1
|
Barone R, Szychlinska MA. Highlights in Pathophysiology of the Musculoskeletal System. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076412. [PMID: 37047383 PMCID: PMC10094568 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The intention of the present Special Issue is to focus on the latest research in the musculoskeletal system, with an emphasis on the molecular mechanisms underlying its pathophysiology, as well as innovative diagnostic tools and therapeutic perspectives [...]
Collapse
|
2
|
Merckx C, Zschüntzsch J, Meyer S, Raedt R, Verschuere H, Schmidt J, De Paepe B, De Bleecker JL. Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Ectoine in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Comparison with Taurine, a Supplement with Known Beneficial Effects in the mdx Mouse. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179567. [PMID: 36076964 PMCID: PMC9455265 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a debilitating muscle disorder that condemns patients to year-long dependency on glucocorticoids. Chronic glucocorticoid use elicits many unfavourable side-effects without offering satisfying clinical improvement, thus, the search for alternative treatments to alleviate muscle inflammation persists. Taurine, an osmolyte with anti-inflammatory effects, mitigated pathological features in the mdx mouse model for DMD but interfered with murine development. In this study, ectoine is evaluated as an alternative for taurine in vitro in CCL-136 cells and in vivo in the mdx mouse. Pre-treating CCL-136 cells with 0.1 mM taurine and 0.1 mM ectoine prior to exposure with 300 U/mL IFN-γ and 20 ng/mL IL-1β partially attenuated cell death, whilst 100 mM taurine reduced MHC-I protein levels. In vivo, histopathological features of the tibialis anterior in mdx mice were mitigated by ectoine, but not by taurine. Osmolyte treatment significantly reduced mRNA levels of inflammatory disease biomarkers, respectively, CCL2 and SPP1 in ectoine-treated mdx mice, and CCL2, HSPA1A, TNF-α and IL-1β in taurine-treated mdx mice. Functional performance was not improved by osmolyte treatment. Furthermore, ectoine-treated mdx mice exhibited reduced body weight. Our results confirmed beneficial effects of taurine in mdx mice and, for the first time, demonstrated similar and differential effects of ectoine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Merckx
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jana Zschüntzsch
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Meyer
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Robrecht Raedt
- 4BRAIN, Department Head and Skin, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hanne Verschuere
- Unit of Molecular Signaling and Cell Death, Center for Inflammation Research, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jens Schmidt
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Pain Treatment, Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf, University Hospital of the Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany
| | - Boel De Paepe
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Correspondence:
| | - Jan L. De Bleecker
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|