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Wasala LP, Watkins TB, Wasala NB, Burke MJ, Yue Y, Lai Y, Yao G, Duan D. The Implication of Hinge 1 and Hinge 4 in Micro-Dystrophin Gene Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Hum Gene Ther 2023; 34:459-470. [PMID: 36310439 PMCID: PMC10210230 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2022.180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal muscle disease caused by dystrophin deficiency. Dystrophin consists of the amino terminus, central rod domain with 24 spectrin-like repeats and four hinges (H), cysteine-rich domain, and carboxyl terminus. Several highly abbreviated micro-dystrophins (μDys) are currently in clinical trials. They all carry H1 and H4. In this study, we investigated whether these two hinges are essential for μDy function in murine DMD models. Three otherwise identical μDys were engineered to contain H1 and/or H4 and were named H1/H4 (with both H1 and H4), ΔH1 (without H1), and ΔH4 (without H4). These constructs were packaged in adeno-associated virus serotype-9 and delivered to the tibialis anterior muscle of 3-month-old male mdx4cv mice (1E12 vector genome particles/muscle). Three months later, we detected equivalent μDys expression in total muscle lysate. However, only H1/H4 and ΔH1 showed correct sarcolemmal localization. ΔH4 mainly existed as sarcoplasmic aggregates. H1/H4 and ΔH1, but not ΔH4, fully restored the dystrophin-associated protein complex and significantly improved the specific muscle force. Eccentric contraction-induced force decline was best protected by H1/H4, followed by ΔH1, but not by ΔH4. Next, we compared H1/H4 and ΔH1 in 6-week-old male mdx mice by intravenous injection (1E13 vector genome particles/mouse). Four months postinjection, H1/H4 significantly outperformed ΔH1 in extensor digitorum longus muscle force measurements but two constructs yielded comparable electrocardiography improvements. We conclude that H4 is essential for μDys function and H1 facilitates force production. Our findings will help develop next-generation μDys gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakmini P. Wasala
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Thais B. Watkins
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Nalinda B. Wasala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Matthew J. Burke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Yongping Yue
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Yi Lai
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Gang Yao
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine; The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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Kiriaev L, Baumann CW, Lindsay A. Eccentric contraction-induced strength loss in dystrophin-deficient muscle: Preparations, protocols, and mechanisms. J Gen Physiol 2023; 155:213810. [PMID: 36651896 PMCID: PMC9856740 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202213208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The absence of dystrophin hypersensitizes skeletal muscle of lower and higher vertebrates to eccentric contraction (ECC)-induced strength loss. Loss of strength can be accompanied by transient and reversible alterations to sarcolemmal excitability and disruption, triad dysfunction, and aberrations in calcium kinetics and reactive oxygen species production. The degree of ECC-induced strength loss, however, appears dependent on several extrinsic and intrinsic factors such as vertebrate model, skeletal muscle preparation (in vivo, in situ, or ex vivo), skeletal muscle hierarchy (single fiber versus whole muscle and permeabilized versus intact), strength production, fiber branching, age, and genetic background, among others. Consistent findings across research groups show that dystrophin-deficient fast(er)-twitch muscle is hypersensitive to ECCs relative to wildtype muscle, but because preparations are highly variable and sensitivity to ECCs are used repeatedly to determine efficacy of many preclinical treatments, it is critical to evaluate the impact of skeletal muscle preparations on sensitivity to ECC-induced strength loss in dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle. Here, we review and discuss variations in skeletal muscle preparations to evaluate the factors responsible for variations and discrepancies between research groups. We further highlight that dystrophin-deficiency, or loss of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex in skeletal muscle, is not a prerequisite for accelerated strength loss-induced by ECCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonit Kiriaev
- Muscle Research Group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia,School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Cory W. Baumann
- Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute (OMNI), Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Angus Lindsay
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia,Correspondence to Angus Lindsay:
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