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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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2
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Gilbert G, Kadur Nagaraju C, Duelen R, Amoni M, Bobin P, Eschenhagen T, Roderick HL, Sampaolesi M, Sipido KR. Incomplete Assembly of the Dystrophin-Associated Protein Complex in 2D and 3D-Cultured Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:737840. [PMID: 34805146 PMCID: PMC8599983 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.737840] [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: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) are increasingly used to study genetic diseases on a human background. However, the lack of a fully mature adult cardiomyocyte phenotype of hiPSC-CM may be limiting the scope of these studies. Muscular dystrophies and concomitant cardiomyopathies result from mutations in genes encoding proteins of the dystrophin-associated protein complex (DAPC), which is a multi-protein membrane-spanning complex. We examined the expression of DAPC components in hiPSC-CM, which underwent maturation in 2D and 3D culture protocols. The results were compared with human adult cardiac tissue and isolated cardiomyocytes. We found that similarly to adult cardiomyocytes, hiPSC-CM express dystrophin, in line with previous studies on Duchenne’s disease. β-dystroglycan was also expressed, but, contrary to findings in adult cardiomyocytes, none of the sarcoglycans nor α-dystroglycan were, despite the presence of their mRNA. In conclusion, despite the robust expression of dystrophin, the absence of several other DAPC protein components cautions for reliance on commonly used protocols for hiPSC-CM maturation for functional assessment of the complete DAPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Gilbert
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chandan Kadur Nagaraju
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robin Duelen
- Laboratory of Translational Cardiomyology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthew Amoni
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pierre Bobin
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Eschenhagen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - H Llewelyn Roderick
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maurilio Sampaolesi
- Laboratory of Translational Cardiomyology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karin R Sipido
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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3
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Elhussieny A, Nogami K, Sakai-Takemura F, Maruyama Y, Takemura N, Soliman WT, Takeda S, Miyagoe-Suzuki Y. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells improve the engraftment of myogenic cells by secreting urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:532. [PMID: 34627382 PMCID: PMC8501581 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02594-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe X-linked recessive disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Transplantation of myogenic stem cells holds great promise for treating muscular dystrophies. However, poor engraftment of myogenic stem cells limits the therapeutic effects of cell therapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been reported to secrete soluble factors necessary for skeletal muscle growth and regeneration. Methods We induced MSC-like cells (iMSCs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and examined the effects of iMSCs on the proliferation and differentiation of human myogenic cells and on the engraftment of human myogenic cells in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of NSG-mdx4Cv mice, an immunodeficient dystrophin-deficient DMD model. We also examined the cytokines secreted by iMSCs and tested their effects on the engraftment of human myogenic cells. Results iMSCs promoted the proliferation and differentiation of human myogenic cells to the same extent as bone marrow-derived (BM)-MSCs in coculture experiments. In cell transplantation experiments, iMSCs significantly improved the engraftment of human myogenic cells injected into the TA muscle of NSG-mdx4Cv mice. Cytokine array analysis revealed that iMSCs produced insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) at higher levels than did BM-MSCs. We further found that uPAR stimulates the migration of human myogenic cells in vitro and promotes their engraftment into the TA muscles of immunodeficient NOD/Scid mice. Conclusions Our results indicate that iMSCs are a new tool to improve the engraftment of myogenic progenitors in dystrophic muscle. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-021-02594-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Elhussieny
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Ken'ichiro Nogami
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Fusako Sakai-Takemura
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, Japan
| | - Yusuke Maruyama
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, Japan.,Department of Gene Regulation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, 278-8510, Japan
| | - Natsumi Takemura
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, Japan
| | - Wael Talaat Soliman
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Shin'ichi Takeda
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, Japan
| | - Yuko Miyagoe-Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, Japan.
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4
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Wilburn DT, Machek SB, Zechmann B, Willoughby DS. Comparison of skeletal muscle ultrastructural changes between normal and blood flow-restricted resistance exercise: A case report. Exp Physiol 2021; 106:2177-2184. [PMID: 34438467 DOI: 10.1113/ep089858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the main observation in this case? The main observation of this case report is that blood flow-restricted exercise can cause myofibrils to have an aberrant wave-like appearance that is accompanied by irregular pockets of sarcoplasm in the intermyofibrillar space, while traditional forms of damage to the Z-discs and contractile elements are not as apparent. What insights does it reveal? Our findings indicate that blood flow restriction-mediated fluid pooling might cause alterations in skeletal muscle ultrastructure after exercise that might be directly related to myofibre swelling. ABSTRACT The acute effects of blood flow-restricted (BFR) exercise training on skeletal muscle ultrastructure are poorly understood owing to inconsistent findings and the use of largely imprecise systemic markers for indications of muscle damage. The purpose of this study was to compare myofibrillar ultrastructure before and 30 min after normal and BFR resistance exercise using transmission electron microscopy in a single individual to evaluate the feasibility of this more nuanced approach. One apparently healthy male with 13 years of resistance exercise completed six sets of both BFR [30% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM)] and normal non-occluded (70% of 1-RM) unilateral angled leg press on the contralateral leg, as a control, after assessment of 1-RM 72 h before. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were collected before and 30 min after each exercise session. The lengths and widths of 250 sarcomeres and the sarcoplasmic area were assessed via 20 individual transmission electron photomicrographs. Analysis revealed that BFR training (1.769 ± 0.12 μm) increased sarcomere length when compared with normal exercise (1.64 ± 0.17 μm; P < 0.001), without differences in sarcomere width between conditions (BFR, 0.90 ± 0.26 μm; normal, 0.93 ± 0.27 μm; P = 0.172). Furthermore, there were no significant interaction (P = 0.168) or condition effects between BFR (25.98 ± 4.17%) and normal (27.3 ± 6.49%) resistance exercise for sarcoplasmic area (P = 0.229). Exercise also increased sarcoplasmic area within the myofibril (pre-exercise, 24.42 ± 5.13%; postexercise, 28.95 ± 5.92%) for both conditions (P = 0.001). This case study demonstrates a unique BFR training-induced alteration in myofibril ultrastructure that appeared wave like and was accompanied by intracellular abnormalities that appeared to be fluid pockets of sarcoplasm disrupting the surrounding myofibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan T Wilburn
- Exercise & Biochemical Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Health, Human Performance & Recreation, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Steven B Machek
- Exercise & Biochemical Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Health, Human Performance & Recreation, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Bernd Zechmann
- Center for Microscopy and Imaging, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Darryn S Willoughby
- School of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, Texas, USA
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5
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Nogami K, Maruyama Y, Sakai-Takemura F, Motohashi N, Elhussieny A, Imamura M, Miyashita S, Ogawa M, Noguchi S, Tamura Y, Kira JI, Aoki Y, Takeda S, Miyagoe-Suzuki Y. Pharmacological activation of SERCA ameliorates dystrophic phenotypes in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:1006-1019. [PMID: 33822956 PMCID: PMC8170845 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscular weakness because of the loss of dystrophin. Extracellular Ca2+ flows into the cytoplasm through membrane tears in dystrophin-deficient myofibers, which leads to muscle contracture and necrosis. Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) takes up cytosolic Ca2+ into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, but its activity is decreased in dystrophic muscle. Here, we show that an allosteric SERCA activator, CDN1163, ameliorates dystrophic phenotypes in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. The administration of CDN1163 prevented exercise-induced muscular damage and restored mitochondrial function. In addition, treatment with CDN1163 for 7 weeks enhanced muscular strength and reduced muscular degeneration and fibrosis in mdx mice. Our findings provide preclinical proof-of-concept evidence that pharmacological activation of SERCA could be a promising therapeutic strategy for DMD. Moreover, CDN1163 improved muscular strength surprisingly in wild-type mice, which may pave the new way for the treatment of muscular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken'ichiro Nogami
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yusuke Maruyama
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Gene Regulation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba, Japan
| | - Fusako Sakai-Takemura
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norio Motohashi
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ahmed Elhussieny
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Michihiro Imamura
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Miyashita
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Megumu Ogawa
- Department of Neuromuscular Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medical Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Noguchi
- Department of Neuromuscular Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, Translational Medical Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Clinical Development, Translational Medical Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Tamura
- Graduate School of Health and Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan.,Research Institute for Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Kira
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Aoki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Yuko Miyagoe-Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
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6
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Bulakh MV, Ryzhkova OP, Polyakov AV. Sarcoglycanopathies: Clinical, Molecular and Genetic Characteristics, Epidemiology, Diagnostics and Treatment Options. RUSS J GENET+ 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795418020059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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7
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Kanagawa M, Toda T. Ribitol-phosphate—a newly identified posttranslational glycosylation unit in mammals: structure, modification enzymes and relationship to human diseases. J Biochem 2018; 163:359-369. [DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvy020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Motoi Kanagawa
- Division of Molecular Brain Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan
| | - Tatsushi Toda
- Division of Molecular Brain Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
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8
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Dystrophin expression in an Egyptian family suffering from muscular dystrophy. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1097/01.xej.0000484375.57170.ca] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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9
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Nigro V, Piluso G. Spectrum of muscular dystrophies associated with sarcolemmal-protein genetic defects. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2014; 1852:585-93. [PMID: 25086336 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2014.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Revised: 07/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Muscular dystrophies are heterogeneous genetic disorders that share progressive muscle wasting. This may generate partial impairment of motility as well as a dramatic and fatal course. Less than 30 years ago, the identification of the genetic basis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy opened a new era. An explosion of new information on the mechanisms of disease was witnessed, with many thousands of publications and the characterization of dozens of other genetic forms. Genes mutated in muscular dystrophies encode proteins of the plasma membrane and extracellular matrix, several of which are part of the dystrophin-associated complex. Other gene products localize at the sarcomere and Z band, or are nuclear membrane components. In the present review, we focus on muscular dystrophies caused by defects that affect the sarcolemmal and sub-sarcolemmal proteins. We summarize the nature of each disease, the genetic cause, and the pathogenic pathways that may suggest future treatment options. We examine X-linked Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies and the autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophies caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcolemmal proteins. The mechanism of muscle damage is reviewed starting from disarray of the shock-absorbing dystrophin-associated complex at the sarcolemma and activation of inflammatory response up to the final stages of fibrosis. We trace only a part of the biochemical, physiopathological and clinical aspects of muscular dystrophy to avoid a lengthy list of different and conflicting observations. We attempt to provide a critical synthesis of what we consider important aspects to better understand the disease. In our opinion, it is becoming ever more important to go back to the bedside to validate and then translate each proposed mechanism. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Neuromuscular Diseases: Pathology and Molecular Pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Nigro
- Dipartimento di Biochimica, Biofisica e Patologia Generale, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, via Luigi De Crecchio 7, 80138 Napoli, Italy; Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Giulio Piluso
- Dipartimento di Biochimica, Biofisica e Patologia Generale, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, via Luigi De Crecchio 7, 80138 Napoli, Italy; Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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10
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Zhu JF, Liu HH, Zhou T, Tian L. Novel mutation in exon 56 of the dystrophin gene in a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Int J Mol Med 2013; 32:1166-70. [PMID: 24065205 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2013.1498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne type muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an allelic X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin. Genotype analysis has shown that deletion mutations account for approximately 65% of all cases, and 5-10% are duplications, while the remaining 30% of affected individuals may have smaller mutations, including point mutations, small deletions or small insertions. In this study, we present the case of a 4-year-old boy with typical clinical features of DMD, who developed normally until the age of 2. However, at age 3 he presented his first symptom, a tendency to fall, had difficulty in rising from the floor and in walking on his toes. At age 4 he had a waddling gait and could no longer climb stairs. A physical examination revealed proximal muscle weakness, calf hypertrophy, deep tendon hyporflexia and a positive Gower's sign. To identify the disease-causing gene in the proband, all coding regions (exons 1-79) of the dystrophin gene were PCR-amplified and sequenced. A novel duplication (c.8284dupA) in exon 56 of the dystrophin gene was identified, which was predicted to generate a frameshift mutation and create a premature termination codon (p.Ile2762Asnfs*10). This mutation was further confirmed by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, which revealed an extra band found in exon 56 of the dystrophin in the proband; however, this was not present in his family members or in the 100 matched normal controls. The data presented in this study may aid in expanding the spectrum of mutations causing DMD. To our knowledge, we demonstrate for the first time that a small duplication mutation can cause severe DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Fang Zhu
- Central Laboratory of Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
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11
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Development of multiexon skipping antisense oligonucleotide therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:402369. [PMID: 23984357 PMCID: PMC3747431 DOI: 10.1155/2013/402369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an incurable, X-linked progressive muscle degenerative disorder that results from the absence of dystrophin protein and leads to premature death in affected individuals due to respiratory and/or cardiac failure typically by age of 30. Very recently the exciting prospect of an effective oligonucleotide therapy has emerged which restores dystrophin protein expression to affected tissues in DMD patients with highly promising data from a series of clinical trials. This therapeutic approach is highly mutation specific and thus is personalised. Therefore DMD has emerged as a model genetic disorder for understanding and overcoming of the challenges of developing personalised genetic medicines. One of the greatest weaknesses of the current oligonucleotide approach is that it is a mutation-specific therapy. To address this limitation, we have recently demonstrated that exons 45–55 skipping therapy has the potential to treat clusters of mutations that cause DMD, which could significantly reduce the number of compounds that would need to be developed in order to successfully treat all DMD patients. Here we discuss and review the latest preclinical work in this area as well as a variety of accompanying issues, including efficacy and potential toxicity of antisense oligonucleotides, prior to human clinical trials.
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12
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Aoki Y, Nagata T, Yokota T, Nakamura A, Wood MJA, Partridge T, Takeda S. Highly efficient in vivo delivery of PMO into regenerating myotubes and rescue in laminin-α2 chain-null congenital muscular dystrophy mice. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 22:4914-28. [PMID: 23882132 PMCID: PMC7108576 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO)-mediated exon skipping is among the more promising approaches to the treatment of several neuromuscular disorders including Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The main weakness of this approach arises from the low efficiency and sporadic nature of the delivery of charge-neutral PMO into muscle fibers, the mechanism of which is unknown. In this study, to test our hypothesis that muscle fibers take up PMO more efficiently during myotube formation, we induced synchronous muscle regeneration by injection of cardiotoxin into the tibialis anterior muscle of Dmd exon 52-deficient mdx52 and wild-type mice. Interestingly, by in situ hybridization, we detected PMO mainly in embryonic myosin heavy chain-positive regenerating fibers. In addition, we showed that PMO or 2′-O-methyl phosphorothioate is taken up efficiently into C2C12 myotubes when transfected 24–72 h after the induction of differentiation but is poorly taken up into undifferentiated C2C12 myoblasts suggesting efficient uptake of PMO in the early stages of C2C12 myotube formation. Next, we tested the therapeutic potential of PMO for laminin-α2 chain-null dy3K/dy3K mice: a model of merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy (MDC1A) with active muscle regeneration. We confirmed the recovery of laminin-α2 chain and slightly prolonged life span following skipping of the mutated exon 4 in dy3K/dy3K mice. These findings support the idea that PMO entry into fibers is dependent on a developmental stage in myogenesis rather than on dystrophinless muscle membranes and provide a platform for developing PMO-mediated therapies for a variety of muscular disorders, such as MDC1A, that involve active muscle regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitsugu Aoki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Ogawa-Higashi 4-1-1, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
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13
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Mosqueira M, Zeiger U, Förderer M, Brinkmeier H, Fink RHA. Cardiac and respiratory dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the role of second messengers. Med Res Rev 2013; 33:1174-213. [PMID: 23633235 DOI: 10.1002/med.21279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) affects young boys and is characterized by the absence of dystrophin, a large cytoskeletal protein present in skeletal and cardiac muscle cells and neurons. The heart and diaphragm become necrotic in DMD patients and animal models of DMD, resulting in cardiorespiratory failure as the leading cause of death. The major consequences of the absence of dystrophin are high levels of intracellular Ca(2+) and the unbalanced production of NO that can finally trigger protein degradation and cell death. Cytoplasmic increase in Ca(2+) concentration directly and indirectly triggers different processes such as necrosis, fibrosis, and activation of macrophages. The absence of the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the overproduction of NO by the inducible isoform (iNOS) further increase the intracellular Ca(2+) via a hypernitrosylation of the ryanodine receptor. NO overproduction, which further induces the expression of iNOS but decreases the expression of the endothelial isoform (eNOS), deregulates the muscle tissue blood flow creating an ischemic situation. The high levels of Ca(2+) in dystrophic muscles and the ischemic state of the muscle tissue would culminate in a positive feedback loop. While efforts continue toward optimizing cardiac and respiratory care of DMD patients, both Ca(2+) and NO in cardiac and respiratory muscle pathways have been shown to be important to the etiology of the disease. Understanding the mechanisms behind the fine regulation of Ca(2+) -NO may be important for a noninterventional and noninvasive supportive approach to treat DMD patients, improving the quality of life and natural history of DMD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias Mosqueira
- Medical Biophysics Unit, Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, INF326, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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14
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Aoki Y, Nagata T, Takeda S. New Approach for Antisense Oligonucleotide-Mediated Exon Skipping in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. JOURNAL OF ADVANCED COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND INTELLIGENT INFORMATICS 2012. [DOI: 10.20965/jaciii.2012.p0521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a lethalmuscle disorder characterized by mutations in the DMD gene. These mutations primarily disrupt the reading frame, resulting in the absence of functional dystrophin protein. Exon skipping, which involves the use of antisense oligonucleotides is a promising therapeutic approach for DMD, and clinical trials on exon skipping are currently underway in DMD patients. Recently, stable and less-toxic antisense oligonucleotides with higher efficacy have been developed in mouse and dog models of DMD. This review highlights a new approach for antisense oligonucleotide-based therapeutics for DMD, particularly for exon skipping-based methods.
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15
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Anthony K, Cirak S, Torelli S, Tasca G, Feng L, Arechavala-Gomeza V, Armaroli A, Guglieri M, Straathof CS, Verschuuren JJ, Aartsma-Rus A, Helderman-van den Enden P, Bushby K, Straub V, Sewry C, Ferlini A, Ricci E, Morgan JE, Muntoni F. Dystrophin quantification and clinical correlations in Becker muscular dystrophy: implications for clinical trials. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 134:3547-59. [PMID: 22102647 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awr291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by mutations in the DMD gene that disrupt the open reading frame and prevent the full translation of its protein product, dystrophin. Restoration of the open reading frame and dystrophin production can be achieved by exon skipping using antisense oligonucleotides targeted to splicing elements. This approach aims to transform the Duchenne muscular dystrophy phenotype to that of the milder disorder, Becker muscular dystrophy, typically caused by in-frame dystrophin deletions that allow the production of an internally deleted but partially functional dystrophin. There is ongoing debate regarding the functional properties of the different internally deleted dystrophins produced by exon skipping for different mutations; more insight would be valuable to improve and better predict the outcome of exon skipping clinical trials. To this end, we have characterized the clinical phenotype of 17 patients with Becker muscular dystrophy harbouring in-frame deletions relevant to on-going or planned exon skipping clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and correlated it to the levels of dystrophin, and dystrophin-associated protein expression. The cohort of 17 patients, selected exclusively on the basis of their genotype, included 4 asymptomatic, 12 mild and 1 severe patient. All patients had dystrophin levels of >40% of control and significantly higher dystrophin (P = 0.013), β-dystroglycan (P = 0.025) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (P = 0.034) expression was observed in asymptomatic individuals versus symptomatic patients with Becker muscular dystrophy. Furthermore, grouping the patients by deletion, patients with Becker muscular dystrophy with deletions with an end-point of exon 51 (the skipping of which could rescue the largest group of Duchenne muscular dystrophy deletions) showed significantly higher dystrophin levels (P = 0.034) than those with deletions ending with exon 53. This is the first quantitative study on both dystrophin and dystrophin-associated protein expression in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy with deletions relevant for on-going exon skipping trials in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Taken together, our results indicate that all varieties of internally deleted dystrophin assessed in this study have the functional capability to provide a substantial clinical benefit to patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Anthony
- The Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL, Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
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Ozawa E. Regulation of phosphorylase kinase by low concentrations of Ca ions upon muscle contraction: the connection between metabolism and muscle contraction and the connection between muscle physiology and Ca-dependent signal transduction. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2011; 87:486-508. [PMID: 21986313 PMCID: PMC3309122 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.87.486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2011] [Accepted: 08/25/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
It had long been one of the crucial questions in muscle physiology how glycogenolysis is regulated in connection with muscle contraction, when we found the answer to this question in the last half of the 1960s. By that time, the two principal currents of muscle physiology, namely, the metabolic flow starting from glycogen and the mechanisms of muscle contraction, had already been clarified at the molecular level thanks to our senior researchers. Thus, the final question we had to answer was how to connect these two currents. We found that low concentrations of Ca ions (10(-7)-10(-4) M) released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum for the regulation of muscle contraction simultaneously reversibly activate phosphorylase kinase, the enzyme regulating glycogenolysis. Moreover, we found that adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), which is already known to activate muscle phosphorylase kinase, is not effective in the absence of such concentrations of Ca ions. Thus, cyclic AMP is not effective by itself alone and only modifies the activation process in the presence of Ca ions (at that time, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase had not yet been identified). After a while, it turned out that our works have not only provided the solution to the above problem on muscle physiology, but have also been considered as the first report of Ca-dependent protein phosphorylation, which is one of the central problems in current cell biology. Phosphorylase kinase is the first protein kinase to phosphorylate a protein resulting in the change in the function of the phosphorylated protein, as shown by Krebs and Fischer. Our works further showed that this protein kinase is regulated in a Ca-dependent manner. Accordingly, our works introduced the concept of low concentrations of Ca ions, which were first identified as the regulatory substance of muscle contraction, to the vast field of Ca biology including signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eijiro Ozawa
- National Center of Neuroscience, NCNP, Tokyo, Japan.
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