1
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Bustad E, Mudrock E, Nilles EM, Mcquate A, Bergado M, Gu A, Galitan L, Gleason N, Ou HC, Raible DW, Hernandez RE, Ma S. In vivo screening for toxicity-modulating drug interactions identifies antagonism that protects against ototoxicity in zebrafish. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1363545. [PMID: 38515847 PMCID: PMC10955247 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1363545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Ototoxicity is a debilitating side effect of over 150 medications with diverse mechanisms of action, many of which could be taken concurrently to treat multiple conditions. Approaches for preclinical evaluation of drug-drug interactions that might impact ototoxicity would facilitate design of safer multi-drug regimens and mitigate unsafe polypharmacy by flagging combinations that potentially cause adverse interactions for monitoring. They may also identify protective agents that antagonize ototoxic injury. Methods: To address this need, we have developed a novel workflow that we call Parallelized Evaluation of Protection and Injury for Toxicity Assessment (PEPITA), which empowers high-throughput, semi-automated quantification of ototoxicity and otoprotection in zebrafish larvae via microscopy. We used PEPITA and confocal microscopy to characterize in vivo the consequences of drug-drug interactions on ototoxic drug uptake and cellular damage of zebrafish lateral line hair cells. Results and discussion: By applying PEPITA to measure ototoxic drug interaction outcomes, we discovered antagonistic interactions between macrolide and aminoglycoside antibiotics that confer protection against aminoglycoside-induced damage to lateral line hair cells in zebrafish larvae. Co-administration of either azithromycin or erythromycin in zebrafish protected against damage from a broad panel of aminoglycosides, at least in part via inhibiting drug uptake into hair cells via a mechanism independent from hair cell mechanotransduction. Conversely, combining macrolides with aminoglycosides in bacterial inhibition assays does not show antagonism of antimicrobial efficacy. The proof-of-concept otoprotective antagonism suggests that combinatorial interventions can potentially be developed to protect against other forms of toxicity without hindering on-target drug efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan Bustad
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Emma Mudrock
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Elizabeth M. Nilles
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Andrea Mcquate
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Monica Bergado
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Alden Gu
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Louie Galitan
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Natalie Gleason
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Henry C. Ou
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - David W. Raible
- Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- VM Bloedel Hearing Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Rafael E. Hernandez
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Shuyi Ma
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Pathobiology Graduate Program, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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2
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Mozzetta C, Sartorelli V, Steinkuhler C, Puri PL. HDAC inhibitors as pharmacological treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a discovery journey from bench to patients. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:278-294. [PMID: 38408879 PMCID: PMC11095976 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.01.007] [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: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Earlier evidence that targeting the balance between histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and deacetylases (HDACs), through exposure to HDAC inhibitors (HDACis), could enhance skeletal myogenesis, prompted interest in using HDACis to promote muscle regeneration. Further identification of constitutive HDAC activation in dystrophin-deficient muscles, caused by dysregulated nitric oxide (NO) signaling, provided the rationale for HDACi-based therapeutic interventions for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In this review, we describe the molecular, preclinical, and clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of HDACis in countering disease progression by targeting pathogenic networks of gene expression in multiple muscle-resident cell types of patients with DMD. Given that givinostat is paving the way for HDACi-based interventions in DMD, next-generation HDACis with optimized therapeutic profiles and efficacy could be also explored for synergistic combinations with other therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Mozzetta
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Rome, Italy
| | - Vittorio Sartorelli
- Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Pier Lorenzo Puri
- Development, Aging, and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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3
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Karuppasamy M, English KG, Henry CA, Manzini MC, Parant JM, Wright MA, Ruparelia AA, Currie PD, Gupta VA, Dowling JJ, Maves L, Alexander MS. Standardization of zebrafish drug testing parameters for muscle diseases. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050339. [PMID: 38235578 PMCID: PMC10820820 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050339] [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: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscular diseases predominantly affect skeletal and cardiac muscle, resulting in muscle weakness, impaired respiratory function and decreased lifespan. These harmful outcomes lead to poor health-related quality of life and carry a high healthcare economic burden. The absence of promising treatments and new therapies for muscular disorders requires new methods for candidate drug identification and advancement in animal models. Consequently, the rapid screening of drug compounds in an animal model that mimics features of human muscle disease is warranted. Zebrafish are a versatile model in preclinical studies that support developmental biology and drug discovery programs for novel chemical entities and repurposing of established drugs. Due to several advantages, there is an increasing number of applications of the zebrafish model for high-throughput drug screening for human disorders and developmental studies. Consequently, standardization of key drug screening parameters, such as animal husbandry protocols, drug compound administration and outcome measures, is paramount for the continued advancement of the model and field. Here, we seek to summarize and explore critical drug treatment and drug screening parameters in the zebrafish-based modeling of human muscle diseases. Through improved standardization and harmonization of drug screening parameters and protocols, we aim to promote more effective drug discovery programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muthukumar Karuppasamy
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Katherine G. English
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Clarissa A. Henry
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - M. Chiara Manzini
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey and Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - John M. Parant
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Melissa A. Wright
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Child Neurology, University of Colorado at Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Avnika A. Ruparelia
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Centre for Muscle Research, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Peter D. Currie
- Centre for Muscle Research, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- EMBL Australia, Victorian Node, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Vandana A. Gupta
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - James J. Dowling
- Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- Program for Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Lisa Maves
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Matthew S. Alexander
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- UAB Center for Exercise Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- UAB Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics (CNET), Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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4
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DeLorenzo L, Powder KE. Epigenetics and the evolution of form: Experimental manipulation of a chromatin modification causes species-specific changes to the craniofacial skeleton. Evol Dev 2024; 26:e12461. [PMID: 37850843 PMCID: PMC10842503 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12461] [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: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
A central question in biology is the molecular origins of phenotypic diversity. While genetic changes are key to the genotype-phenotype relationship, alterations to chromatin structure and the physical packaging of histone proteins may also be important drivers of vertebrate divergence. We investigate the impact of such an epigenetic mechanism, histone acetylation, within a textbook example of an adaptive radiation. Cichlids of Lake Malawi have adapted diverse craniofacial structures, and here we investigate how histone acetylation influences morphological variation in these fishes. Specifically, we assessed the effect of inhibiting histone deacetylation using the drug trichostatin A (TSA) on developing facial structures. We examined this during three critical developmental windows in two cichlid species with alternate adult morphologies. Exposure to TSA during neural crest cell (NCC) migration and as postmigratory NCCs proliferate in the pharyngeal arches resulted in significant changes in lateral and ventral shape in Maylandia, but not in Tropheops. This included an overall shortening of the head, widening of the lower jaw, and steeper craniofacial profile, all of which are paedomorphic morphologies. In contrast, treatment with TSA during early chondrogenesis did not result in significant morphological changes in either species. Together, these data suggest a sensitivity to epigenetic alterations that are both time- and species-dependent. We find that morphologies are due to nonautonomous or potentially indirect effects on NCC development, including in part a global developmental delay. Our research bolsters the understanding that proper histone acetylation is essential for early craniofacial development and identifies a species-specific robustness to developmental change. Overall, this study demonstrates how epigenetic regulation may play an important role in both generating and buffering morphological variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah DeLorenzo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Kara E Powder
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
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5
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Ikeda D, Fujita S, Toda K, Yaginuma Y, Kan-no N, Watabe S. Cold-induced muscle atrophy in zebrafish: Insights from swimming activity and gene expression analysis. Biochem Biophys Rep 2023; 36:101570. [PMID: 37965068 PMCID: PMC10641114 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101570] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The investigation into the effects of cold acclimation on fish skeletal muscle function and its potential implications for muscle atrophy is of great interest to us. This study examines how rearing zebrafish at low temperatures affects their locomotor activity and the expression of genes associated with muscle atrophy. Zebrafish were exposed to temperatures ranging from 10 °C to 25 °C, and their swimming distance was measured. The expression levels of important muscle atrophy genes, Atrogin-1 and MuRF1, were also evaluated. Our findings show that swimming activity significantly decreases when the water temperature ranges from 10 °C to 15 °C, indicating a decrease in voluntary movement. Additionally, gene expression analysis shows a significant increase in the expression of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 at 10 °C. This up-regulation could lead to muscle atrophy caused by decreased activity in cold temperatures. To investigate the effects of exercise on reducing muscle atrophy, we subjected zebrafish to forced swimming at a temperature of 8 °C for ten days. This treatment significantly reduced the expression of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1, emphasizing the importance of muscle stimulation in preventing muscle atrophy in zebrafish. These findings suggest that zebrafish can serve as a valuable model organism for studying muscle atrophy and can be utilized in drug screening for muscle atrophy-related disorders. Cold-reared zebrafish provide a practical and ethical approach to inducing disuse muscle atrophy, providing valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for addressing skeletal muscle atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Ikeda
- School of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
| | - Seina Fujita
- School of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
| | - Kaito Toda
- School of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
| | - Yuma Yaginuma
- School of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Kan-no
- School of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
| | - Shugo Watabe
- School of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan
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6
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Bustad E, Mudrock E, Nilles EM, McQuate A, Bergado M, Gu A, Galitan L, Gleason N, Ou HC, Raible DW, Hernandez RE, Ma S. In vivo screening for toxicity-modulating drug interactions identifies antagonism that protects against ototoxicity in zebrafish. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.08.566159. [PMID: 37986751 PMCID: PMC10659329 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.08.566159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Ototoxicity is a debilitating side effect of over 150 medications with diverse mechanisms of action, many of which could be taken concurrently to treat multiple conditions. Approaches for preclinical evaluation of drug interactions that might impact ototoxicity would facilitate design of safer multi-drug regimens and mitigate unsafe polypharmacy by flagging combinations that potentially cause adverse interactions for monitoring. They may also identify protective agents that antagonize ototoxic injury. To address this need, we have developed a novel workflow that we call Parallelized Evaluation of Protection and Injury for Toxicity Assessment (PEPITA), which empowers high-throughput, semi-automated quantification of ototoxicity and otoprotection in zebrafish larvae. By applying PEPITA to characterize ototoxic drug interaction outcomes, we have discovered antagonistic interactions between macrolide and aminoglycoside antibiotics that confer protection against aminoglycoside-induced damage to lateral line hair cells in zebrafish larvae. Co-administration of either azithromycin or erythromycin in zebrafish protected against damage from a broad panel of aminoglycosides, at least in part via inhibiting drug uptake into hair cells via a mechanism independent from hair cell mechanotransduction. Conversely, combining macrolides with aminoglycosides in bacterial inhibition assays does not show antagonism of antimicrobial efficacy. The proof-of-concept otoprotective antagonism suggests that combinatorial interventions can potentially be developed to protect against other forms of toxicity without hindering on-target drug efficacy.
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7
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Dalla Barba F, Soardi M, Mouhib L, Risato G, Akyürek EE, Lucon-Xiccato T, Scano M, Benetollo A, Sacchetto R, Richard I, Argenton F, Bertolucci C, Carotti M, Sandonà D. Modeling Sarcoglycanopathy in Danio rerio. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12707. [PMID: 37628888 PMCID: PMC10454440 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612707] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Sarcoglycanopathies, also known as limb girdle muscular dystrophy 3-6, are rare muscular dystrophies characterized, although heterogeneous, by high disability, with patients often wheelchair-bound by late adolescence and frequently developing respiratory and cardiac problems. These diseases are currently incurable, emphasizing the importance of effective treatment strategies and the necessity of animal models for drug screening and therapeutic verification. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technique, we generated and characterized δ-sarcoglycan and β-sarcoglycan knockout zebrafish lines, which presented a progressive disease phenotype that worsened from a mild larval stage to distinct myopathic features in adulthood. By subjecting the knockout larvae to a viscous swimming medium, we were able to anticipate disease onset. The δ-SG knockout line was further exploited to demonstrate that a δ-SG missense mutant is a substrate for endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD), indicating premature degradation due to protein folding defects. In conclusion, our study underscores the utility of zebrafish in modeling sarcoglycanopathies through either gene knockout or future knock-in techniques. These novel zebrafish lines will not only enhance our understanding of the disease's pathogenic mechanisms, but will also serve as powerful tools for phenotype-based drug screening, ultimately contributing to the development of a cure for sarcoglycanopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Dalla Barba
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.D.B.)
| | - Michela Soardi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.D.B.)
| | - Leila Mouhib
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.D.B.)
- Randall Center for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Giovanni Risato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Department of Cardiac-Thoracic-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Eylem Emek Akyürek
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Agripolis, Legnaro, 35020 Padova, Italy
| | - Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Martina Scano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.D.B.)
| | - Alberto Benetollo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.D.B.)
| | - Roberta Sacchetto
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Agripolis, Legnaro, 35020 Padova, Italy
| | - Isabelle Richard
- Genethon, F-91002 Evry, France
- INSERM, U951, INTEGRARE Research Unit, F-91002 Evry, France
| | - Francesco Argenton
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Cristiano Bertolucci
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marcello Carotti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.D.B.)
| | - Dorianna Sandonà
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35131 Padova, Italy; (F.D.B.)
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8
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Chang M, Cai Y, Gao Z, Chen X, Liu B, Zhang C, Yu W, Cao Q, Shen Y, Yao X, Chen X, Sun H. Duchenne muscular dystrophy: pathogenesis and promising therapies. J Neurol 2023:10.1007/s00415-023-11796-x. [PMID: 37258941 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11796-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe, progressive, muscle-wasting disease, characterized by progressive deterioration of skeletal muscle that causes rapid loss of mobility. The failure in respiratory and cardiac muscles is the underlying cause of premature death in most patients with DMD. Mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin result in dystrophin deficiency, which is the underlying pathogenesis of DMD. Dystrophin-deficient myocytes are dysfunctional and vulnerable to injury, triggering a series of subsequent pathological changes. In this review, we detail the molecular mechanism of DMD, dystrophin deficiency-induced muscle cell damage (oxidative stress injury, dysregulated calcium homeostasis, and sarcolemma instability) and other cell damage and dysfunction (neuromuscular junction impairment and abnormal differentiation of muscle satellite). We also describe aberrant function of other cells and impaired muscle regeneration due to deterioration of the muscle microenvironment, and dystrophin deficiency-induced multiple organ dysfunction, while summarizing the recent advances in the treatment of DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyuan Chang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Cai
- Department of Neurology, Binhai County People's Hospital, Yancheng, 224500, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zihui Gao
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Boya Liu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiran Yu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianqian Cao
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuntian Shen
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinlei Yao
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaoyang Chen
- Department of Ultrasound, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hualin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- Research and Development Center for E-Learning, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100816, People's Republic of China.
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9
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Tesoriero C, Greco F, Cannone E, Ghirotto F, Facchinello N, Schiavone M, Vettori A. Modeling Human Muscular Dystrophies in Zebrafish: Mutant Lines, Transgenic Fluorescent Biosensors, and Phenotyping Assays. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8314. [PMID: 37176020 PMCID: PMC10179009 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophies (MDs) are a heterogeneous group of myopathies characterized by progressive muscle weakness leading to death from heart or respiratory failure. MDs are caused by mutations in genes involved in both the development and organization of muscle fibers. Several animal models harboring mutations in MD-associated genes have been developed so far. Together with rodents, the zebrafish is one of the most popular animal models used to reproduce MDs because of the high level of sequence homology with the human genome and its genetic manipulability. This review describes the most important zebrafish mutant models of MD and the most advanced tools used to generate and characterize all these valuable transgenic lines. Zebrafish models of MDs have been generated by introducing mutations to muscle-specific genes with different genetic techniques, such as (i) N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) treatment, (ii) the injection of specific morpholino, (iii) tol2-based transgenesis, (iv) TALEN, (v) and CRISPR/Cas9 technology. All these models are extensively used either to study muscle development and function or understand the pathogenetic mechanisms of MDs. Several tools have also been developed to characterize these zebrafish models by checking (i) motor behavior, (ii) muscle fiber structure, (iii) oxidative stress, and (iv) mitochondrial function and dynamics. Further, living biosensor models, based on the expression of fluorescent reporter proteins under the control of muscle-specific promoters or responsive elements, have been revealed to be powerful tools to follow molecular dynamics at the level of a single muscle fiber. Thus, zebrafish models of MDs can also be a powerful tool to search for new drugs or gene therapies able to block or slow down disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Tesoriero
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.T.); (F.G.); (F.G.); (A.V.)
| | - Francesca Greco
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.T.); (F.G.); (F.G.); (A.V.)
| | - Elena Cannone
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Francesco Ghirotto
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.T.); (F.G.); (F.G.); (A.V.)
| | - Nicola Facchinello
- Neuroscience Institute, Italian National Research Council (CNR), 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Schiavone
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Andrea Vettori
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.T.); (F.G.); (F.G.); (A.V.)
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10
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Hasegawa EH, Farr GH, Maves L. Comparison of Pronase versus Manual Dechorionation of Zebrafish Embryos for Small Molecule Treatments. J Dev Biol 2023; 11:16. [PMID: 37092478 PMCID: PMC10123619 DOI: 10.3390/jdb11020016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish are a powerful animal model for small molecule screening. Small molecule treatments of zebrafish embryos usually require that the chorion, an acellular envelope enclosing the embryo, is removed in order for chemical compounds to access the embryo from the bath medium. For large-scale studies requiring hundreds of embryos, manual dechorionation, using forceps, can be a time-consuming and limiting process. Pronase is a non-specific protease that is widely used as an enzymatic alternative for dechorionating zebrafish embryos. However, whether pronase treatments alter the effects of subsequent small molecule treatments has not been addressed. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for large-scale pronase dechorionation of zebrafish embryos. We tested whether pronase treatment can influence the efficacy of drug treatments in zebrafish embryos. We used a zebrafish model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to investigate whether the efficacies of trichostatin-A (TSA) or salermide + oxamflatin, small molecule inhibitors known to ameliorate the zebrafish dmd muscle degeneration phenotype, are significantly altered when embryos are treated with pronase versus manual dechorionation. We also tested the effects of pronase on the ability of the anthracycline cancer drug doxorubicin to induce cardiotoxicity in zebrafish embryos. When comparing pronase- versus forceps-dechorionated embryos used in these small molecule treatments, we found no appreciable effects of pronase on animal survival or on the effects of the small molecules. The significant difference that was detected was a small improvement in the ability of salermide + oxamflatin to ameliorate the dmd phenotype in pronase-treated embryos when compared with manual dechorionation. Our study supports the use of pronase treatment as a dechorionation method for zebrafish drug screening experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva H. Hasegawa
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Gist H. Farr
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Lisa Maves
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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11
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Sandonà M, Cavioli G, Renzini A, Cedola A, Gigli G, Coletti D, McKinsey TA, Moresi V, Saccone V. Histone Deacetylases: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications for Muscular Dystrophies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:4306. [PMID: 36901738 PMCID: PMC10002075 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are enzymes that regulate the deacetylation of numerous histone and non-histone proteins, thereby affecting a wide range of cellular processes. Deregulation of HDAC expression or activity is often associated with several pathologies, suggesting potential for targeting these enzymes for therapeutic purposes. For example, HDAC expression and activity are higher in dystrophic skeletal muscles. General pharmacological blockade of HDACs, by means of pan-HDAC inhibitors (HDACi), ameliorates both muscle histological abnormalities and function in preclinical studies. A phase II clinical trial of the pan-HDACi givinostat revealed partial histological improvement and functional recovery of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) muscles; results of an ongoing phase III clinical trial that is assessing the long-term safety and efficacy of givinostat in DMD patients are pending. Here we review the current knowledge about the HDAC functions in distinct cell types in skeletal muscle, identified by genetic and -omic approaches. We describe the signaling events that are affected by HDACs and contribute to muscular dystrophy pathogenesis by altering muscle regeneration and/or repair processes. Reviewing recent insights into HDAC cellular functions in dystrophic muscles provides new perspectives for the development of more effective therapeutic approaches based on drugs that target these critical enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giorgia Cavioli
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Human Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Renzini
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Human Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Cedola
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00181 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gigli
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Dario Coletti
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Human Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy
- CNRS UMR 8256, INSERM ERL U1164, Biological Adaptation and Aging B2A, Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Timothy A. McKinsey
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology and Consortium for Fibrosis Research & Translation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Viviana Moresi
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00181 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Saccone
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Department of Life Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
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12
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Singh J, Patten SA. Modeling neuromuscular diseases in zebrafish. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1054573. [PMID: 36583079 PMCID: PMC9794147 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1054573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular diseases are a diverse group of conditions that affect the motor system and present some overlapping as well as distinct clinical manifestations. Although individually rare, the combined prevalence of NMDs is similar to Parkinson's. Over the past decade, new genetic mutations have been discovered through whole exome/genome sequencing, but the pathogenesis of most NMDs remains largely unexplored. Little information on the molecular mechanism governing the progression and development of NMDs accounts for the continual failure of therapies in clinical trials. Different aspects of the diseases are typically investigated using different models from cells to animals. Zebrafish emerges as an excellent model for studying genetics and pathogenesis and for developing therapeutic interventions for most NMDs. In this review, we describe the generation of different zebrafish genetic models mimicking NMDs and how they are used for drug discovery and therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaskaran Singh
- INRS – Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Shunmoogum A. Patten
- INRS – Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada,Departement de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada,Centre d'Excellence en Recherche sur les Maladies Orphelines – Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, QC, Canada,*Correspondence: Shunmoogum A. Patten,
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13
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Lescouzères L, Bordignon B, Bomont P. Development of a high-throughput tailored imaging method in zebrafish to understand and treat neuromuscular diseases. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:956582. [PMID: 36204134 PMCID: PMC9530744 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.956582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a vertebrate species offering multitude of advantages for the study of conserved biological systems in human and has considerably enriched our knowledge in developmental biology and physiology. Being equally important in medical research, the zebrafish has become a critical tool in the fields of diagnosis, gene discovery, disease modeling, and pharmacology-based therapy. Studies on the zebrafish neuromuscular system allowed for deciphering key molecular pathways in this tissue, and established it as a model of choice to study numerous motor neurons, neuromuscular junctions, and muscle diseases. Starting with the similarities of the zebrafish neuromuscular system with the human system, we review disease models associated with the neuromuscular system to focus on current methodologies employed to study them and outline their caveats. In particular, we put in perspective the necessity to develop standardized and high-resolution methodologies that are necessary to deepen our understanding of not only fundamental signaling pathways in a healthy tissue but also the changes leading to disease phenotype outbreaks, and offer templates for high-content screening strategies. While the development of high-throughput methodologies is underway for motility assays, there is no automated approach to quantify the key molecular cues of the neuromuscular junction. Here, we provide a novel high-throughput imaging methodology in the zebrafish that is standardized, highly resolutive, quantitative, and fit for drug screening. By providing a proof of concept for its robustness in identifying novel molecular players and therapeutic drugs in giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) disease, we foresee that this new tool could be useful for both fundamental and biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Lescouzères
- ERC Team, Institut NeuroMyoGéne-PGNM, Inserm U1315, CNRS UMR 5261, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Benoît Bordignon
- Montpellier Ressources Imagerie, BioCampus, CNRS, INSERM, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Pascale Bomont
- ERC Team, Institut NeuroMyoGéne-PGNM, Inserm U1315, CNRS UMR 5261, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- *Correspondence: Pascale Bomont,
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14
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Beyens A, Pottie L, Sips P, Callewaert B. Clinical and Molecular Delineation of Cutis Laxa Syndromes: Paradigms for Homeostasis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1348:273-309. [PMID: 34807425 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-80614-9_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Cutis laxa (CL) syndromes are a large and heterogeneous group of rare connective tissue disorders that share loose redundant skin as a hallmark clinical feature, which reflects dermal elastic fiber fragmentation. Both acquired and congenital-Mendelian- forms exist. Acquired forms are progressive and often preceded by inflammatory triggers in the skin, but may show systemic elastolysis. Mendelian forms are often pleiotropic in nature and classified upon systemic manifestations and mode of inheritance. Though impaired elastogenesis is a common denominator in all Mendelian forms of CL, the underlying gene defects are diverse and affect structural components of the elastic fiber or impair metabolic pathways interfering with cellular trafficking, proline synthesis, or mitochondrial functioning. In this chapter we provide a detailed overview of the clinical and molecular characteristics of the different cutis laxa types and review the latest insights on elastic fiber assembly and homeostasis from both human and animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Beyens
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Dermatology, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lore Pottie
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patrick Sips
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bert Callewaert
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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15
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Spreafico M, Cafora M, Bragato C, Capitanio D, Marasca F, Bodega B, De Palma C, Mora M, Gelfi C, Marozzi A, Pistocchi A. Targeting HDAC8 to ameliorate skeletal muscle differentiation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Pharmacol Res 2021; 170:105750. [PMID: 34214631 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) causes progressive skeletal muscle degeneration and currently there are few therapeutic options. The identification of new drug targets and their validation in model systems of DMD could be a promising approach to make progress in finding new treatments for this lethal disease. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play key roles in myogenesis and the therapeutic approach targeting HDACs in DMD is in an advanced phase of clinical trial. Here, we show that the expression of HDAC8, one of the members of the HDAC family, is increased in DMD patients and dystrophic zebrafish. The selective inhibition of HDAC8 with the PCI-34051 inhibitor rescues skeletal muscle defects, similarly to the treatment with the pan-HDAC inhibitor Givinostat. Through acetylation profile of zebrafish with HDAC8 dysregulation, we identified new HDAC8 targets involved in cytoskeleton organization such as tubulin that, when acetylated, is a marker of stable microtubules. Our work provides evidence of HDAC8 overexpression in DMD patients and zebrafish and supports its specific inhibition as a new valuable therapeutic approach in the treatment of this pathology.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Humans
- Acetylation
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Cell Differentiation
- Disease Models, Animal
- Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Histone Deacetylases/genetics
- Histone Deacetylases/metabolism
- Hydroxamic Acids/pharmacology
- Indoles/pharmacology
- Muscle Development
- Muscle, Skeletal/drug effects
- Muscle, Skeletal/enzymology
- Muscle, Skeletal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/drug therapy
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/enzymology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/genetics
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/pathology
- Protein Processing, Post-Translational
- Repressor Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Repressor Proteins/genetics
- Repressor Proteins/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Zebrafish
- Zebrafish Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Spreafico
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Cafora
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Comunità, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinzia Bragato
- PhD program in Neuroscience, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy; Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Capitanio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Marasca
- Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi" (INGM), Milan, Italy
| | - Beatrice Bodega
- Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi" (INGM), Milan, Italy; Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Clara De Palma
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Mora
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Cecilia Gelfi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Marozzi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Pistocchi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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16
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Rugowska A, Starosta A, Konieczny P. Epigenetic modifications in muscle regeneration and progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:13. [PMID: 33468200 PMCID: PMC7814631 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01001-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a multisystemic disorder that affects 1:5000 boys. The severity of the phenotype varies dependent on the mutation site in the DMD gene and the resultant dystrophin expression profile. In skeletal muscle, dystrophin loss is associated with the disintegration of myofibers and their ineffective regeneration due to defective expansion and differentiation of the muscle stem cell pool. Some of these phenotypic alterations stem from the dystrophin absence-mediated serine-threonine protein kinase 2 (MARK2) misplacement/downregulation in activated muscle stem (satellite) cells and neuronal nitric oxide synthase loss in cells committed to myogenesis. Here, we trace changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and expression of regulatory noncoding RNAs during muscle regeneration, from the stage of satellite cells to myofibers. Furthermore, we describe the abrogation of these epigenetic regulatory processes due to changes in signal transduction in DMD and point to therapeutic treatments increasing the regenerative potential of diseased muscles based on this acquired knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rugowska
- Institute of Human Biology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznan, Poland
| | - Alicja Starosta
- Institute of Human Biology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznan, Poland
| | - Patryk Konieczny
- Institute of Human Biology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznan, Poland.
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17
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Lambert MR, Spinazzola JM, Widrick JJ, Pakula A, Conner JR, Chin JE, Owens JM, Kunkel LM. PDE10A Inhibition Reduces the Manifestation of Pathology in DMD Zebrafish and Represses the Genetic Modifier PITPNA. Mol Ther 2020; 29:1086-1101. [PMID: 33221436 PMCID: PMC7934586 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe genetic disorder caused by mutations in the DMD gene. Absence of dystrophin protein leads to progressive degradation of skeletal and cardiac function and leads to premature death. Over the years, zebrafish have been increasingly used for studying DMD and are a powerful tool for drug discovery and therapeutic development. In our study, a birefringence screening assay led to identification of phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitors that reduced the manifestation of dystrophic muscle phenotype in dystrophin-deficient sapje-like zebrafish larvae. PDE10A has been validated as a therapeutic target by pde10a morpholino-mediated reduction in muscle pathology and improvement in locomotion, muscle, and vascular function as well as long-term survival in sapje-like larvae. PDE10A inhibition in zebrafish and DMD patient-derived myoblasts were also associated with reduction of PITPNA expression that has been previously identified as a protective genetic modifier in two exceptional dystrophin-deficient golden retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) dogs that escaped the dystrophic phenotype. The combination of a phenotypic assay and relevant functional assessments in the sapje-like zebrafish enhances the potential for the prospective discovery of DMD therapeutics. Indeed, our results suggest a new application for a PDE10A inhibitor as a potential DMD therapeutic to be investigated in a mouse model of DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias R Lambert
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Janelle M Spinazzola
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Widrick
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anna Pakula
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - James R Conner
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Janice E Chin
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jane M Owens
- Rare Disease Research Unit, Pfizer, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Louis M Kunkel
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, 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.
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