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Gomatam CK, Ingale P, Rodriguez G, Munger S, Pomeranets R, Krishna S, Lowe J, Howard ZM, Rafael-Fortney JA. Cell-type specific effects of mineralocorticoid receptor gene expression suggest intercellular communication regulating fibrosis in skeletal muscle disease. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1322729. [PMID: 38737833 PMCID: PMC11082420 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1322729] [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: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal striated muscle degenerative disease. DMD is caused by loss of dystrophin protein, which results in sarcolemmal instability and cycles of myofiber degeneration and regeneration. Pathology is exacerbated by overactivation of infiltrating immune cells and fibroblasts, which leads to chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Mineralocorticoid receptors (MR), a type of nuclear steroid hormone receptors, are potential therapeutic targets for DMD. MR antagonists show clinical efficacy on DMD cardiomyopathy and preclinical efficacy on skeletal muscle in DMD models. Methods: We have previously generated myofiber and myeloid MR knockout mouse models to dissect cell-specific functions of MR within dystrophic muscles. Here, we compared skeletal muscle gene expression from both knockouts to further define cell-type specific signaling downstream from MR. Results: Myeloid MR knockout increased proinflammatory and profibrotic signaling, including numerous myofibroblast signature genes. Tenascin C was the most highly upregulated fibrotic gene in myeloid MR-knockout skeletal muscle and is a component of fibrosis in dystrophic skeletal muscle. Surprisingly, lysyl oxidase (Lox), canonically a collagen crosslinker, was increased in both MR knockouts, but did not localize to fibrotic regions of skeletal muscle. Lox localized within myofibers, including only a region of quadriceps muscles. Lysyl oxidase like 1 (Loxl1), another Lox family member, was increased only in myeloid MR knockout muscle and localized specifically to fibrotic regions. Discussion: This study suggests that MR signaling in the dystrophic muscle microenvironment involves communication between contributing cell types and modulates inflammatory and fibrotic pathways in muscle disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jill A. Rafael-Fortney
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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2
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Piepho AB, Lowe J, Cumby LR, Dorn LE, Lake DM, Rastogi N, Gertzen MD, Sturgill SL, Odom GL, Ziolo MT, Accornero F, Chamberlain JS, Rafael-Fortney JA. Micro-dystrophin gene therapy demonstrates long-term cardiac efficacy in a severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy model. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 28:344-354. [PMID: 36874243 PMCID: PMC9981810 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Micro-dystrophin gene replacement therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are currently in clinical trials, but have not been thoroughly investigated for their efficacy on cardiomyopathy progression to heart failure. We previously validated Fiona/dystrophin-utrophin-deficient (dko) mice as a DMD cardiomyopathy model that progresses to reduced ejection fraction indicative of heart failure. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector delivery of an early generation micro-dystrophin prevented cardiac pathology and functional decline through 1 year of age in this new model. We now show that gene therapy using a micro-dystrophin optimized for skeletal muscle efficacy (AAV-μDys5), and which is currently in a clinical trial, is able to fully prevent cardiac pathology and cardiac strain abnormalities and maintain normal (>45%) ejection fraction through 18 months of age in Fiona/dko mice. Early treatment with AAV-μDys5 prevents inflammation and fibrosis in Fiona/dko hearts. Collagen in cardiac fibrotic scars becomes more tightly packed from 12 to 18 months in Fiona/dko mice, but the area of fibrosis containing tenascin C does not change. Increased tight collagen correlates with unexpected improvements in Fiona/dko whole-heart function that maintain impaired cardiac strain and strain rate. This study supports micro-dystrophin gene therapy as a promising intervention for preventing DMD cardiomyopathy progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arden B. Piepho
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology and Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Jeovanna Lowe
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology and Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Laurel R. Cumby
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology and Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Lisa E. Dorn
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology and Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Dana M. Lake
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology and Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Neha Rastogi
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology and Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Megan D. Gertzen
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology and Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Sarah L. Sturgill
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology and Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Guy L. Odom
- Department of Neurology and Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Mark T. Ziolo
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology and Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Federica Accornero
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology and Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Jeffrey S. Chamberlain
- Department of Neurology and Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Jill A. Rafael-Fortney
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology and Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
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3
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Howard ZM, Gomatam CK, Piepho AB, Rafael-Fortney JA. Mineralocorticoid Receptor Signaling in the Inflammatory Skeletal Muscle Microenvironments of Muscular Dystrophy and Acute Injury. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:942660. [PMID: 35837290 PMCID: PMC9273774 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.942660] [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: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a striated muscle degenerative disease due to loss of functional dystrophin protein. Loss of dystrophin results in susceptibility of muscle membranes to damage, leading to muscle degeneration and continuous inflammation and fibrosis that further exacerbate pathology. Long-term glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonist treatment, the current standard-of-care for DMD, modestly improves prognosis but has serious side effects. The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), a ligand-activated transcription factor present in many cell types, has been implicated as a therapeutic target for DMD. MR antagonists (MRAs) have fewer side effects than GR agonists and are used clinically for heart failure. MRA efficacy has recently been demonstrated for DMD cardiomyopathy and in preclinical studies, MRAs also alleviate dystrophic skeletal muscle pathology. MRAs lead to improvements in muscle force and membrane stability and reductions in degeneration, inflammation, and fibrosis in dystrophic muscles. Myofiber-specific MR knockout leads to most of these improvements, supporting an MR-dependent mechanism of action, but MRAs additionally stabilize myofiber membranes in an MR-independent manner. Immune cell MR signaling in dystrophic and acutely injured normal muscle contributes to wound healing, and myeloid-specific MR knockout is detrimental. More research is needed to fully elucidate MR signaling in striated muscle microenvironments. Direct comparisons of genomic and non-genomic effects of glucocorticoids and MRAs on skeletal muscles and heart will contribute to optimal temporal use of these drugs, since they compete for binding conserved receptors. Despite the advent of genetic medicines, therapies targeting inflammation and fibrosis will be necessary to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
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4
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Howard ZM, Rastogi N, Lowe J, Hauck JS, Ingale P, Gomatam C, Gomez-Sanchez CE, Gomez-Sanchez EP, Bansal SS, Rafael-Fortney JA. Myeloid mineralocorticoid receptors contribute to skeletal muscle repair in muscular dystrophy and acute muscle injury. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 322:C354-C369. [PMID: 35044859 PMCID: PMC8858682 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00411.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Suppressing mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activity with MR antagonists is therapeutic for chronic skeletal muscle pathology in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) mouse models. Although mechanisms underlying clinical MR antagonist efficacy for DMD cardiomyopathy and other cardiac diseases are defined, mechanisms in skeletal muscles are not fully elucidated. Myofiber MR knockout improves skeletal muscle force and a subset of dystrophic pathology. However, MR signaling in myeloid cells is known to be a major contributor to cardiac efficacy. To define contributions of myeloid MR in skeletal muscle function and disease, we performed parallel assessments of muscle pathology, cytokine levels, and myeloid cell populations resulting from myeloid MR genetic knockout in muscular dystrophy and acute muscle injury. Myeloid MR knockout led to lower levels of C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2)-expressing macrophages, resulting in sustained myofiber damage after acute injury of normal muscle. In acute injury, myeloid MR knockout also led to increased local muscle levels of the enzyme that produces the endogenous MR agonist aldosterone, further supporting important contributions of MR signaling in normal muscle repair. In muscular dystrophy, myeloid MR knockout altered cytokine levels differentially between quadriceps and diaphragm muscles, which contain different myeloid populations. Myeloid MR knockout led to higher levels of fibrosis in dystrophic diaphragm. These results support important contributions of myeloid MR signaling to skeletal muscle repair in acute and chronic injuries and highlight the useful information gained from cell-specific genetic knockouts to delineate mechanisms of pharmacological efficacy.
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MESH Headings
- Aldosterone/metabolism
- Animals
- Barium Compounds
- Chlorides
- Cytokines/genetics
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Diaphragm/immunology
- Diaphragm/metabolism
- Diaphragm/pathology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Female
- Fibrosis
- Macrophages/immunology
- Macrophages/metabolism
- Male
- Mice, Inbred mdx
- Mice, Knockout
- Muscular Diseases/chemically induced
- Muscular Diseases/immunology
- Muscular Diseases/metabolism
- Muscular Diseases/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/genetics
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/immunology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/metabolism
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/pathology
- Quadriceps Muscle/immunology
- Quadriceps Muscle/metabolism
- Quadriceps Muscle/pathology
- Receptors, CCR2/genetics
- Receptors, CCR2/metabolism
- Receptors, Mineralocorticoid/genetics
- Receptors, Mineralocorticoid/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary M Howard
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Neha Rastogi
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jeovanna Lowe
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - J Spencer Hauck
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Pratham Ingale
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Chetan Gomatam
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Celso E Gomez-Sanchez
- Jackson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Elise P Gomez-Sanchez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Shyam S Bansal
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jill A Rafael-Fortney
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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5
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Rodriguez-Gonzalez M, Lubian-Gutierrez M, Cascales-Poyatos HM, Perez-Reviriego AA, Castellano-Martinez A. Role of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System in Dystrophin-Deficient Cardiomyopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010356. [PMID: 33396334 PMCID: PMC7796305 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy (DDC) is currently the leading cause of death in patients with dystrophinopathies. Targeting myocardial fibrosis (MF) has become a major therapeutic goal in order to prevent the occurrence of DDC. We aimed to review and summarize the current evidence about the role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the development and perpetuation of MF in DCC. We conducted a comprehensive search of peer-reviewed English literature on PubMed about this subject. We found increasing preclinical evidence from studies in animal models during the last 20 years pointing out a central role of RAAS in the development of MF in DDC. Local tissue RAAS acts directly mainly through its main fibrotic component angiotensin II (ANG2) and its transducer receptor (AT1R) and downstream TGF-b pathway. Additionally, it modulates the actions of most of the remaining pro-fibrotic factors involved in DDC. Despite limited clinical evidence, RAAS blockade constitutes the most studied, available and promising therapeutic strategy against MF and DDC. Conclusion: Based on the evidence reviewed, it would be recommendable to start RAAS blockade therapy through angiotensin converter enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or AT1R blockers (ARBs) alone or in combination with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRa) at the youngest age after the diagnosis of dystrophinopathies, in order to delay the occurrence or slow the progression of MF, even before the detection of any cardiovascular alteration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moises Rodriguez-Gonzalez
- Pediatric Cardiology Division of Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INiBICA), Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-956002700
| | - Manuel Lubian-Gutierrez
- Pediatric Neurology Division of Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain;
- Pediatric Division of Doctor Cayetano Roldan Primary Care Center, 11100 San Fernando, Spain
| | | | | | - Ana Castellano-Martinez
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INiBICA), Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain;
- Pediatric Nephrology Division of Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cadiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
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6
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Peczkowski KK, Rastogi N, Lowe J, Floyd KT, Schultz EJ, Karaze T, Davis JP, Rafael-Fortney JA, Janssen PML. Muscle Twitch Kinetics Are Dependent on Muscle Group, Disease State, and Age in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Mouse Models. Front Physiol 2020; 11:568909. [PMID: 33101056 PMCID: PMC7545010 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.568909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked disorder caused by the lack of functional dystrophin protein. In muscular dystrophy preclinical research, it is pertinent to analyze the force of the muscles affected by the disease to assess pathology and potential effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. Although muscles function at sub-maximal levels in vivo, maximal tetanic contractions are most commonly used to assess and report muscle function in muscular dystrophy studies. At submaximal activation, the kinetics of contraction and relaxation are heavily impacted by the kinetics of the single twitch. However, maximal tetanic force is often the main, if not sole, outcome measured in most studies, while contractile kinetics are rarely reported. To investigate the effect of muscle disease on twitch contraction kinetics, isolated diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of 10-, 20-week, “het” (dystrophin deficient and utrophin haplo-insufficient), and 52-week mdx (dystrophin deficient) mice were analyzed and compared to wild-type controls. We observed that twitch contractile kinetics are dependent on muscle type, age, and disease state. Specific findings include that diaphragm from wildtype mice has a greater time to 50% relaxation (RT50) than time to peak tension (TTP) compared to the het and mdx dystrophic models, where there is a similar TTP compared to RT50. Diaphragm twitch kinetics remain virtually unchanged with age, while the EDL from het and mdx mice initially has a greater RT50 than TTP, but the TTP increases with age. The difference between EDL contractile kinetics of dystrophic and wildtype mice is more prominent at young age. Differences in kinetics yielded greater statistical significance compared to previously published force measurements, thus, using kinetics as an outcome parameter could potentially allow for use of smaller experimental groups in future study designs. Although this study focused on DMD models, our findings may be applicable to other skeletal muscle conditions and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra K Peczkowski
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Neha Rastogi
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jeovanna Lowe
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Kyle T Floyd
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Eric J Schultz
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Tallib Karaze
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jonathan P Davis
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jill A Rafael-Fortney
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Paul M L Janssen
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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7
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Lowe J, Kolkhof P, Haupt MJ, Peczkowski KK, Rastogi N, Hauck JS, Kadakia FK, Zins JG, Ciccone PC, Smart S, Sandner P, Raman SV, Janssen PML, Rafael-Fortney JA. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism by finerenone is sufficient to improve function in preclinical muscular dystrophy. ESC Heart Fail 2020; 7:3983-3995. [PMID: 32945624 PMCID: PMC7754779 DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.12996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X‐linked inherited disease due to dystrophin deficiency causing skeletal and cardiac muscle dysfunction. Affected patients lose ambulation by age 12 and usually die in the second to third decades of life from cardiac and respiratory failure. Symptomatic treatment includes the use of anti‐inflammatory corticosteroids, which are associated with side effects including weight gain, osteoporosis, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Novel treatment options include blockade of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, because angiotensin as well as aldosterone contribute to persistent inflammation and fibrosis, and aldosterone blockade represents an efficacious anti‐fibrotic approach in cardiac failure. Recent preclinical findings enabled successful clinical testing of a combination of steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in DMD boys. The efficacy of MRAs alone on dystrophic skeletal muscle and heart has not been investigated. Here, we tested efficacy of the novel non‐steroidal MRA finerenone as a monotherapy in a preclinical DMD model. Methods and results The dystrophin‐deficient, utrophin haploinsufficient mouse model of DMD was treated with finerenone and compared with untreated dystrophic and wild‐type controls. Grip strength, electrocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, muscle force measurements, histological quantification, and gene expression studies were performed. Finerenone treatment alone resulted in significant improvements in clinically relevant functional parameters in both skeletal muscle and heart. Normalized grip strength in rested dystrophic mice treated with finerenone (40.3 ± 1.0 mN/g) was significantly higher (P = 0.0182) compared with untreated dystrophic mice (35.2 ± 1.5 mN/g). Fatigued finerenone‐treated dystrophic mice showed an even greater relative improvement (P = 0.0003) in normalized grip strength (37.5 ± 1.1 mN/g) compared with untreated mice (29.7 ± 1.1 mN/g). Finerenone treatment also led to significantly lower (P = 0.0075) susceptibility to limb muscle damage characteristic of DMD measured during a contraction‐induced injury protocol. Normalized limb muscle force after five lengthening contractions resulted in retention of 71 ± 7% of baseline force in finerenone‐treated compared with only 51 ± 4% in untreated dystrophic mice. Finerenone treatment also prevented significant reductions in myocardial strain rate (P = 0.0409), the earliest sign of DMD cardiomyopathy. Moreover, treatment with finerenone led to very specific cardiac gene expression changes in clock genes that might modify cardiac pathophysiology in this DMD model. Conclusions Finerenone administered as a monotherapy is disease modifying for both skeletal muscle and heart in a preclinical DMD model. These findings support further evaluation of finerenone in DMD clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeovanna Lowe
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Peter Kolkhof
- R&D Preclinical Research Cardiovascular, Bayer AG, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Michael J Haupt
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Kyra K Peczkowski
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Neha Rastogi
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - J Spencer Hauck
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Feni K Kadakia
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Jonathan G Zins
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Pierce C Ciccone
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Suzanne Smart
- Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Peter Sandner
- R&D Preclinical Research Cardiovascular, Bayer AG, Wuppertal, Germany.,Department of Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Subha V Raman
- Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Paul M L Janssen
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Jill A Rafael-Fortney
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
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8
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Hauck JS, Lowe J, Rastogi N, McElhanon KE, Petrosino JM, Peczkowski KK, Chadwick AN, Zins JG, Accornero F, Janssen PML, Weisleder NL, Rafael-Fortney JA. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists improve membrane integrity independent of muscle force in muscular dystrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:2030-2045. [PMID: 30759207 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) drugs have been used clinically for decades to treat cardiovascular diseases. MR antagonists not only show preclinical efficacy for heart in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) models but also improve skeletal muscle force and muscle membrane integrity. The mechanisms of action of MR antagonists in skeletal muscles are entirely unknown. Since MR are present in many cell types in the muscle microenvironment, it is critical to define cell-intrinsic functions in each cell type to ultimately optimize antagonist efficacy for use in the widest variety of diseases. We generated a new conditional knockout of MR in myofibers and quantified cell-intrinsic mechanistic effects on functional and histological parameters in a DMD mouse model. Skeletal muscle MR deficiency led to improved respiratory muscle force generation and less deleterious fibrosis but did not reproduce MR antagonist efficacy on membrane susceptibility to induced damage. Surprisingly, acute application of MR antagonist to muscles led to improvements in membrane integrity after injury independent of myofiber MR. These data demonstrate that MR antagonists are efficacious to dystrophic skeletal muscles through both myofiber intrinsic effects on muscle force and downstream fibrosis and extrinsic functions on membrane stability. MR antagonists may therefore be applicable for treating more general muscle weakness and possibly other conditions that result from cell injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kevin E McElhanon
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology.,Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Jennifer M Petrosino
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology.,Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH USA
| | | | | | | | - Federica Accornero
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology.,Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH USA
| | | | - Noah L Weisleder
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology.,Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH USA
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9
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Vecchiola A, Fuentes CA, Solar I, Lagos CF, Opazo MC, Muñoz-Durango N, Riedel CA, Owen GI, Kalergis AM, Fardella CE. Eplerenone Implantation Improved Adipose Dysfunction Averting RAAS Activation and Cell Division. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:223. [PMID: 32373073 PMCID: PMC7186315 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation within adipose tissue, triggers inflammation and metabolic syndrome development. The pharmacological blockade of MR provides beneficial effects for adipose tissue. Our study evaluates the impact of eplerenone implantation upon obesity. Experimental approach: A group of mice with implanted placebo pellets were fed using two types of diet, a normal (ND) or a high fat (HFD) diet. Additionally, a group of mice fed HFD were implanted with an eplerenone pellet. Metabolic and biochemical parameters were assessed in each animal group. Adipocyte size and lipid accumulation were investigated in the liver and adipose tissue. We evaluated the components of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) locally in adipose tissue. Key results: Eplerenone reduced HFD-induced body weight gain, fasting glucose levels, fat accumulation, HFD-induced adipocyte size and liver lipid accumulation and improved glucose tolerance. In the adipose tissue, HFD significantly increased the mRNA levels of the RAAS molecules relative to the ND group. Eplerenone lowered RAAS mRNA levels, components of lipid metabolism and markers of inflammation in HFD-fed animals. Conclusion: MR antagonism with eplerenone diminishes insulin resistance that is related to obesity partly via a reduction of RAAS activation, inflammatory progression and cytokines induction. This suggests that eplerenone should be further studied as a therapeutic option for obesity and overweight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Vecchiola
- Department of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy IMII, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cristóbal A. Fuentes
- Department of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Isidora Solar
- Department of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos F. Lagos
- Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery Lab, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maria Cecilia Opazo
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy IMII, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología-Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Natalia Muñoz-Durango
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy IMII, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia A. Riedel
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy IMII, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología-Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gareth I. Owen
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy IMII, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Physiology, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexis M. Kalergis
- Department of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy IMII, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos E. Fardella
- Department of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy IMII, Santiago, Chile
- Center of Translational Endocrinology (CETREN), Department of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- *Correspondence: Carlos E. Fardella
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10
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Hauck JS, Howard ZM, Lowe J, Rastogi N, Pico MG, Swager SA, Petrosino JM, Gomez-Sanchez CE, Gomez-Sanchez EP, Accornero F, Rafael-Fortney JA. Mineralocorticoid Receptor Signaling Contributes to Normal Muscle Repair After Acute Injury. Front Physiol 2019; 10:1324. [PMID: 31736768 PMCID: PMC6830343 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute skeletal muscle injury is followed by a temporal response of immune cells, fibroblasts, and muscle progenitor cells within the muscle microenvironment to restore function. These same cell types are repeatedly activated in muscular dystrophy from chronic muscle injury, but eventually, the regenerative portion of the cycle is disrupted and fibrosis replaces degenerated muscle fibers. Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist drugs have been demonstrated to increase skeletal muscle function, decrease fibrosis, and directly improve membrane integrity in muscular dystrophy mice, and therefore are being tested clinically. Conditional knockout of MR from muscle fibers in muscular dystrophy mice also improves skeletal muscle function and decreases fibrosis. The mechanism of efficacy likely results from blocking MR signaling by its endogenous agonist aldosterone, being produced at high local levels in regions of muscle damage by infiltrating myeloid cells. Since chronic and acute injuries share the same cellular processes to regenerate muscle, and MR antagonists are clinically used for a wide variety of conditions, it is crucial to define the role of MR signaling in normal muscle repair after injury. In this study, we performed acute injuries using barium chloride injections into tibialis anterior muscles both in myofiber MR conditional knockout mice on a wild-type background (MRcko) and in MR antagonist-treated wild-type mice. Steps of the muscle regeneration response were analyzed at 1, 4, 7, or 14 days after injury. Presence of the aldosterone synthase enzyme was also assessed during the injury repair process. We show for the first time aldosterone synthase localization in infiltrating immune cells of normal skeletal muscle after acute injury. MRcko mice had an increased muscle area infiltrated by aldosterone synthase positive myeloid cells compared to control injured animals. Both MRcko and MR antagonist treatment stabilized damaged myofibers and increased collagen infiltration or compaction at 4 days post-injury. MR antagonist treatment also led to reduced myofiber size at 7 and 14 days post-injury. These data support that MR signaling contributes to the normal muscle repair process following acute injury. MR antagonist treatment delays muscle fiber growth, so temporary discontinuation of these drugs after a severe muscle injury could be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Spencer Hauck
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Zachary M. Howard
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jeovanna Lowe
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Neha Rastogi
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Madison G. Pico
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Sarah A. Swager
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jennifer M. Petrosino
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Celso E. Gomez-Sanchez
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Elise P. Gomez-Sanchez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Federica Accornero
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jill A. Rafael-Fortney
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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11
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Heier CR, Yu Q, Fiorillo AA, Tully CB, Tucker A, Mazala DA, Uaesoontrachoon K, Srinivassane S, Damsker JM, Hoffman EP, Nagaraju K, Spurney CF. Vamorolone targets dual nuclear receptors to treat inflammation and dystrophic cardiomyopathy. Life Sci Alliance 2019; 2:2/1/e201800186. [PMID: 30745312 PMCID: PMC6371196 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201800186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of death for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Here, we find that the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) can share common ligands but play distinct roles in dystrophic heart and skeletal muscle pathophysiology. Comparisons of their ligand structures indicate that the Δ9,11 modification of the first-in-class drug vamorolone enables it to avoid interaction with a conserved receptor residue (N770/N564), which would otherwise activate transcription factor properties of both receptors. Reporter assays show that vamorolone and eplerenone are MR antagonists, whereas prednisolone is an MR agonist. Macrophages, cardiomyocytes, and CRISPR knockout myoblasts show vamorolone is also a dissociative GR ligand that inhibits inflammation with improved safety over prednisone and GR-specific deflazacort. In mice, hyperaldosteronism activates MR-driven hypertension and kidney phenotypes. We find that genetic dystrophin loss provides a second hit for MR-mediated cardiomyopathy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy model mice, as aldosterone worsens fibrosis, mass and dysfunction phenotypes. Vamorolone successfully prevents MR-activated phenotypes, whereas prednisolone activates negative MR and GR effects. In conclusion, vamorolone targets dual nuclear receptors to treat inflammation and cardiomyopathy with improved safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Heier
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA .,Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Qing Yu
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alyson A Fiorillo
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.,Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christopher B Tully
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Asya Tucker
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Davi A Mazala
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Eric P Hoffman
- AGADA Biosciences Incorporated, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,ReveraGen BioPharma, Incorporated, Rockville, MD, USA.,School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University-State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- AGADA Biosciences Incorporated, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,ReveraGen BioPharma, Incorporated, Rockville, MD, USA.,School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Binghamton University-State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Christopher F Spurney
- Department of Genomics and Precision Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.,Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.,Division of Cardiology, Children's National Heart Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
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12
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Lowe J, Kadakia FK, Zins JG, Haupt M, Peczkowski KK, Rastogi N, Floyd KT, Gomez-Sanchez EP, Gomez-Sanchez CE, Elnakish MT, Rafael-Fortney JA, Janssen PML. Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists in Muscular Dystrophy Mice During Aging and Exercise. J Neuromuscul Dis 2018; 5:295-306. [PMID: 30010143 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-180323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists added to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors have shown preclinical efficacy for both skeletal and cardiac muscle outcomes in young sedentary dystrophin-deficient mdx mice also haploinsufficient for utrophin, a Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) model. The mdx genotypic DMD model has mild pathology, making non-curative therapeutic effects difficult to distinguish at baseline. Since the cardiac benefit of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists has been translated to DMD patients, it is important to optimize potential advantages for skeletal muscle by further defining efficacy parameters. OBJECTIVE We aimed to test whether therapeutic effects of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists added to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are detectable using three different reported methods of exacerbating the mdx phenotype. METHODS We tested treatment with lisinopril and the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone in: 10 week-old exercised, 1 year-old sedentary, and 5 month-old isoproterenol treated mdx mice and performed comprehensive functional and histological measurements. RESULTS None of the protocols to exacerbate mdx phenotypes resulted in dramatically enhanced pathology and no significant benefit was observed with treatment. CONCLUSIONS Since endogenous mineralocorticoid aldosterone production from immune cells in dystrophic muscle may explain antagonist efficacy, it is likely that these drugs work optimally during the narrow window of peak inflammation in mdx mice. Exercised and aged mdx mice do not display prolific damage and inflammation, likely explaining the absence of continued efficacy of these drugs. Since inflammation is more prevalent in DMD patients, the therapeutic window for mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in patients may be longer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeovanna Lowe
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Feni K Kadakia
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jonathan G Zins
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Michael Haupt
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kyra K Peczkowski
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Neha Rastogi
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kyle T Floyd
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Elise P Gomez-Sanchez
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Celso E Gomez-Sanchez
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Mohammad T Elnakish
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Jill A Rafael-Fortney
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Paul M L Janssen
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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13
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Mogi M, Kohara K, Tabara Y, Tsukuda K, Igase M, Horiuchi M. Correlation between the 24-h urinary angiotensinogen or aldosterone level and muscle mass: Japan shimanami health promoting program study. Hypertens Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1038/s41440-018-0021-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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14
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Chadwick JA, Bhattacharya S, Lowe J, Weisleder N, Rafael-Fortney JA. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors improve membrane stability and change gene-expression profiles in dystrophic skeletal muscles. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2016; 312:C155-C168. [PMID: 27881412 PMCID: PMC5336592 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00269.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists are FDA-approved drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and are used to treat heart failure. Combined treatment with the ACEi lisinopril and the nonspecific MR antagonist spironolactone surprisingly improves skeletal muscle, in addition to heart function and pathology in a Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) mouse model. We recently demonstrated that MR is present in all limb and respiratory muscles and functions as a steroid hormone receptor in differentiated normal human skeletal muscle fibers. The goals of the current study were to begin to define cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating the skeletal muscle efficacy of RAAS inhibitor treatment. We also compared molecular changes resulting from RAAS inhibition with those resulting from the current DMD standard-of-care glucocorticoid treatment. Direct assessment of muscle membrane integrity demonstrated improvement in dystrophic mice treated with lisinopril and spironolactone compared with untreated mice. Short-term treatments of dystrophic mice with specific and nonspecific MR antagonists combined with lisinopril led to overlapping gene-expression profiles with beneficial regulation of metabolic processes and decreased inflammatory gene expression. Glucocorticoids increased apoptotic, proteolytic, and chemokine gene expression that was not changed by RAAS inhibitors in dystrophic mice. Microarray data identified potential genes that may underlie RAAS inhibitor treatment efficacy and the side effects of glucocorticoids. Direct effects of RAAS inhibitors on membrane integrity also contribute to improved pathology of dystrophic muscles. Together, these data will inform clinical development of MR antagonists for treating skeletal muscles in DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Chadwick
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; and
| | - Sayak Bhattacharya
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; and.,Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jeovanna Lowe
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; and
| | - Noah Weisleder
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; and.,Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jill A Rafael-Fortney
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; and
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