F.C.V.)
| | - Leonardo Nogara
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.N.); (E.G.); (G.P.); (F.C.V.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy;
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Germinario
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.N.); (E.G.); (G.P.); (F.C.V.)
| | - Lucia Tibaudo
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.G.); (F.F.); (G.S.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.N.); (E.G.); (G.P.); (F.C.V.)
| | - Stefano Ciciliot
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy;
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Giorgia Piccoli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.N.); (E.G.); (G.P.); (F.C.V.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy;
| | - Francisca Carolina Venegas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.N.); (E.G.); (G.P.); (F.C.V.)
- Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza (IRP), 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Fontana
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.G.); (F.F.); (G.S.)
| | - Gabriele Sales
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.G.); (F.F.); (G.S.)
| | - Daniele Sabbatini
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Jonathan Foot
- Syntara Ltd., Sydney, NSW 2086, Australia; (J.F.); (W.J.)
| | | | - Bert Blaauw
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.N.); (E.G.); (G.P.); (F.C.V.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy;
| | - Marcella Canton
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (L.N.); (E.G.); (G.P.); (F.C.V.)
- Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza (IRP), 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Libero Vitiello
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.G.); (F.F.); (G.S.)
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Xie Z, Liu C, Sun C, Lu Y, Wu S, Liu Y, Wang Q, Wan Y, Wang Y, Yu M, Meng L, Deng J, Zhang W, Wang Z, Yang C, Yuan Y, Xie Z. A novel biomarker of fibrofatty replacement in dystrophinopathies identified by integrating transcriptome, magnetic resonance imaging, and pathology data. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2024; 15:98-111. [PMID: 38146684 PMCID: PMC10834313 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to analyse genome-wide transcriptome differences between Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) patients and identify biomarkers that correlate well with muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological fibrofatty replacement in both patients, which have not been reported. METHODS One hundred and one male patients with dystrophinopathies (55 DMD and 46 BMD) were enrolled. Muscle-derived genome-wide RNA-sequencing was performed in 31 DMD patients, 29 BMD patients, and 11 normal controls. Fibrofatty replacement was scored on muscle MRI and histological levels in all patients. A unique pipeline, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis combined with Spearman's rank correlations (ssGSEA-Cor) was developed to identify the most correlated gene signature for fibrofatty replacement. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis, western blot analysis, and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) were performed in the remaining patients to validate the most correlated gene signature. RESULTS Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that 31 DMD muscles were characterized by a significant increase of inflammation/immune response and extracellular matrix remodelling compared with 29 BMD muscles (P < 0.05). The ssGSEA-Cor pipeline revealed that the gene set of CDKN2A and CDKN2B was the most correlated gene signature for fibrofatty replacement (histological rs = 0.744, P < 0.001; MRI rs = 0.718, P < 0.001). Muscle qRT-PCR confirmed that CDKN2A mRNA expression in both 15 DMD (median = 25.007, P < 0.001) and 12 BMD (median = 5.654, P < 0.001) patients were significantly higher than that in controls (median = 1.101), while no significant difference in CDKN2B mRNA expression was found among DMD, BMD, and control groups. In the 27 patients, muscle CDKN2A mRNA expression respectively correlated with muscle MRI (rs = 0.883, P < 0.001) and histological fibrofatty replacement (rs = 0.804, P < 0.001) and disease duration (rs = 0.645, P < 0.001) and North Star Ambulatory Assessment total scores (rs = -0.698, P < 0.001). Muscle western blot analysis confirmed that both four DMD (median = 2.958, P < 0.05) and four BMD (median = 1.959, P < 0.01) patients had a significantly higher level of CDKN2A protein expression than controls (median = 1.068). The snRNA-seq analysis of two DMD muscles revealed that CDKN2A was mainly expressed in fibro-adipogenic progenitors, satellite cells, and myoblasts. CONCLUSIONS We identify CDKN2A expression as a novel biomarker of fibrofatty replacement, which might be a new target for antifibrotic therapy in dystrophinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Xie
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of NeurologyPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Chengyue Sun
- Department of NeurologyPeking University People's HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Yanyu Lu
- Department of NeurologyPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Shiyi Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Yilin Liu
- Department of PathologyPeking Union Medical College HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of NeurologyPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Yalan Wan
- Department of NeurologyPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Yikang Wang
- Department of NeurologyPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Meng Yu
- Department of NeurologyPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Lingchao Meng
- Department of NeurologyPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Jianwen Deng
- Department of NeurologyPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of NeurologyPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Zhaoxia Wang
- Department of NeurologyPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Chunxia Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Yun Yuan
- Department of NeurologyPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Zhiying Xie
- Department of NeurologyPeking University First HospitalBeijingChina
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Braz JKFDS, Gomes VA, Siman VA, da Matta SLP, Clebis NK, de Oliveira MF, Assis AC, Morais DB, de Moura CEB. Intertubular morphometric and ultrastructural testes analyses in mdx mice. Anim Reprod 2022; 19:e20210124. [PMID: 36313597 PMCID: PMC9613355 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2021-0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) reproductive alterations and the influence of antioxidant treatments may aid in understanding morphometry testicular quantification. In this context, the aim of the present study was to characterize the intertubular compartment (ITC) morphometry of animal testes in mdx mice supplemented with ascorbic acid (AA). Sixteen mice were used, namely the C57BL/10 (non-dystrophic) and C57BL/10Mdx (dystrophic) lineages, distributed into the following groups: Control (C60), Dystrophic (D60), Control supplemented with AA (CS60), Dystrophic supplemented with AA (DS60). A total of 200 mg/kg of AA were administered to mice for 30 days. Subsequently, the testicles were collected, weighed, and fragmented. The obtained fragments were fixed in Karnovsky's solution (pH 7.2) and embedded in historesin for morphometric and transmission electron microscopy assessments. Leydig cells were hypertrophic in the D60 group, but was reverted by AA supplementation in the DS60 group. The DS60 group also exhibited increased intertubular volume compared to the CS60 group. The ultrastructural images identified multilamellar bodies in dystrophic animals (lipid storage) and telocyte cells (transport substances) in both control and dystrophic animals. Morphometric alterations were, therefore, noted in the intertubular compartment due to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), with AA administration capable of altering Leydig cells in this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vilessa Araújo Gomes
- Departamento de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campina Grande, PB, Brasil
| | | | | | - Naianne Kelly Clebis
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil
| | | | - Antônio Chaves Assis
- Departamento de Cirurgia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Ciência Animal, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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De la Garza-Rodea AS, Moore SA, Zamora-Pineda J, Hoffman EP, Mistry K, Kumar A, Strober JB, Zhao P, Suh JH, Saba JD. Sphingosine Phosphate Lyase Is Upregulated in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and Its Inhibition Early in Life Attenuates Inflammation and Dystrophy in Mdx Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:7579. [PMID: 35886926 PMCID: PMC9316262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a congenital myopathy caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. DMD pathology is marked by myositis, muscle fiber degeneration, and eventual muscle replacement by fibrosis and adipose tissue. Satellite cells (SC) are muscle stem cells critical for muscle regeneration. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid that promotes SC proliferation, regulates lymphocyte trafficking, and is irreversibly degraded by sphingosine phosphate lyase (SPL). Here, we show that SPL is virtually absent in normal human and murine skeletal muscle but highly expressed in inflammatory infiltrates and degenerating fibers of dystrophic DMD muscle. In mdx mice that model DMD, high SPL expression is correlated with dysregulated S1P metabolism. Perinatal delivery of the SPL inhibitor LX2931 to mdx mice augmented muscle S1P and SC numbers, reduced leukocytes in peripheral blood and skeletal muscle, and attenuated muscle inflammation and degeneration. The effect on SC was also observed in SCID/mdx mice that lack mature T and B lymphocytes. Transcriptional profiling in the skeletal muscles of LX2931-treated vs. control mdx mice demonstrated changes in innate and adaptive immune functions, plasma membrane interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM), and axon guidance, a known function of SC. Our cumulative findings suggest that by raising muscle S1P and simultaneously disrupting the chemotactic gradient required for lymphocyte egress, SPL inhibition exerts a combination of muscle-intrinsic and systemic effects that are beneficial in the context of muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabel S. De la Garza-Rodea
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, Box 0110, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (A.S.D.l.G.-R.); (J.Z.-P.); (K.M.); (A.K.); (P.Z.); (J.H.S.)
| | - Steven A. Moore
- Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, Department of Pathology, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
| | - Jesus Zamora-Pineda
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, Box 0110, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (A.S.D.l.G.-R.); (J.Z.-P.); (K.M.); (A.K.); (P.Z.); (J.H.S.)
| | - Eric P. Hoffman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University-State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA;
| | - Karishma Mistry
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, Box 0110, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (A.S.D.l.G.-R.); (J.Z.-P.); (K.M.); (A.K.); (P.Z.); (J.H.S.)
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, Box 0110, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (A.S.D.l.G.-R.); (J.Z.-P.); (K.M.); (A.K.); (P.Z.); (J.H.S.)
| | - Jonathan B. Strober
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA;
| | - Piming Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, Box 0110, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (A.S.D.l.G.-R.); (J.Z.-P.); (K.M.); (A.K.); (P.Z.); (J.H.S.)
| | - Jung H. Suh
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, Box 0110, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (A.S.D.l.G.-R.); (J.Z.-P.); (K.M.); (A.K.); (P.Z.); (J.H.S.)
| | - Julie D. Saba
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th Street, Box 0110, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (A.S.D.l.G.-R.); (J.Z.-P.); (K.M.); (A.K.); (P.Z.); (J.H.S.)
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Lambrescu I, Popa A, Manole E, Ceafalan LC, Gaina G. Application of Droplet Digital PCR Technology in Muscular Dystrophies Research. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094802. [PMID: 35563191 PMCID: PMC9099497 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although they are considered rare disorders, muscular dystrophies have a strong impact on people’s health. Increased disease severity with age, frequently accompanied by the loss of ability to walk in some people, and the lack of treatment, have directed the researchers towards the development of more effective therapeutic strategies aimed to improve the quality of life and life expectancy, slow down the progression, and delay the onset or convert a severe phenotype into a milder one. Improved understanding of the complex pathology of these diseases together with the tremendous advances in molecular biology technologies has led to personalized therapeutic procedures. Different approaches that are currently under extensive investigation require more efficient, sensitive, and less invasive methods. Due to its remarkable analytical sensitivity, droplet digital PCR has become a promising tool for accurate measurement of biomarkers that monitor disease progression and quantification of various therapeutic efficiency and can be considered a tool for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis and newborn screening. Here, we summarize the recent applications of droplet digital PCR in muscular dystrophy research and discuss the factors that should be considered to get the best performance with this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Lambrescu
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Experimental Myology, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (I.L.); (A.P.); (E.M.); (L.C.C.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alexandra Popa
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Experimental Myology, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (I.L.); (A.P.); (E.M.); (L.C.C.)
- Department of Animal Production and Public Health, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Emilia Manole
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Experimental Myology, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (I.L.); (A.P.); (E.M.); (L.C.C.)
- Pathology Department, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Laura Cristina Ceafalan
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Experimental Myology, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (I.L.); (A.P.); (E.M.); (L.C.C.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Gisela Gaina
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Experimental Myology, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (I.L.); (A.P.); (E.M.); (L.C.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +40-21-319-2732
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Multiomic Approaches to Uncover the Complexities of Dystrophin-Associated Cardiomyopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168954. [PMID: 34445659 PMCID: PMC8396646 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite major progress in treating skeletal muscle disease associated with dystrophinopathies, cardiomyopathy is emerging as a major cause of death in people carrying dystrophin gene mutations that remain without a targeted cure even with new treatment directions and advances in modelling abilities. The reasons for the stunted progress in ameliorating dystrophin-associated cardiomyopathy (DAC) can be explained by the difficulties in detecting pathophysiological mechanisms which can also be efficiently targeted within the heart in the widest patient population. New perspectives are clearly required to effectively address the unanswered questions concerning the identification of authentic and effectual readouts of DAC occurrence and severity. A potential way forward to achieve further therapy breakthroughs lies in combining multiomic analysis with advanced preclinical precision models. This review presents the fundamental discoveries made using relevant models of DAC and how omics approaches have been incorporated to date.
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Hrach HC, O'Brien S, Steber HS, Newbern J, Rawls A, Mangone M. Transcriptome changes during the initiation and progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Caenorhabditis elegans. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:1607-1623. [PMID: 32227114 PMCID: PMC7322572 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal, X-linked disease characterized by progressive muscle degeneration. The condition is driven by nonsense and missense mutations in the dystrophin gene, leading to instability of the sarcolemma and skeletal muscle necrosis and atrophy. Resulting changes in muscle-specific gene expression that take place in dystrophin's absence remain largely uncharacterized, as they are potentially obscured by the chronic inflammation elicited by muscle damage in humans. Caenorhabditis elegans possess a mild inflammatory response that is not active in the muscle, and lack a satellite cell equivalent. This allows for the characterization of the transcriptome rearrangements affecting disease progression independently of inflammation and regeneration. In effort to better understand these dynamics, we have isolated and sequenced body muscle-specific transcriptomes from C. elegans lacking functional dystrophin at distinct stages of disease progression. We have identified an upregulation of genes involved in mitochondrial function early in disease progression, and an upregulation of genes related to muscle repair in later stages. Our results suggest that in C. elegans, dystrophin may have a signaling role early in development, and its absence may activate compensatory mechanisms that counteract muscle degradation caused by loss of dystrophin. We have also developed a temperature-based screening method for synthetic paralysis that can be used to rapidly identify genetic partners of dystrophin. Our results allow for the comprehensive identification of transcriptome changes that potentially serve as independent drivers of disease progression and may in turn allow for the identification of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather C Hrach
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, School of Life Sciences, 427 East Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287 4501, USA.,Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics, The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Shannon O'Brien
- Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics, The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA.,Barrett Honors College, Arizona State University, 751 E Lemon Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Hannah S Steber
- Barrett Honors College, Arizona State University, 751 E Lemon Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Jason Newbern
- School of Life Sciences, 427 East Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287 4501, USA
| | - Alan Rawls
- School of Life Sciences, 427 East Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287 4501, USA
| | - Marco Mangone
- Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics, The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, 1001 S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
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8
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Segatto M, Szokoll R, Fittipaldi R, Bottino C, Nevi L, Mamchaoui K, Filippakopoulos P, Caretti G. BETs inhibition attenuates oxidative stress and preserves muscle integrity in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6108. [PMID: 33257646 PMCID: PMC7705749 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19839-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) affects 1 in 3500 live male births. To date, there is no effective cure for DMD, and the identification of novel molecular targets involved in disease progression is important to design more effective treatments and therapies to alleviate DMD symptoms. Here, we show that protein levels of the Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) protein BRD4 are significantly increased in the muscle of the mouse model of DMD, the mdx mouse, and that pharmacological inhibition of the BET proteins has a beneficial outcome, tempering oxidative stress and muscle damage. Alterations in reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism are an early event in DMD onset and they are tightly linked to inflammation, fibrosis, and necrosis in skeletal muscle. By restoring ROS metabolism, BET inhibition ameliorates these hallmarks of the dystrophic muscle, translating to a beneficial effect on muscle function. BRD4 direct association to chromatin regulatory regions of the NADPH oxidase subunits increases in the mdx muscle and JQ1 administration reduces BRD4 and BRD2 recruitment at these regions. JQ1 treatment reduces NADPH subunit transcript levels in mdx muscles, isolated myofibers and DMD immortalized myoblasts. Our data highlight novel functions of the BET proteins in dystrophic skeletal muscle and suggest that BET inhibitors may ameliorate the pathophysiology of DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Segatto
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, Pesche (Is), Italy
| | - Roberta Szokoll
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Fittipaldi
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinzia Bottino
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Nevi
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Kamel Mamchaoui
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, U974, Center for Research in Myology, 47 Boulevard de l'hôpital, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Panagis Filippakopoulos
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Old Road Campus Research Building, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Giuseppina Caretti
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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Abstract
Skeletal muscle fibres are multinucleated cells that contain postmitotic nuclei (i.e. they are no longer able to divide) and perform muscle contraction. They are formed by fusion of muscle precursor cells, and grow into elongating myofibres by the addition of further precursor cells, called satellite cells, which are also responsible for regeneration following injury. Skeletal muscle regeneration occurs in most muscular dystrophies in response to necrosis of muscle fibres. However, the complex environment within dystrophic skeletal muscle, which includes inflammatory cells, fibroblasts and fibro-adipogenic cells, together with the genetic background of the in vivo model and the muscle being studied, complicates the interpretation of laboratory studies on muscular dystrophies. Many genes are expressed in satellite cells and in other tissues, which makes it difficult to determine the molecular cause of various types of muscular dystrophies. Here, and in the accompanying poster, we discuss our current knowledge of the cellular mechanisms that govern the growth and regeneration of skeletal muscle, and highlight the defects in satellite cell function that give rise to muscular dystrophies. Summary: The mechanisms of skeletal muscle development, growth and regeneration are described. We discuss whether these processes are dysregulated in inherited muscle diseases and identify pathways that may represent therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Morgan
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK .,National Institute for Health Research, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Terence Partridge
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.,National Institute for Health Research, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK.,Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA
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Recessive mutations in muscle-specific isoforms of FXR1 cause congenital multi-minicore myopathy. Nat Commun 2019; 10:797. [PMID: 30770808 PMCID: PMC6377633 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08548-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
FXR1 is an alternatively spliced gene that encodes RNA binding proteins (FXR1P) involved in muscle development. In contrast to other tissues, cardiac and skeletal muscle express two FXR1P isoforms that incorporate an additional exon-15. We report that recessive mutations in this particular exon of FXR1 cause congenital multi-minicore myopathy in humans and mice. Additionally, we show that while Myf5-dependent depletion of all FXR1P isoforms is neonatal lethal, mice carrying mutations in exon-15 display non-lethal myopathies which vary in severity depending on the specific effect of each mutation on the protein.
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Čamernik K, Barlič A, Drobnič M, Marc J, Jeras M, Zupan J. Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Musculoskeletal System: From Animal Models to Human Tissue Regeneration? Stem Cell Rev Rep 2018; 14:346-369. [DOI: 10.1007/s12015-018-9800-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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