1
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Hart CC, Lee YI, Xie J, Gao G, Lin BL, Hammers DW, Sweeney HL. Potential limitations of microdystrophin gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e165869. [PMID: 38713520 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.165869] [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: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Clinical trials delivering high doses of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) expressing truncated dystrophin molecules (microdystrophins) are underway for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We examined the efficiency and efficacy of this strategy with 4 microdystrophin constructs (3 in clinical trials and a variant of the largest clinical construct), in a severe mouse model of DMD, using AAV doses comparable with those in clinical trials. We achieved high levels of microdystrophin expression in striated muscles with cardiac expression approximately 10-fold higher than that observed in skeletal muscle. Significant, albeit incomplete, correction of skeletal muscle disease was observed. Surprisingly, a lethal acceleration of cardiac disease occurred with 2 of the microdystrophins. The detrimental cardiac effect appears to be caused by variable competition (dependent on microdystrophin design and expression level) between microdystrophin and utrophin at the cardiomyocyte membrane. There may also be a contribution from an overloading of protein degradation. The significance of these observations for patients currently being treated with AAV-microdystrophin therapies is unclear since the levels of expression being achieved in the DMD hearts are unknown. However, these findings suggest that microdystrophin treatments need to avoid excessively high levels of expression in the heart and that cardiac function should be carefully monitored in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cora C Hart
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics and
- Myology Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Young Il Lee
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics and
- Myology Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worchester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worchester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brian L Lin
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy & Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - David W Hammers
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics and
- Myology Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - H Lee Sweeney
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics and
- Myology Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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2
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Oliver T, Nguyen NY, Tully CB, McCormack NM, Sun CM, Fiorillo AA, Heier CR. The glucocorticoid receptor acts locally to protect dystrophic muscle and heart during disease. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050397. [PMID: 38770680 PMCID: PMC11139035 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Absence of dystrophin results in muscular weakness, chronic inflammation and cardiomyopathy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Pharmacological corticosteroids are the DMD standard of care; however, they have harsh side effects and unclear molecular benefits. It is uncertain whether signaling by physiological corticosteroids and their receptors plays a modifying role in the natural etiology of DMD. Here, we knocked out the glucocorticoid receptor (GR, encoded by Nr3c1) specifically in myofibers and cardiomyocytes within wild-type and mdx52 mice to dissect its role in muscular dystrophy. Double-knockout mice showed significantly worse phenotypes than mdx52 littermate controls in measures of grip strength, hang time, inflammatory pathology and gene expression. In the heart, GR deletion acted additively with dystrophin loss to exacerbate cardiomyopathy, resulting in enlarged hearts, pathological gene expression and systolic dysfunction, consistent with imbalanced mineralocorticoid signaling. The results show that physiological GR functions provide a protective role during muscular dystrophy, directly contrasting its degenerative role in other disease states. These data provide new insights into corticosteroids in disease pathophysiology and establish a new model to investigate cell-autonomous roles of nuclear receptors and mechanisms of pharmacological corticosteroids.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Mice
- Cardiomyopathies/pathology
- Cardiomyopathies/metabolism
- Dystrophin/metabolism
- Dystrophin/genetics
- Dystrophin/deficiency
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred mdx
- Mice, Knockout
- Muscle, Skeletal/pathology
- Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/metabolism
- Myocardium/pathology
- Myocardium/metabolism
- Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism
- Myocytes, Cardiac/pathology
- Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects
- Phenotype
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Trinitee Oliver
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, West Hollywood, CA 90048, USA
| | - Nhu Y. Nguyen
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Christopher B. Tully
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Nikki M. McCormack
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Christina M. Sun
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Alyson A. Fiorillo
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
- Center for Inherited Muscle Research, Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Christopher R. Heier
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
- Center for Inherited Muscle Research, Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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3
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Muraine L, Bensalah M, Butler-Browne G, Bigot A, Trollet C, Mouly V, Negroni E. Update on anti-fibrotic pharmacotherapies in skeletal muscle disease. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2023; 68:102332. [PMID: 36566666 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2022.102332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Fibrosis, defined as an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, is the end point of a defective regenerative process, unresolved inflammation and/or chronic damage. Numerous muscle disorders (MD) are characterized by high levels of fibrosis associated with muscle wasting and weakness. Fibrosis alters muscle homeostasis/regeneration and fiber environment and may interfere with gene and cell therapies. Slowing down or reversing fibrosis is a crucial therapeutic goal to maintain muscle identity in the context of therapies. Several pathways are implicated in the modulation of the fibrotic progression and multiple therapeutic compounds targeting fibrogenic signals have been tested in MDs, mostly in the context of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. In this review, we present an up-to-date overview of pharmacotherapies that have been tested to reduce fibrosis in the skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Muraine
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Mona Bensalah
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Gillian Butler-Browne
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Anne Bigot
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Capucine Trollet
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Mouly
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France.
| | - Elisa Negroni
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France.
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4
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Impaired muscle stem cell function and abnormal myogenesis in acquired myopathies. Biosci Rep 2023; 43:232343. [PMID: 36538023 PMCID: PMC9829652 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20220284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle possesses a high plasticity and a remarkable regenerative capacity that relies mainly on muscle stem cells (MuSCs). Molecular and cellular components of the MuSC niche, such as immune cells, play key roles to coordinate MuSC function and to orchestrate muscle regeneration. An abnormal infiltration of immune cells and/or imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines could lead to MuSC dysfunctions that could have long lasting effects on muscle function. Different genetic variants were shown to cause muscular dystrophies that intrinsically compromise MuSC function and/or disturb their microenvironment leading to impaired muscle regeneration that contributes to disease progression. Alternatively, many acquired myopathies caused by comorbidities (e.g., cardiopulmonary or kidney diseases), chronic inflammation/infection, or side effects of different drugs can also perturb MuSC function and their microenvironment. The goal of this review is to comprehensively summarize the current knowledge on acquired myopathies and their impact on MuSC function. We further describe potential therapeutic strategies to restore MuSC regenerative capacity.
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5
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Riddell DO, Hildyard JCW, Harron RCM, Hornby NL, Wells DJ, Piercy RJ. Serum inflammatory cytokines as disease biomarkers in the DE50-MD dog model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:285901. [PMID: 36444978 PMCID: PMC9789403 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal muscle-wasting disease, caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, characterised by cycles of muscle degeneration, inflammation and regeneration. Recently, there has been renewed interest specifically in drugs that ameliorate muscle inflammation in DMD patients. The DE50-MD dog is a model of DMD that closely mimics the human DMD phenotype. We quantified inflammatory proteins in serum from wild-type (WT) and DE50-MD dogs aged 3-18 months to identify biomarkers for future pre-clinical trials. Significantly higher concentrations of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF or CSF2), keratinocyte chemotactic-like (KC-like, homologous to mouse CXCL1), TNFα (or TNF), and interleukins IL2, IL6, IL7, IL8 (CXCL8), IL10, IL15 and IL18 were detected in DE50-MD serum compared to WT serum. Of these, CCL2 best differentiated the two genotypes. The relative level of CCL2 mRNA was greater in the vastus lateralis muscle of DE50-MD dogs than in that of WT dogs, and CCL2 was expressed both within and at the periphery of damaged myofibres. Serum CCL2 concentration was significantly associated with acid phosphatase staining in vastus lateralis biopsy samples in DE50-MD dogs. In conclusion, the serum cytokine profile suggests that inflammation is a feature of the DE50-MD phenotype. Quantification of serum CCL2 in particular is a useful non-invasive biomarker of the DE50-MD phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique O. Riddell
- Comparative Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Camden, London NW1 0TU, UK,Authors for correspondence (; )
| | - John C. W. Hildyard
- Comparative Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Camden, London NW1 0TU, UK
| | - Rachel C. M. Harron
- Comparative Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Camden, London NW1 0TU, UK
| | - Natasha L. Hornby
- Comparative Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Camden, London NW1 0TU, UK
| | - Dominic J. Wells
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Camden, London NW1 0TU, UK
| | - Richard J. Piercy
- Comparative Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Camden, London NW1 0TU, UK,Authors for correspondence (; )
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6
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English KG, Reid AL, Samani A, Coulis GJF, Villalta SA, Walker CJ, Tamir S, Alexander MS. Next-Generation SINE Compound KPT-8602 Ameliorates Dystrophic Pathology in Zebrafish and Mouse Models of DMD. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102400. [PMID: 36289662 PMCID: PMC9598711 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive, X-linked childhood neuromuscular disorder that results from loss-of-function mutations in the DYSTROPHIN gene. DMD patients exhibit muscle necrosis, cardiomyopathy, respiratory failure, and loss of ambulation. One of the major driving forces of DMD disease pathology is chronic inflammation. The current DMD standard of care is corticosteroids; however, there are serious side effects with long-term use, thus identifying novel anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic treatments for DMD is of high priority. We investigated the next-generation SINE compound, KPT-8602 (eltanexor) as an oral therapeutic to alleviate dystrophic symptoms. We performed pre-clinical evaluation of the effects of KPT-8602 in DMD zebrafish (sapje) and mouse (D2-mdx) models. KPT-8602 improved dystrophic skeletal muscle pathologies, muscle architecture and integrity, and overall outcomes in both animal models. KPT-8602 treatment ameliorated DMD pathology in D2-mdx mice, with increased locomotor behavior and improved muscle histology. KPT-8602 altered the immunological profile of the dystrophic mice, and reduced circulating osteopontin serum levels. These findings demonstrate KPT-8602 as an effective therapeutic in DMD through by promotion of an anti-inflammatory environment and overall improvement of DMD pathological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine G. English
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology at Children’s of Alabama the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Andrea L. Reid
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology at Children’s of Alabama the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Adrienne Samani
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology at Children’s of Alabama the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Gerald J. F. Coulis
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Institute for Immunology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92967, USA
| | - S. Armando Villalta
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Institute for Immunology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92967, USA
| | | | | | - Matthew S. Alexander
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology at Children’s of Alabama the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
- UAB Center for Exercise Medicine (UCEM), Birmingham, AL 35205, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
- UAB Civitan International Research Center (CIRC), Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
- UAB Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics (CNET), Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Correspondence:
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7
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Hart CC, Lee YI, Hammers DW, Sweeney HL. Evaluation of the DBA/2J mouse as a potential background strain for genetic models of cardiomyopathy. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY PLUS 2022; 1:100012. [PMID: 37206988 PMCID: PMC10195103 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmccpl.2022.100012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The potential use of the D2.mdx mouse (the mdx mutation on the DBA/2J genetic background) as a preclinical model of the cardiac aspects of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has been criticized based on speculation that the DBA/2J genetic background displays an inherent hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) phenotype. Accordingly, the goal of the current study was to further examine the cardiac status of this mouse strain over a 12-month period to determine if observable signs of HCM develop, including histopathology and pathological enlargement of the myocardium. Previous reports have documented heightened TGFβ signaling in the DBA2/J striated muscles, as compared to the C57 background, which, as expected, is manifested as increased cardiomyocyte size, wall thickness, and heart mass as compared to the C57 background. While normalized heart mass is larger in the DBA/2J mice, compared to age-matched C57/BL10 mice, both strains similarly increase in size from 4 to 12 months of age. We also report that DBA/2J mice contain equivalent amounts of left ventricular collagen as healthy canine and human samples. In a longitudinal echocardiography study, neither sedentary nor exercised DBA/2J mice demonstrated left ventricular wall thickening or cardiac functional deficits. In summary, we find no evidence of HCM, nor any other cardiac pathology, and thus propose that it is an appropriate background strain for genetic modeling of cardiac diseases, including the cardiomyopathy associated with DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - H. Lee Sweeney
- Corresponding author at: 1200 Newell, Dr. ARB R5-216, Gainesville, FL 32610-0267, United States of America. (H.L. Sweeney)
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8
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González-Jamett A, Vásquez W, Cifuentes-Riveros G, Martínez-Pando R, Sáez JC, Cárdenas AM. Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Connexin Hemichannels in Muscular Dystrophies. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020507. [PMID: 35203715 PMCID: PMC8962419 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophies (MDs) are a heterogeneous group of congenital neuromuscular disorders whose clinical signs include myalgia, skeletal muscle weakness, hypotonia, and atrophy that leads to progressive muscle disability and loss of ambulation. MDs can also affect cardiac and respiratory muscles, impairing life-expectancy. MDs in clude Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. These and other MDs are caused by mutations in genes that encode proteins responsible for the structure and function of skeletal muscles, such as components of the dystrophin-glycoprotein-complex that connect the sarcomeric-actin with the extracellular matrix, allowing contractile force transmission and providing stability during muscle contraction. Consequently, in dystrophic conditions in which such proteins are affected, muscle integrity is disrupted, leading to local inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, Ca2+-dyshomeostasis and muscle degeneration. In this scenario, dysregulation of connexin hemichannels seem to be an early disruptor of the homeostasis that further plays a relevant role in these processes. The interaction between all these elements constitutes a positive feedback loop that contributes to the worsening of the diseases. Thus, we discuss here the interplay between inflammation, oxidative stress and connexin hemichannels in the progression of MDs and their potential as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlek González-Jamett
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile; (W.V.); (J.C.S.)
- Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile; (G.C.-R.); (R.M.-P.)
- Correspondence: (A.G.-J.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Walter Vásquez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile; (W.V.); (J.C.S.)
| | - Gabriela Cifuentes-Riveros
- Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile; (G.C.-R.); (R.M.-P.)
| | - Rafaela Martínez-Pando
- Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile; (G.C.-R.); (R.M.-P.)
| | - Juan C. Sáez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile; (W.V.); (J.C.S.)
| | - Ana M. Cárdenas
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile; (W.V.); (J.C.S.)
- Correspondence: (A.G.-J.); (A.M.C.)
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9
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NF-κB modifies the mammalian circadian clock through interaction with the core clock protein BMAL1. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009933. [PMID: 34807912 PMCID: PMC8648109 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, the circadian clock coordinates cell physiological processes including inflammation. Recent studies suggested a crosstalk between these two pathways. However, the mechanism of how inflammation affects the clock is not well understood. Here, we investigated the role of the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB in regulating clock function. Using a combination of genetic and pharmacological approaches, we show that perturbation of the canonical NF-κB subunit RELA in the human U2OS cellular model altered core clock gene expression. While RELA activation shortened period length and dampened amplitude, its inhibition lengthened period length and caused amplitude phenotypes. NF-κB perturbation also altered circadian rhythms in the master suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) clock and locomotor activity behavior under different light/dark conditions. We show that RELA, like the clock repressor CRY1, repressed the transcriptional activity of BMAL1/CLOCK at the circadian E-box cis-element. Biochemical and biophysical analysis showed that RELA binds to the transactivation domain of BMAL1. These data support a model in which NF-kB competes with CRY1 and coactivator CBP/p300 for BMAL1 binding to affect circadian transcription. This is further supported by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showing that binding of RELA, BMAL1 and CLOCK converges on the E-boxes of clock genes. Taken together, these data support a significant role for NF-κB in directly regulating the circadian clock and highlight mutual regulation between the circadian and inflammatory pathways.
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10
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Schmidt M, Weidemann A, Poser C, Bigot A, von Maltzahn J. Stimulation of Non-canonical NF-κB Through Lymphotoxin-β-Receptor Impairs Myogenic Differentiation and Regeneration of Skeletal Muscle. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:721543. [PMID: 34676210 PMCID: PMC8523804 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.721543] [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: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Myogenic differentiation, muscle stem cell functionality, and regeneration of skeletal muscle are cellular processes under tight control of various signaling pathways. Here, we investigated the role of non-canonical NF-κB signaling in myogenic differentiation, muscle stem cell functionality, and regeneration of skeletal muscle. We stimulated non-canonical NF-κB signaling with an agonistically acting antibody of the lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTβR). Interestingly, we found that stimulation of non-canonical NF-κB signaling through the LTβR agonist impairs myogenic differentiation, muscle stem cell function, and regeneration of skeletal muscle. Furthermore, we show that stimulation of non-canonical NF-κB signaling by the LTβR agonist coincides with activation of canonical NF-κB signaling. We suggest a direct crosstalk between canonical and non-canonical NF-κB signaling during myogenic differentiation which is required for proper myogenic differentiation and thereby regeneration of skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Schmidt
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Anja Weidemann
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Christine Poser
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Anne Bigot
- Center of Research in Myology-UMRS 974, Institute of Myology, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
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11
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Hammers DW, Hart CC, Matheny MK, Heimsath EG, Lee YI, Hammer JA, Cheney RE, Sweeney HL. Filopodia powered by class x myosin promote fusion of mammalian myoblasts. eLife 2021; 10:e72419. [PMID: 34519272 PMCID: PMC8500716 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle fibers are multinucleated cellular giants formed by the fusion of mononuclear myoblasts. Several molecules involved in myoblast fusion have been discovered, and finger-like projections coincident with myoblast fusion have also been implicated in the fusion process. The role of these cellular projections in muscle cell fusion was investigated herein. We demonstrate that these projections are filopodia generated by class X myosin (Myo10), an unconventional myosin motor protein specialized for filopodia. We further show that Myo10 is highly expressed by differentiating myoblasts, and Myo10 ablation inhibits both filopodia formation and myoblast fusion in vitro. In vivo, Myo10 labels regenerating muscle fibers associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and acute muscle injury. In mice, conditional loss of Myo10 from muscle-resident stem cells, known as satellite cells, severely impairs postnatal muscle regeneration. Furthermore, the muscle fusion proteins Myomaker and Myomixer are detected in myoblast filopodia. These data demonstrate that Myo10-driven filopodia facilitate multinucleated mammalian muscle formation.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Fusion
- Cell Line
- Cell Proliferation
- Disease Models, Animal
- Humans
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Membrane Proteins/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred mdx
- Mice, Knockout
- Muscle Development
- Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/metabolism
- Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/pathology
- Muscle Proteins/genetics
- Muscle Proteins/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/genetics
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/pathology
- Myoblasts, Skeletal/metabolism
- Myoblasts, Skeletal/pathology
- Myosins/genetics
- Myosins/metabolism
- Pseudopodia/genetics
- Pseudopodia/metabolism
- Regeneration
- Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle/metabolism
- Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle/pathology
- Time Factors
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Hammers
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Florida College of MedicineGainesvilleUnited States
- University of Florida Myology InstituteGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Cora C Hart
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Florida College of MedicineGainesvilleUnited States
- University of Florida Myology InstituteGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Michael K Matheny
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Florida College of MedicineGainesvilleUnited States
- University of Florida Myology InstituteGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Ernest G Heimsath
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of MedicineChapel HillUnited States
| | - Young il Lee
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Florida College of MedicineGainesvilleUnited States
- University of Florida Myology InstituteGainesvilleUnited States
| | - John A Hammer
- Cell Biology and Physiology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood InstituteBethesdaUnited States
| | - Richard E Cheney
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of MedicineChapel HillUnited States
| | - H Lee Sweeney
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Florida College of MedicineGainesvilleUnited States
- University of Florida Myology InstituteGainesvilleUnited States
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12
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Demonbreun AR, Fallon KS, Oosterbaan CC, Vaught LA, Reiser NL, Bogdanovic E, Velez MP, Salamone IM, Page PGT, Hadhazy M, Quattrocelli M, Barefield DY, Wood LD, Gonzalez JP, Morris C, McNally EM. Anti-latent TGFβ binding protein 4 antibody improves muscle function and reduces muscle fibrosis in muscular dystrophy. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabf0376. [PMID: 34516828 PMCID: PMC9559620 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abf0376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy, like other muscular dystrophies, is a progressive disorder hallmarked by muscle degeneration, inflammation, and fibrosis. Latent transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) binding protein 4 (LTBP4) is an extracellular matrix protein found in muscle. LTBP4 sequesters and inhibits a precursor form of TGFβ. LTBP4 was originally identified from a genome-wide search for genetic modifiers of muscular dystrophy in mice, where there are two different alleles. The protective form of LTBP4, which contains an insertion of 12 amino acids in the protein’s hinge region, was linked to increased sequestration of latent TGFβ, enhanced muscle membrane stability, and reduced muscle fibrosis. The deleterious form of LTBP4 protein, lacking 12 amino acids, was more susceptible to proteolysis and promoted release of latent TGF-β, and together, these data underscored the functional role of LTBP4’s hinge. Here, we generated a monoclonal human anti-LTBP4 antibody directed toward LTBP4’s hinge region. In vitro, anti-LTBP4 bound LTBP4 protein and reduced LTBP4 proteolytic cleavage. In isolated myofibers, the LTBP4 antibody stabilized the sarcolemma from injury. In vivo, anti-LTBP4 treatment of dystrophic mice protected muscle against force loss induced by eccentric contraction. Anti-LTBP4 treatment also reduced muscle fibrosis and enhanced muscle force production, including in the diaphragm muscle, where respiratory function was improved. Moreover, the anti-LTBP4 in combination with prednisone, a standard of care for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, further enhanced muscle function and protected against injury in mdx mice. These data demonstrate the potential of anti-LTBP4 antibodies to treat muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis R Demonbreun
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Katherine S Fallon
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Claire C Oosterbaan
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Lauren A Vaught
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Nina L Reiser
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Elena Bogdanovic
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Matthew P Velez
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Isabella M Salamone
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Patrick G T Page
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Michele Hadhazy
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Mattia Quattrocelli
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - David Y Barefield
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | | | | | | | - Elizabeth M McNally
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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13
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Lai X, Chen J. C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12: a potential therapeutic target in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Bioengineered 2021; 12:5428-5439. [PMID: 34424816 PMCID: PMC8806931 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1967029] [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] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disease caused by a mutant dystrophin protein. DMD patients undergo gradual progressive paralysis until death. Chronic glucocorticoid therapy remains one of the main treatments for DMD, despite the significant side effects. However, its mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. We used bioinformatics tools to identify pathogenic genes involved in DMD and glucocorticoid target genes. Two gene expression profiles containing data from DMD patients and healthy controls (GSE38417 and GSE109178) were downloaded for further analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between DMD patients and controls were identified using GEO2R, and glucocorticoid target genes were predicted from the Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base. Surprisingly, only one gene, CXCL12 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12), was both a glucocorticoid target and a DEG. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis, Gene Ontology term enrichment analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis were performed. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed and hub genes identified using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database and Cytoscape. Enriched pathways involving the DEGs, including CXCL12, were associated with the immune response and inflammation. Levels of CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4) were increased in X-linked muscular dystrophy (mdx) mice (DMD models) but became significantly reduced after prednisone treatment. Metformin also reduced the expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4 in mdx mice. In conclusion, the CXCL12-CXCR4 pathway may be a potential target for DMD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinsheng Lai
- School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.,Laboratory of Synaptic Development and Plasticity, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jie Chen
- School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.,Laboratory of Synaptic Development and Plasticity, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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14
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Yao S, Chen Z, Yu Y, Zhang N, Jiang H, Zhang G, Zhang Z, Zhang B. Current Pharmacological Strategies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:689533. [PMID: 34490244 PMCID: PMC8417245 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.689533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal, X-linked neuromuscular disorder caused by the absence of dystrophin protein, which is essential for muscle fiber integrity. Loss of dystrophin protein leads to recurrent myofiber damage, chronic inflammation, progressive fibrosis, and dysfunction of muscle stem cells. There is still no cure for DMD so far and the standard of care is principally limited to symptom relief through glucocorticoids treatments. Current therapeutic strategies could be divided into two lines. Dystrophin-targeted therapeutic strategies that aim at restoring the expression and/or function of dystrophin, including gene-based, cell-based and protein replacement therapies. The other line of therapeutic strategies aims to improve muscle function and quality by targeting the downstream pathological changes, including inflammation, fibrosis, and muscle atrophy. This review introduces the important developments in these two lines of strategies, especially those that have entered the clinical phase and/or have great potential for clinical translation. The rationale and efficacy of each agent in pre-clinical or clinical studies are presented. Furthermore, a meta-analysis of gene profiling in DMD patients has been performed to understand the molecular mechanisms of DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Yao
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Zihao Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Yuanyuan Yu
- Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Ning Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Hewen Jiang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Ge Zhang
- Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Zongkang Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Baoting Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
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15
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Finkel RS, McDonald CM, Lee Sweeney H, Finanger E, Neil Knierbein E, Wagner KR, Mathews KD, Marks W, Statland J, Nance J, McMillan HJ, McCullagh G, Tian C, Ryan MM, O'Rourke D, Müller-Felber W, Tulinius M, Bryan Burnette W, Nguyen CT, Vijayakumar K, Johannsen J, Phan HC, Eagle M, MacDougall J, Mancini M, Donovan JM. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Global Phase 3 Study of Edasalonexent in Pediatric Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Results of the PolarisDMD Trial. J Neuromuscul Dis 2021; 8:769-784. [PMID: 34120912 PMCID: PMC8543277 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-210689] [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] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Background: Edasalonexent (CAT-1004) is an orally-administered novel small molecule drug designed to inhibit NF-κB and potentially reduce inflammation and fibrosis to improve muscle function and thereby slow disease progression and muscle decline in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Objective: This international, randomized 2 : 1, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study in patients ≥4 – < 8 years old with DMD due to any dystrophin mutation examined the effect of edasalonexent (100 mg/kg/day) compared to placebo over 52 weeks. Methods: Endpoints were changes in the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA; primary) and timed function tests (TFTs; secondary). Assessment of health-related function used the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection tool (PODCI). Results: One hundred thirty one patients received edasalonexent (n = 88) and placebo (n = 43). At week 52, differences between edasalonexent and placebo for NSAA total score and TFTs were not statistically significant, although there were consistently less functional declines in the edasalonexent group. A pre-specified analysis by age demonstrated that younger patients (≤6.0 years) showed more robust and statistically significant differences between edasalonexent and placebo for some assessments. Treatment was well-tolerated and the majority of adverse events were mild, and most commonly involved the gastrointestinal system (primarily diarrhea). Conclusions: Edasalonexent was generally well-tolerated with a manageable safety profile at the dose of 100 mg/kg/day. Although edasalonexent did not achieve statistical significance for improvement in primary and secondary functional endpoints for assessment of DMD, subgroup analysis suggested that edasalonexent may slow disease progression if initiated before 6 years of age. (NCT03703882)
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard S Finkel
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN and Nemours Children's Hospital, Orlando, FL
| | | | - H Lee Sweeney
- University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL
| | | | | | - Kathryn R Wagner
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Cuixia Tian
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital & University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
| | | | | | | | - Mar Tulinius
- Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | - Han C Phan
- Rare Disease Research, LLC, Atlanta GA, Hamburg, Germany
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16
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Péladeau C, Sandhu JK. Aberrant NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation Ignites the Fire of Inflammation in Neuromuscular Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22116068. [PMID: 34199845 PMCID: PMC8200055 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammasomes are molecular hubs that are assembled and activated by a host in response to various microbial and non-microbial stimuli and play a pivotal role in maintaining tissue homeostasis. The NLRP3 is a highly promiscuous inflammasome that is activated by a wide variety of sterile triggers, including misfolded protein aggregates, and drives chronic inflammation via caspase-1-mediated proteolytic cleavage and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1β and interleukin-18. These cytokines further amplify inflammatory responses by activating various signaling cascades, leading to the recruitment of immune cells and overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, resulting in a vicious cycle of chronic inflammation and tissue damage. Neuromuscular diseases are a heterogeneous group of muscle disorders that involve injury or dysfunction of peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junctions and muscles. A growing body of evidence suggests that dysregulation, impairment or aberrant NLRP3 inflammasome signaling leads to the initiation and exacerbation of pathological processes associated with neuromuscular diseases. In this review, we summarize the available knowledge about the NLRP3 inflammasome in neuromuscular diseases that affect the peripheral nervous system and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which affects the central nervous system. In addition, we also examine whether therapeutic targeting of the NLRP3 inflammasome components is a viable approach to alleviating the detrimental phenotype of neuromuscular diseases and improving clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Péladeau
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada;
| | - Jagdeep K. Sandhu
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada;
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-613-993-5304
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17
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Finkel RS, Finanger E, Vandenborne K, Sweeney HL, Tennekoon G, Shieh PB, Willcocks R, Walter G, Rooney WD, Forbes SC, Triplett WT, Yum SW, Mancini M, MacDougall J, Fretzen A, Bista P, Nichols A, Donovan JM. Disease-modifying effects of edasalonexent, an NF-κB inhibitor, in young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Results of the MoveDMD phase 2 and open label extension trial. Neuromuscul Disord 2021; 31:385-396. [PMID: 33678513 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Chronic activation of NF-κB is a key driver of muscle degeneration and suppression of muscle regeneration in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Edasalonexent (CAT-1004) is an orally-administered novel small molecule that covalently links two bioactive compounds (salicylic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) that inhibit NF-κB. This placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept phase 2 study with open-label extension in boys ≥4-<8 years old with any dystrophin mutation examined the effect of edasalonexent (67 or 100 mg/kg/day) compared to placebo or off-treatment control. Endpoints were safety/tolerability, change from baseline in MRI T2 relaxation time of lower leg muscles and functional assessment, as well as pharmacodynamics and biomarkers. Treatment was well-tolerated and the majority of adverse events were mild, and most commonly of the gastrointestinal system (primarily diarrhea). There were no serious adverse events in the edasalonexent groups. Edasalonexent 100 mg/kg was associated with slowing of disease progression and preservation of muscle function compared to an off-treatment control period, with decrease in levels of NF-κB-regulated genes and improvements in biomarkers of muscle health and inflammation. These results support investigating edasalonexent in future trials and have informed the design of the edasalonexent phase 3 clinical trial in boys with Duchenne.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard S Finkel
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN and Nemours Children's Hospital, Orlando, FL, United States.
| | - Erika Finanger
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | | | - H Lee Sweeney
- University of Florida Health, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Gihan Tennekoon
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Perry B Shieh
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | | | - Glenn Walter
- University of Florida Health, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | | | - Sean C Forbes
- University of Florida Health, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | | | - Sabrina W Yum
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Maria Mancini
- Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Pradeep Bista
- Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boston, MA, United States
| | - Andrew Nichols
- Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boston, MA, United States
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18
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Tichy ED, Ma N, Sidibe D, Loro E, Kocan J, Chen DZ, Khurana TS, Hasty P, Mourkioti F. Persistent NF-κB activation in muscle stem cells induces proliferation-independent telomere shortening. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109098. [PMID: 33979621 PMCID: PMC8183356 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
During the repeated cycles of damage and repair in many muscle disorders, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the muscle stem cell (MuSC) pool becomes less efficient at responding to and repairing damage. The underlying mechanism of such stem cell dysfunction is not fully known. Here, we demonstrate that the distinct early telomere shortening of diseased MuSCs in both mice and young DMD patients is associated with aberrant NF-κB activation. We find that prolonged NF-κB activation in MuSCs in chronic injuries leads to shortened telomeres and Ku80 dysregulation and results in severe skeletal muscle defects. Our studies provide evidence of a role for NF-κB in regulating stem-cell-specific telomere length, independently of cell replication, and could be a congruent mechanism that is applicable to additional tissues and/or diseases characterized by systemic chronic inflammation. Tichy et al. reveal a role for NF-κB signaling in regulating telomere length in muscle stem cells (MuSCs) after chronic injuries. Persistent activation of NF-κB leads to shortened telomeres, Ku80 dysregulation, and muscle defects. The findings link stem cell dysfunction and NF-κB-dependent telomere shortening in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisia D Tichy
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nuoying Ma
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - David Sidibe
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Emanuele Loro
- Department of Physiology and Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jacob Kocan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Delia Z Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Tejvir S Khurana
- Department of Physiology and Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Paul Hasty
- The Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Foteini Mourkioti
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Musculoskeletal Regeneration Program, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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19
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Moriscot A, Miyabara EH, Langeani B, Belli A, Egginton S, Bowen TS. Firearms-related skeletal muscle trauma: pathophysiology and novel approaches for regeneration. NPJ Regen Med 2021; 6:17. [PMID: 33772028 PMCID: PMC7997931 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-021-00127-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
One major cause of traumatic injury is firearm-related wounds (i.e., ballistic trauma), common in both civilian and military populations, which is increasing in prevalence and has serious long-term health and socioeconomic consequences worldwide. Common primary injuries of ballistic trauma include soft-tissue damage and loss, haemorrhage, bone fracture, and pain. The majority of injuries are of musculoskeletal origin and located in the extremities, such that skeletal muscle offers a major therapeutic target to aid recovery and return to normal daily activities. However, the underlying pathophysiology of skeletal muscle ballistic trauma remains poorly understood, with limited evidence-based treatment options. As such, this review will address the topic of firearm-related skeletal muscle injury and regeneration. We first introduce trauma ballistics and the immediate injury of skeletal muscle, followed by detailed coverage of the underlying biological mechanisms involved in regulating skeletal muscle dysfunction following injury, with a specific focus on the processes of muscle regeneration, muscle wasting and vascular impairments. Finally, we evaluate novel approaches for minimising muscle damage and enhancing muscle regeneration after ballistic trauma, which may have important relevance for primary care in victims of violence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anselmo Moriscot
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elen H Miyabara
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Antonio Belli
- NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Stuart Egginton
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - T Scott Bowen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
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20
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A Phase 1/2 Study of Flavocoxid, an Oral NF-κB Inhibitor, in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11010115. [PMID: 33467104 PMCID: PMC7830560 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11010115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Flavocoxid is a blended extract containing baicalin and catechin with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties due to the inhibition of the cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzymes, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathways. This phase 1/2 study was designed to assess the safety and tolerability of flavocoxid in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Thirty-four patients were recruited: 17 were treated with flavocoxid at an oral dose of 250 or 500 mg, according to body weight, for one year; 17 did not receive flavocoxid and served as controls. The treatment was well tolerated and nobody dropped out. Flavocoxid induced a significant reduction in serum interleukin (IL)-1 beta and TNF-alpha only in the group of DMD boys on add-on therapy (flavocoxid added to steroids for at least six months). The decrease in IL-1 beta was higher in younger boys. The serum H2O2 concentrations significantly decreased in patients treated with flavocoxid alone with a secondary reduction of serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels, especially in younger boys. The exploratory outcome measures failed to show significant effects but there was a trend showing that the younger boys who received treatment were faster at performing the Gowers' maneuver, while the older boys who received treatment were faster at doing the 10-m walk test (10MWT). Therefore, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study for at least two/three years is warranted to verify flavocoxid as a steroid substitute or as add-on therapy to steroids.
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21
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van Westering TLE, Johansson HJ, Hanson B, Coenen-Stass AML, Lomonosova Y, Tanihata J, Motohashi N, Yokota T, Takeda S, Lehtiö J, Wood MJA, El Andaloussi S, Aoki Y, Roberts TC. Mutation-independent Proteomic Signatures of Pathological Progression in Murine Models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Mol Cell Proteomics 2020; 19:2047-2068. [PMID: 32994316 PMCID: PMC7710136 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra120.002345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The absence of the dystrophin protein in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) results in myofiber fragility and a plethora of downstream secondary pathologies. Although a variety of experimental therapies are in development, achieving effective treatments for DMD remains exceptionally challenging, not least because the pathological consequences of dystrophin loss are incompletely understood. Here we have performed proteome profiling in tibialis anterior muscles from two murine DMD models (mdx and mdx52) at three ages (8, 16, and 80 weeks of age), all n = 3. High-resolution isoelectric focusing liquid chromatography-tandem MS (HiRIEF-LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify the expression of 4974 proteins across all 27 samples. The two dystrophic models were found to be highly similar, whereas multiple proteins were differentially expressed relative to WT (C57BL/6) controls at each age. Furthermore, 1795 proteins were differentially expressed when samples were pooled across ages and dystrophic strains. These included numerous proteins associated with the extracellular matrix and muscle function that have not been reported previously. Pathway analysis revealed multiple perturbed pathways and predicted upstream regulators, which together are indicative of cross-talk between inflammatory, metabolic, and muscle growth pathways (e.g. TNF, INFγ, NF-κB, SIRT1, AMPK, PGC-1α, PPARs, ILK, and AKT/PI3K). Upregulation of CAV3, MVP and PAK1 protein expression was validated in dystrophic muscle by Western blot. Furthermore, MVP was upregulated during, but not required for, the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts suggesting that this protein may affect muscle regeneration. This study provides novel insights into mutation-independent proteomic signatures characteristic of the dystrophic phenotype and its progression with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henrik J Johansson
- Department of Oncology/Pathology, Cancer Proteomics Mass Spectrometry, SciLifeLab Stockholm, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Britt Hanson
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Yulia Lomonosova
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jun Tanihata
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norio Motohashi
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Yokota
- Department of Medical, Genetics, School of Human Development Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shin'ichi Takeda
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Janne Lehtiö
- Department of Oncology/Pathology, Cancer Proteomics Mass Spectrometry, SciLifeLab Stockholm, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthew J A Wood
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Yoshitsugu Aoki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Thomas C Roberts
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
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22
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Heier CR, Zhang A, Nguyen NY, Tully CB, Panigrahi A, Gordish-Dressman H, Pandey SN, Guglieri M, Ryan MM, Clemens PR, Thangarajh M, Webster R, Smith EC, Connolly AM, McDonald CM, Karachunski P, Tulinius M, Harper A, Mah JK, Fiorillo AA, Chen YW. Multi-Omics Identifies Circulating miRNA and Protein Biomarkers for Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy. J Pers Med 2020; 10:jpm10040236. [PMID: 33228131 PMCID: PMC7711540 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10040236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of therapeutics for muscle diseases such as facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is impeded by a lack of objective, minimally invasive biomarkers. Here we identify circulating miRNAs and proteins that are dysregulated in early-onset FSHD patients to develop blood-based molecular biomarkers. Plasma samples from clinically characterized individuals with early-onset FSHD provide a discovery group and are compared to healthy control volunteers. Low-density quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based arrays identify 19 candidate miRNAs, while mass spectrometry proteomic analysis identifies 13 candidate proteins. Bioinformatic analysis of chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-seq data shows that the FSHD-dysregulated DUX4 transcription factor binds to regulatory regions of several candidate miRNAs. This panel of miRNAs also shows ChIP signatures consistent with regulation by additional transcription factors which are up-regulated in FSHD (FOS, EGR1, MYC, and YY1). Validation studies in a separate group of patients with FSHD show consistent up-regulation of miR-100, miR-103, miR-146b, miR-29b, miR-34a, miR-454, miR-505, and miR-576. An increase in the expression of S100A8 protein, an inflammatory regulatory factor and subunit of calprotectin, is validated by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Bioinformatic analyses of proteomics and miRNA data further support a model of calprotectin and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway dysregulation in FSHD. Moving forward, this panel of miRNAs, along with S100A8 and calprotectin, merit further investigation as monitoring and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for FSHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R. Heier
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037, USA; (H.G.-D.); (A.A.F.)
- Correspondence: (C.R.H.); (Y.-W.C.)
| | - Aiping Zhang
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (A.Z.); (N.Y.N.); (C.B.T.); (A.P.); (S.N.P.)
| | - Nhu Y Nguyen
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (A.Z.); (N.Y.N.); (C.B.T.); (A.P.); (S.N.P.)
| | - Christopher B. Tully
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (A.Z.); (N.Y.N.); (C.B.T.); (A.P.); (S.N.P.)
| | - Aswini Panigrahi
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (A.Z.); (N.Y.N.); (C.B.T.); (A.P.); (S.N.P.)
| | - Heather Gordish-Dressman
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037, USA; (H.G.-D.); (A.A.F.)
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (A.Z.); (N.Y.N.); (C.B.T.); (A.P.); (S.N.P.)
| | - Sachchida Nand Pandey
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (A.Z.); (N.Y.N.); (C.B.T.); (A.P.); (S.N.P.)
| | | | - Monique M. Ryan
- The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia;
| | - Paula R. Clemens
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
| | - Mathula Thangarajh
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA;
| | | | - Edward C. Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA;
| | - Anne M. Connolly
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA;
| | - Craig M. McDonald
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California at Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA;
| | - Peter Karachunski
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
| | - Mar Tulinius
- Department of Pediatrics, Gothenburg University, Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, 41685 Göteborg, Sweden;
| | - Amy Harper
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA;
| | - Jean K. Mah
- Deparment of Pediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, T2N T3B, Calgary, AB 6A81N4, Canada;
| | - Alyson A. Fiorillo
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037, USA; (H.G.-D.); (A.A.F.)
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (A.Z.); (N.Y.N.); (C.B.T.); (A.P.); (S.N.P.)
| | - Yi-Wen Chen
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA; (A.Z.); (N.Y.N.); (C.B.T.); (A.P.); (S.N.P.)
- Correspondence: (C.R.H.); (Y.-W.C.)
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23
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Korb MK, Kimonis VE, Mozaffar T. Multisystem proteinopathy: Where myopathy and motor neuron disease converge. Muscle Nerve 2020; 63:442-454. [PMID: 33145792 DOI: 10.1002/mus.27097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Multisystem proteinopathy (MSP) is a pleiotropic group of inherited disorders that cause neurodegeneration, myopathy, and bone disease, and share common pathophysiology. Originally referred to as inclusion body myopathy associated with Paget disease of bone and frontotemporal dementia (IBMPFD), attributed to mutations in the gene encoding valosin-containing protein (VCP), it has more recently been discovered that there are several other genes responsible for similar clinical and pathological phenotypes with muscle, brain, nerve, and bone involvement, in various combinations. These include heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2B1 and A1 (hnRNPA2B1, hnRNPA1), sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1), matrin 3 (MATR3), T-cell restricted intracellular antigen 1 (TIA1), and optineurin (OPTN), all of which share disruption of RNA stress granule function and autophagic degradation. This review will discuss each of the genes implicated in MSP, exploring the molecular pathogenesis, clinical features, current standards of care, and future directions for this diverse yet mechanistically linked spectrum of disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manisha K Korb
- Departments of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Orange, California, USA
| | - Virginia E Kimonis
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine, Orange, California, USA
| | - Tahseen Mozaffar
- Departments of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Orange, California, USA.,Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California Irvine, Orange, California, USA.,Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, Orange, California, USA
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24
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Barthélémy I, Calmels N, Weiss RB, Tiret L, Vulin A, Wein N, Peccate C, Drougard C, Beroud C, Deburgrave N, Thibaud JL, Escriou C, Punzón I, Garcia L, Kaplan JC, Flanigan KM, Leturcq F, Blot S. X-linked muscular dystrophy in a Labrador Retriever strain: phenotypic and molecular characterisation. Skelet Muscle 2020; 10:23. [PMID: 32767978 PMCID: PMC7412789 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-020-00239-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Canine models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are a valuable tool to evaluate potential therapies because they faithfully reproduce the human disease. Several cases of dystrophinopathies have been described in canines, but the Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) model remains the most used in preclinical studies. Here, we report a new spontaneous dystrophinopathy in a Labrador Retriever strain, named Labrador Retriever muscular dystrophy (LRMD). Methods A colony of LRMD dogs was established from spontaneous cases. Fourteen LRMD dogs were followed-up and compared to the GRMD standard using several functional tests. The disease causing mutation was studied by several molecular techniques and identified using RNA-sequencing. Results The main clinical features of the GRMD disease were found in LRMD dogs; the functional tests provided data roughly overlapping with those measured in GRMD dogs, with similar inter-individual heterogeneity. The LRMD causal mutation was shown to be a 2.2-Mb inversion disrupting the DMD gene within intron 20 and involving the TMEM47 gene. In skeletal muscle, the Dp71 isoform was ectopically expressed, probably as a consequence of the mutation. We found no evidence of polymorphism in either of the two described modifier genes LTBP4 and Jagged1. No differences were found in Pitpna mRNA expression levels that would explain the inter-individual variability. Conclusions This study provides a full comparative description of a new spontaneous canine model of dystrophinopathy, found to be phenotypically equivalent to the GRMD model. We report a novel large DNA mutation within the DMD gene and provide evidence that LRMD is a relevant model to pinpoint additional DMD modifier genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inès Barthélémy
- U955 - IMRB, Team 10 - Biology of the neuromuscular system, Inserm, UPEC, EFS, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Nadège Calmels
- Laboratoire de biochimie et génétique moléculaire, hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Laboratoire de Diagnostic Génétique-Institut de Génétique Médicale d'Alsace, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 1 Place de L'Hôpital, 67091, Strasbourg, France
| | - Robert B Weiss
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Laurent Tiret
- U955 - IMRB, Team 10 - Biology of the neuromuscular system, Inserm, UPEC, EFS, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Adeline Vulin
- SQY Therapeutics, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Montigny le Bretonneux, France
| | - Nicolas Wein
- The Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Cécile Peccate
- SQY Therapeutics, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Montigny le Bretonneux, France.,Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, INSERM UMRS974, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Institut de Myologie, G.H. Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Carole Drougard
- U955 - IMRB, Team 10 - Biology of the neuromuscular system, Inserm, UPEC, EFS, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Christophe Beroud
- Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, MMG, Bioinformatics & Genetics, Marseille, France.,APHM, Hôpital Timone Enfants, Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire, Marseille, France
| | - Nathalie Deburgrave
- Laboratoire de biochimie et génétique moléculaire, hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Laurent Thibaud
- U955 - IMRB, Team 10 - Biology of the neuromuscular system, Inserm, UPEC, EFS, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Catherine Escriou
- U955 - IMRB, Team 10 - Biology of the neuromuscular system, Inserm, UPEC, EFS, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Isabel Punzón
- U955 - IMRB, Team 10 - Biology of the neuromuscular system, Inserm, UPEC, EFS, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Luis Garcia
- Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, U1179 INSERM, UFR des Sciences de la Santé, Montigny le Bretonneux, France
| | - Jean-Claude Kaplan
- Laboratoire de biochimie et génétique moléculaire, hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Kevin M Flanigan
- The Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - France Leturcq
- Laboratoire de biochimie et génétique moléculaire, hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, INSERM UMRS974, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Institut de Myologie, G.H. Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Blot
- U955 - IMRB, Team 10 - Biology of the neuromuscular system, Inserm, UPEC, EFS, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France.
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25
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Cappellari O, Mantuano P, De Luca A. "The Social Network" and Muscular Dystrophies: The Lesson Learnt about the Niche Environment as a Target for Therapeutic Strategies. Cells 2020; 9:cells9071659. [PMID: 32660168 PMCID: PMC7407800 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The muscle stem cells niche is essential in neuromuscular disorders. Muscle injury and myofiber death are the main triggers of muscle regeneration via satellite cell activation. However, in degenerative diseases such as muscular dystrophy, regeneration still keep elusive. In these pathologies, stem cell loss occurs over time, and missing signals limiting damaged tissue from activating the regenerative process can be envisaged. It is unclear what comes first: the lack of regeneration due to satellite cell defects, their pool exhaustion for degeneration/regeneration cycles, or the inhibitory mechanisms caused by muscle damage and fibrosis mediators. Herein, Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been taken as a paradigm, as several drugs have been tested at the preclinical and clinical levels, targeting secondary events in the complex pathogenesis derived from lack of dystrophin. We focused on the crucial roles that pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines play in triggering muscle necrosis after damage and stimulating satellite cell activation and self-renewal, along with growth and mechanical factors. These processes contribute to regeneration and niche maintenance. We review the main effects of drugs on regeneration biomarkers to assess whether targeting pathogenic events can help to protect niche homeostasis and enhance regeneration efficiency other than protecting newly formed fibers from further damage.
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26
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Scalabrin M, Adams V, Labeit S, Bowen TS. Emerging Strategies Targeting Catabolic Muscle Stress Relief. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4681. [PMID: 32630118 PMCID: PMC7369951 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle wasting represents a common trait in many conditions, including aging, cancer, heart failure, immobilization, and critical illness. Loss of muscle mass leads to impaired functional mobility and severely impedes the quality of life. At present, exercise training remains the only proven treatment for muscle atrophy, yet many patients are too ill, frail, bedridden, or neurologically impaired to perform physical exertion. The development of novel therapeutic strategies that can be applied to an in vivo context and attenuate secondary myopathies represents an unmet medical need. This review discusses recent progress in understanding the molecular pathways involved in regulating skeletal muscle wasting with a focus on pro-catabolic factors, in particular, the ubiquitin-proteasome system and its activating muscle-specific E3 ligase RING-finger protein 1 (MuRF1). Mechanistic progress has provided the opportunity to design experimental therapeutic concepts that may affect the ubiquitin-proteasome system and prevent subsequent muscle wasting, with novel advances made in regards to nutritional supplements, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFB) inhibitors, myostatin antibodies, β2 adrenergic agonists, and small-molecules interfering with MuRF1, which all emerge as a novel in vivo treatment strategies for muscle wasting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Scalabrin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK;
| | - Volker Adams
- Department of Experimental and Molecular Cardiology, TU Dresden, Heart Center Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany;
- Dresden Cardiovascular Research Institute and Core Laboratories GmbH, 01067 Dresden, Germany
| | - Siegfried Labeit
- Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany;
- Myomedix GmbH, Im Biengarten 36, 69151 Neckargemünd, Germany
| | - T. Scott Bowen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK;
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27
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Anti-Inflammatory and General Glucocorticoid Physiology in Skeletal Muscles Affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Exploration of Steroid-Sparing Agents. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21134596. [PMID: 32605223 PMCID: PMC7369834 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the activation of proinflammatory and metabolic cellular pathways in skeletal muscle cells is an inherent characteristic. Synthetic glucocorticoid intake counteracts the majority of these mechanisms. However, glucocorticoids induce burdensome secondary effects, including hypertension, arrhythmias, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, weight gain, growth delay, skin thinning, cushingoid appearance, and tissue-specific glucocorticoid resistance. Hence, lowering the glucocorticoid dosage could be beneficial for DMD patients. A more profound insight into the major cellular pathways that are stabilized after synthetic glucocorticoid administration in DMD is needed when searching for the molecules able to achieve similar pathway stabilization. This review provides a concise overview of the major anti-inflammatory pathways, as well as the metabolic effects of glucocorticoids in the skeletal muscle affected in DMD. The known drugs able to stabilize these pathways, and which could potentially be combined with glucocorticoid therapy as steroid-sparing agents, are described. This could create new opportunities for testing in DMD animal models and/or clinical trials, possibly leading to smaller glucocorticoids dosage regimens for DMD patients.
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28
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Story BD, Miller ME, Bradbury AM, Million ED, Duan D, Taghian T, Faissler D, Fernau D, Beecy SJ, Gray-Edwards HL. Canine Models of Inherited Musculoskeletal and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:80. [PMID: 32219101 PMCID: PMC7078110 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse models of human disease remain the bread and butter of modern biology and therapeutic discovery. Nonetheless, more often than not mouse models do not reproduce the pathophysiology of the human conditions they are designed to mimic. Naturally occurring large animal models have predominantly been found in companion animals or livestock because of their emotional or economic value to modern society and, unlike mice, often recapitulate the human disease state. In particular, numerous models have been discovered in dogs and have a fundamental role in bridging proof of concept studies in mice to human clinical trials. The present article is a review that highlights current canine models of human diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, degenerative myelopathy, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, globoid cell leukodystrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, mucopolysaccharidosis, and fucosidosis. The goal of the review is to discuss canine and human neurodegenerative pathophysiologic similarities, introduce the animal models, and shed light on the ability of canine models to facilitate current and future treatment trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett D. Story
- Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, United States
- University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Matthew E. Miller
- Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Allison M. Bradbury
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Emily D. Million
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Toloo Taghian
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Dominik Faissler
- Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, United States
| | - Deborah Fernau
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Sidney J. Beecy
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, United States
| | - Heather L. Gray-Edwards
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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29
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Liu H, Bolleddula J, Nichols A, Tang L, Zhao Z, Prakash C. Metabolism of bioconjugate therapeutics: why, when, and how? Drug Metab Rev 2020; 52:66-124. [PMID: 32045530 DOI: 10.1080/03602532.2020.1716784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Bioconjugation of therapeutic agents has been used as a selective drug delivery platform for many therapeutic areas. Bioconjugates are prepared by the covalent linkage of active compounds (small or large molecule) to a carrier molecule (lipids, proteins, peptides, carbohydrates, and polymers) through a chemical linker. The linkage of the active component to a carrier molecule enhances the therapeutic window through a targeted delivery and by reducing toxicity. Bioconjugates also possess improved pharmacokinetic properties such as a long half-life, increased stability, and cleavage by intracellular enzymes/environment. However, premature cleavage of the bioconjugates and the resulting metabolites/catabolites may produce undesirable toxic effects and, hence, it is critical to understand cleavage mechanisms, metabolism of bioconjugates, and translatability to human in the discovery stages. This article provides a comprehensive overview of linker cleavage pathways and catabolism/metabolism of antibody-drug conjugates, glycoconjugates, polymer-drug conjugates, lipid-drug conjugates, folate-targeted small molecule-drug conjugates, and drug-drug conjugates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanlan Liu
- KSQ Therapeutics Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
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30
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Hammers DW, Hart CC, Patsalos A, Matheny MK, Wright LA, Nagy L, Sweeney HL. Glucocorticoids counteract hypertrophic effects of myostatin inhibition in dystrophic muscle. JCI Insight 2020; 5:133276. [PMID: 31830002 PMCID: PMC7030817 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.133276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating genetic muscle disease resulting in progressive muscle degeneration and wasting. Glucocorticoids, specifically prednisone/prednisolone and deflazacort, are commonly used by DMD patients. Emerging DMD therapeutics include those targeting the muscle-wasting factor, myostatin (Mstn). The aim of this study was to investigate how chronic glucocorticoid treatment impacts the efficacy of Mstn inhibition in the D2.mdx mouse model of DMD. We report that chronic treatment of dystrophic mice with prednisolone (Pred) causes significant muscle wasting, entailing both activation of the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway and inhibition of muscle protein synthesis. Combining Pred with Mstn inhibition, using a modified Mstn propeptide (dnMstn), completely abrogates the muscle hypertrophic effects of Mstn inhibition independently of Mstn expression or SMAD3 activation. Transcriptomic analysis identified that combining Pred with dnMstn treatment affects gene expression profiles associated with inflammation, metabolism, and fibrosis. Additionally, we demonstrate that Pred-induced muscle atrophy is not prevented by Mstn ablation. Therefore, glucocorticoids interfere with potential muscle mass benefits associated with targeting Mstn, and the ramifications of glucocorticoid use should be a consideration during clinical trial design for DMD therapeutics. These results have significant implications for past and future Mstn inhibition trials in DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W. Hammers
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and
- Myology Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Cora C. Hart
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and
- Myology Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Andreas Patsalos
- Department of Medicine and
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Michael K. Matheny
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and
- Myology Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Lillian A. Wright
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and
- Myology Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Laszlo Nagy
- Department of Medicine and
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - H. Lee Sweeney
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and
- Myology Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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31
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Hightower RM, Reid AL, Gibbs DE, Wang Y, Widrick JJ, Kunkel LM, Kastenschmidt JM, Villalta SA, van Groen T, Chang H, Gornisiewicz S, Landesman Y, Tamir S, Alexander MS. The SINE Compound KPT-350 Blocks Dystrophic Pathologies in DMD Zebrafish and Mice. Mol Ther 2020; 28:189-201. [PMID: 31628052 PMCID: PMC6952030 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked muscle wasting disease that is caused by the loss of functional dystrophin protein in cardiac and skeletal muscles. DMD patient muscles become weakened, leading to eventual myofiber breakdown and replacement with fibrotic and adipose tissues. Inflammation drives the pathogenic processes through releasing inflammatory cytokines and other factors that promote skeletal muscle degeneration and contributing to the loss of motor function. Selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINEs) are a class of compounds that function by inhibiting the nuclear export protein exportin 1 (XPO1). The XPO1 protein is an important regulator of key inflammatory and neurological factors that drive inflammation and neurotoxicity in various neurological and neuromuscular diseases. Here, we demonstrate that SINE compound KPT-350 can ameliorate dystrophic-associated pathologies in the muscles of DMD models of zebrafish and mice. Thus, SINE compounds are a promising novel strategy for blocking dystrophic symptoms and could be used in combinatorial treatments for DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rylie M Hightower
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; UAB Center for Exercise Medicine (UCEM), Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Andrea L Reid
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Devin E Gibbs
- Division of Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yimin Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Widrick
- Division of Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Louis M Kunkel
- Division of Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research at Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jenna M Kastenschmidt
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - S Armando Villalta
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Thomas van Groen
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Hua Chang
- Karyopharm Therapeutics, Newton, MA 02459, USA
| | | | | | | | - Matthew S Alexander
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; UAB Center for Exercise Medicine (UCEM), Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; Department of Genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; Civitan International Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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Finanger E, Vandenborne K, Finkel RS, Lee Sweeney H, Tennekoon G, Yum S, Mancini M, Bista P, Nichols A, Liu H, Fretzen A, Donovan JM. Phase 1 Study of Edasalonexent (CAT-1004), an Oral NF-κB Inhibitor, in Pediatric Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. J Neuromuscul Dis 2020; 6:43-54. [PMID: 30452422 PMCID: PMC6398836 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-180341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background: Edasalonexent is an orally administered small molecule designed to inhibit NF-κB, which is activated from infancy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and is central to causing muscle damage and preventing muscle regeneration. Objective: Evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and exploratory pharmacodynamics of three doses of edasalonexent in ambulatory males ≥4 to <8 years of age with genetically confirmed Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Methods: This was a 1-week, open-label, multiple-dose study with 3 sequential ascending doses (33, 67 and 100 mg/kg/day) of edasalonexent administered under different dietary conditions to 17 males with a mean age of 5.5 years. Results: All doses of edasalonexent were well tolerated, with no serious adverse events, no drug discontinuations and no dose reductions. The majority of adverse events were mild, and the most common adverse events were gastrointestinal (primarily diarrhea). Edasalonexent was rapidly absorbed with peak levels observed 2–6 hours after dosing and exposures appeared to increase nearly proportionally to dose for the 2 lower and all 3 doses under low-fat and high-fat meal conditions, respectively. Only minor plasma accumulation of edasalonexent was observed with 7 days of dosing. After treatment with edasalonexent for 7 days, levels of NF-κB-regulated genes and serum proteins were decreased. Conclusions: This first report of edasalonexent oral administration for one week in male pediatric patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy showed that treatment was well tolerated and inhibited NF-kB pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Finanger
- Oregon Health Sciences University Pediatrics, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | - Richard S Finkel
- Nemours Children's Hospital, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - H Lee Sweeney
- University of Florida Health Myology Institute, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Gihan Tennekoon
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Pediatric Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sabrina Yum
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Pediatric Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Hanlan Liu
- Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
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Macrophages Are Key Regulators of Stem Cells during Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Diseases. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:4761427. [PMID: 31396285 PMCID: PMC6664695 DOI: 10.1155/2019/4761427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscle regeneration is a closely regulated process that involves a variety of cell types such as satellite cells, myofibers, fibroadipogenic progenitors, endothelial cells, and inflammatory cells. Among these different cell types, macrophages emerged as a central actor coordinating the different cellular interactions and biological processes. Particularly, the transition of macrophages from their proinflammatory to their anti-inflammatory phenotype was shown to regulate inflammation, myogenesis, fibrosis, vascularization, and return to homeostasis. On the other hand, deregulation of macrophage accumulation or polarization in chronic degenerative muscle disorders was shown to impair muscle regeneration. Considering the key roles of macrophages in skeletal muscle, they represent an attractive target for new therapeutic approaches aiming at mitigating various muscle disorders. This review aims at summarizing the novel insights into macrophage heterogeneity, plasticity, and functions in skeletal muscle homeostasis, regeneration, and disease.
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McMillan HJ. Intermittent glucocorticoid regimes for younger boys with duchenne muscular dystrophy: Balancing efficacy with side effects. Muscle Nerve 2019; 59:638-639. [PMID: 30993732 DOI: 10.1002/mus.26490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hugh J McMillan
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L1, Canada
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35
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Connolly AM, Zaidman CM, Golumbek PT, Cradock MM, Flanigan KM, Kuntz NL, Finkel RS, McDonald CM, Iannaccone ST, Anand P, Siener CA, Florence JM, Lowes LP, Alfano LN, Johnson LB, Nicorici A, Nelson LL, Mendell JR. Twice‐weekly glucocorticosteroids in infants and young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Muscle Nerve 2019; 59:650-657. [DOI: 10.1002/mus.26441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anne M. Connolly
- Department of NeurologyWashington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis St Louis Missouri USA 63110
- Department of PediatricsWashington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis St Louis Missouri USA
| | - Craig M. Zaidman
- Department of NeurologyWashington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis St Louis Missouri USA 63110
- Department of PediatricsWashington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis St Louis Missouri USA
| | - Paul T. Golumbek
- Department of NeurologyWashington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis St Louis Missouri USA 63110
- Department of PediatricsWashington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis St Louis Missouri USA
| | - Mary M. Cradock
- Department of PediatricsWashington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis St Louis Missouri USA
| | - Kevin M. Flanigan
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's HospitalOhio State University Columbus Ohio USA
| | - Nancy L. Kuntz
- Department of NeurologyNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago Illinois USA
| | - Richard S. Finkel
- Department of PediatricsNemours Children's Hospital Orlando Florida USA
| | - Craig M. McDonald
- Department of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationUniversity of California, Davis Medical Center Sacramento California USA
| | - Susan T. Iannaccone
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas USA
| | - Pallavi Anand
- Department of NeurologyWashington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis St Louis Missouri USA 63110
| | - Catherine A. Siener
- Department of NeurologyWashington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis St Louis Missouri USA 63110
| | - Julaine M. Florence
- Department of NeurologyWashington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis St Louis Missouri USA 63110
| | - Linda P. Lowes
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's HospitalOhio State University Columbus Ohio USA
| | - Lindsay N. Alfano
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's HospitalOhio State University Columbus Ohio USA
| | - Linda B. Johnson
- Department of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationUniversity of California, Davis Medical Center Sacramento California USA
| | - Alina Nicorici
- Department of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationUniversity of California, Davis Medical Center Sacramento California USA
| | - Leslie L. Nelson
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas USA
| | - Jerry R. Mendell
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's HospitalOhio State University Columbus Ohio USA
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36
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Gao S, Lu A, Amra S, Guo P, Huard J. TIPE2 gene transfer with adeno-associated virus 9 ameliorates dystrophic pathology in mdx mice. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 28:1608-1619. [DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Gao
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Aiping Lu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO, USA
| | - Sarah Amra
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ping Guo
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO, USA
| | - Johnny Huard
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Regenerative Sports Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO, USA
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37
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Scott L, Li N, Dobrev D. Role of inflammatory signaling in atrial fibrillation. Int J Cardiol 2018; 287:195-200. [PMID: 30316645 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most prevalent arrhythmia, is often associated with enhanced inflammatory response. Emerging evidence points to a causal role of inflammatory signaling pathways in the evolution of atrial electrical, calcium handling and structural remodeling, which create the substrate of AF development. In this review, we discuss the clinical evidence supporting the association between inflammatory indices and AF development, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of AF, which appear to involve multiple canonical inflammatory pathways, and the potential of anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches in AF prevention/treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry Scott
- Department of Medicine (Section of Cardiovascular Research), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Na Li
- Department of Medicine (Section of Cardiovascular Research), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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Boulanger Piette A, Hamoudi D, Marcadet L, Morin F, Argaw A, Ward L, Frenette J. Targeting the Muscle-Bone Unit: Filling Two Needs with One Deed in the Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Curr Osteoporos Rep 2018; 16:541-553. [PMID: 30225627 DOI: 10.1007/s11914-018-0468-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the progressive skeletal and cardiac muscle dysfunction and degeneration is accompanied by low bone mineral density and bone fragility. Glucocorticoids, which remain the standard of care for patients with DMD, increase the risk of developing osteoporosis. The scope of this review emphasizes the mutual cohesion and common signaling pathways between bone and skeletal muscle in DMD. RECENT FINDINGS The muscle-bone interactions involve bone-derived osteokines, muscle-derived myokines, and dual-origin cytokines that trigger common signaling pathways leading to fibrosis, inflammation, or protein synthesis/degradation. In particular, the triad RANK/RANKL/OPG including receptor activator of NF-kB (RANK), its ligand (RANKL), along with osteoprotegerin (OPG), regulates bone matrix modeling and remodeling pathways and contributes to muscle pathophysiology in DMD. This review discusses the importance of the muscle-bone unit in DMD and covers recent research aimed at determining the muscle-bone interactions that may eventually lead to the development of multifunctional and effective drugs for treating muscle and bone disorders regardless of the underlying genetic mutations in DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Boulanger Piette
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUQ-CHUL), Axe Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Dounia Hamoudi
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUQ-CHUL), Axe Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Laetitia Marcadet
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUQ-CHUL), Axe Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Françoise Morin
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUQ-CHUL), Axe Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Anteneh Argaw
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUQ-CHUL), Axe Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Leanne Ward
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Jérôme Frenette
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUQ-CHUL), Axe Neurosciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada.
- Département de Réadaptation, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
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Dowling JJ, D. Gonorazky H, Cohn RD, Campbell C. Treating pediatric neuromuscular disorders: The future is now. Am J Med Genet A 2018; 176:804-841. [PMID: 28889642 PMCID: PMC5900978 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.38418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric neuromuscular diseases encompass all disorders with onset in childhood and where the primary area of pathology is in the peripheral nervous system. These conditions are largely genetic in etiology, and only those with a genetic underpinning will be presented in this review. This includes disorders of the anterior horn cell (e.g., spinal muscular atrophy), peripheral nerve (e.g., Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease), the neuromuscular junction (e.g., congenital myasthenic syndrome), and the muscle (myopathies and muscular dystrophies). Historically, pediatric neuromuscular disorders have uniformly been considered to be without treatment possibilities and to have dire prognoses. This perception has gradually changed, starting in part with the discovery and widespread application of corticosteroids for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. At present, several exciting therapeutic avenues are under investigation for a range of conditions, offering the potential for significant improvements in patient morbidities and mortality and, in some cases, curative intervention. In this review, we will present the current state of treatment for the most common pediatric neuromuscular conditions, and detail the treatment strategies with the greatest potential for helping with these devastating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Dowling
- Division of NeurologyHospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Program for Genetics and Genome BiologyHospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Departments of Paediatrics and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | | | - Ronald D. Cohn
- Program for Genetics and Genome BiologyHospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Departments of Paediatrics and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Craig Campbell
- Department of PediatricsClinical Neurological SciencesEpidemiologyWestern UniversityLondonOntarioCanada
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40
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Hagan M, Ashraf M, Kim IM, Weintraub NL, Tang Y. Effective regeneration of dystrophic muscle using autologous iPSC-derived progenitors with CRISPR-Cas9 mediated precise correction. Med Hypotheses 2017; 110:97-100. [PMID: 29317080 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal muscle wasting disease caused by a lack of dystrophin, which eventually leads to apoptosis of muscle cells and impaired muscle contractility. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) gene editing of induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSC) offers the potential to correct the DMD gene defect and create healthy IPSC for autologous cell transplantation without causing immune activation. However, IPSC carry a risk of tumor formation, which can potentially be mitigated by differentiation of IPSC into myogenic progenitor cells (MPC). We hypothesize that precise genetic editing in IPSC using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, coupled with MPC differentiation and autologous transplantation, can lead to safe and effective muscle repair. With future research, our hypothesis may provide an optimal autologous stem cell-based approach to treat the dystrophic pathology and improve the quality of life for patients with DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie Hagan
- Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Muhammad Ashraf
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Il-Man Kim
- Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Neal L Weintraub
- Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Yaoliang Tang
- Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
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41
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Pharmacological advances for treatment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2017; 34:36-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2017.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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42
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Donovan JM, Zimmer M, Offman E, Grant T, Jirousek M. A Novel NF-κB Inhibitor, Edasalonexent (CAT-1004), in Development as a Disease-Modifying Treatment for Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Phase 1 Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics in Adult Subjects. J Clin Pharmacol 2017; 57:627-639. [PMID: 28074489 PMCID: PMC5412838 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), NF‐κB is activated in skeletal muscle from infancy regardless of the underlying dystrophin mutation and drives inflammation and muscle degeneration while inhibiting muscle regeneration. Edasalonexent (CAT‐1004) is a bifunctional orally administered small molecule that covalently links 2 compounds known to inhibit NF‐κB, salicylic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Edasalonexent is designed to inhibit activated NF‐κB upon intracellular cleavage to these bioactive components. Preclinical data demonstrate disease‐modifying activity in DMD animal models. Three placebo‐controlled studies in adult subjects assessed the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of single or multiple edasalonexent doses up to 6000 mg. Seventy‐nine adult subjects received edasalonexent, and 25 received placebo. Pharmacokinetic results were consistent with the intracellular cleavage of edasalonexent to its active components. Food increased plasma exposures of edasalonexent and salicyluric acid, an intracellularly formed metabolite of salicylic acid. The NF‐κB pathway and proteosome gene expression profiles in peripheral mononuclear cells were significantly decreased (P = .02 and P = .002, respectively) after 2 weeks of edasalonexent treatment. NF‐κB activity was inhibited following a single dose of edasalonexent but not by equimolar doses of salicylic acid and DHA. Edasalonexent was well tolerated, and the most common adverse events were mild diarrhea and headache. In first‐in‐human studies, edasalonexent was safe, well tolerated, and inhibited activated NF‐κB pathways, suggesting potential therapeutic utility in DMD regardless of the causative dystrophin mutation, as well as other NF‐κB–mediated diseases.
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