scholarly journals Monitoring disease activity noninvasively in the mdx model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (30) ◽  
pp. 7741-7746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Filareto ◽  
Katie Maguire-Nguyen ◽  
Qiang Gan ◽  
Garazi Aldanondo ◽  
Léo Machado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Luciferase Expression ◽  
Muscle Degeneration ◽  
Reporter Strain ◽  
Novel Treatments

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare, muscle degenerative disease resulting from the absence of the dystrophin protein. DMD is characterized by progressive loss of muscle fibers, muscle weakness, and eventually loss of ambulation and premature death. Currently, there is no cure for DMD and improved methods of disease monitoring are crucial for the development of novel treatments. In this study, we describe a new method of assessing disease progression noninvasively in the mdx model of DMD. The reporter mice, which we term the dystrophic Degeneration Reporter strains, contain an inducible CRE-responsive luciferase reporter active in mature myofibers. In these mice, muscle degeneration is reflected in changes in the level of luciferase expression, which can be monitored using noninvasive, bioluminescence imaging. We monitored the natural history and disease progression in these dystrophic report mice and found that decreases in luciferase signals directly correlated with muscle degeneration. We further demonstrated that this reporter strain, as well as a previously reported Regeneration Reporter strain, successfully reveals the effectiveness of a gene therapy treatment following systemic administration of a recombinant adeno-associated virus-6 (rAAV-6) encoding a microdystrophin construct. Our data demonstrate the value of these noninvasive imaging modalities for monitoring disease progression and response to therapy in mouse models of muscular dystrophy.

scholarly journals In vivo non-invasive monitoring of dystrophin correction in a new Duchenne muscular dystrophy reporter mouse

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonela Amoasii ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Yi-Li Min ◽  
Efrain Sanchez-Ortiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Genetic Disorder ◽  
Dystrophin Gene ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Luciferase Expression ◽  
Gene Correction ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Non Invasive

Abstract Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal genetic disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. To enable the non-invasive analysis of DMD gene correction strategies in vivo, we introduced a luciferase reporter in-frame with the C-terminus of the dystrophin gene in mice. Expression of this reporter mimics endogenous dystrophin expression and DMD mutations that disrupt the dystrophin open reading frame extinguish luciferase expression. We evaluated the correction of the dystrophin reading frame coupled to luciferase in mice lacking exon 50, a common mutational hotspot, after delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing machinery with adeno-associated virus. Bioluminescence monitoring revealed efficient and rapid restoration of dystrophin protein expression in affected skeletal muscles and the heart. Our results provide a sensitive non-invasive means of monitoring dystrophin correction in mouse models of DMD and offer a platform for testing different strategies for amelioration of DMD pathogenesis.

scholarly journals Abnormal Calcium Handling in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Mechanisms and Potential Therapies

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satvik Mareedu ◽  
Emily D. Million ◽  
Dongsheng Duan ◽  
Gopal J. Babu
Keyword(s):  
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Therapeutic Strategy ◽  
Muscle Wasting ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Calcium Handling ◽  
Muscle Degeneration ◽  
Wasting Disease ◽  
Fatty Replacement ◽  
Muscle Wasting Disease

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked muscle-wasting disease caused by the loss of dystrophin. DMD is associated with muscle degeneration, necrosis, inflammation, fatty replacement, and fibrosis, resulting in muscle weakness, respiratory and cardiac failure, and premature death. There is no curative treatment. Investigations on disease-causing mechanisms offer an opportunity to identify new therapeutic targets to treat DMD. An abnormal elevation of the intracellular calcium (Cai2+) concentration in the dystrophin-deficient muscle is a major secondary event, which contributes to disease progression in DMD. Emerging studies have suggested that targeting Ca2+-handling proteins and/or mechanisms could be a promising therapeutic strategy for DMD. Here, we provide an updated overview of the mechanistic roles the sarcolemma, sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria play in the abnormal and sustained elevation of Cai2+ levels and their involvement in DMD pathogenesis. We also discuss current approaches aimed at restoring Ca2+ homeostasis as potential therapies for DMD.

scholarly journals Quantitative muscle ultrasound detects disease progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

2017 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 633-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig M. Zaidman ◽  
Jim S. Wu ◽  
Kush Kapur ◽  
Amy Pasternak ◽  
Lavanya Madabusi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Muscle Ultrasound

scholarly journals Autophagy in the heart is enhanced and independent of disease progression in mus musculus dystrophinopathy models

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 204800401987958
Author(s):  
HR Spaulding ◽  
C Ballmann ◽  
JC Quindry ◽  
MB Hudson ◽  
JT Selsby
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Dystrophin Gene ◽  
Mdx Mice ◽  
Dystrophin Deficiency ◽  
Muscle Wasting Disease ◽  
Dystrophin Protein

Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a muscle wasting disease caused by dystrophin gene mutations resulting in dysfunctional dystrophin protein. Autophagy, a proteolytic process, is impaired in dystrophic skeletal muscle though little is known about the effect of dystrophin deficiency on autophagy in cardiac muscle. We hypothesized that with disease progression autophagy would become increasingly dysfunctional based upon indirect autophagic markers. Methods Markers of autophagy were measured by western blot in 7-week-old and 17-month-old control (C57) and dystrophic (mdx) hearts. Results Counter to our hypothesis, markers of autophagy were similar between groups. Given these surprising results, two independent experiments were conducted using 14-month-old mdx mice or 10-month-old mdx/Utrn± mice, a more severe model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Data from these animals suggest increased autophagosome degradation. Conclusion Together these data suggest that autophagy is not impaired in the dystrophic myocardium as it is in dystrophic skeletal muscle and that disease progression and related injury is independent of autophagic dysfunction.

Abstract 16916: Asymptomatic Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Have Elevated Troponin

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aryaz Sheybani ◽  
Kim CRUM ◽  
Frank J Raucci ◽  
Larry W Markham ◽  
Jonathan H Soslow
Keyword(s):  
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Troponin I ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Myocardial Inflammation ◽  
Gadolinium Enhancement ◽  
Normal Ranges ◽  
Asymptomatic Patients ◽  
Future Drug

Introduction: Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), but traditional heart failure biomarkers have limited utility. Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) has been used in DMD research studies as a marker of toxicity, but little is known about cTnI levels in asymptomatic patients. The goal of this study was to longitudinally evaluate cTnI, NTproBNP, and BNP in an asymptomatic DMD cohort. We hypothesized the biomarkers would not correlate with cardiac function, but some asymptomatic patients would exhibit a cTnI leak, reflecting ongoing myocardial inflammation related to disease progression. Methods: Asymptomatic DMD patients (N=69) and controls with normal cardiac evaluations (N=18) were enrolled. In DMD subjects, biomarker levels were obtained at time of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), which included assessment of atrial and ventricular volumes, function, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Normal ranges for biomarkers were created based on control values. Spearman correlation was used for analysis. Results: There was no consistent correlation between biomarkers and disease progression by CMR (Table 1). Several DMD subjects had transiently elevated cTnI (Fig 1). Those with elevated cTnI trended towards being more likely to have LGE on baseline CMR, though this did not reach statistical significance (p= 0.08). Conclusions: CTnI, BNP, and NTproBNP do not correlate with CMR assessment of cardiomyopathy progression. There is a subset of the DMD cohort with asymptomatic cTnI leak. While this cTnI leak is of uncertain clinical significance, it is important to recognize if cTnI is used to assess for cardiac toxicity in future drug trials.

Characterizing Expiratory Respiratory Muscle Degeneration in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Using MRI

CHEST Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison M. Barnard ◽  
Donovan J. Lott ◽  
Abhinandan Batra ◽  
William T. Triplett ◽  
Rebecca J. Willcocks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Respiratory Muscle ◽  
Muscle Degeneration

scholarly journals Laminin-111 protein therapy enhances muscle regeneration and repair in the GRMD dog model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (16) ◽  
pp. 2686-2695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Barraza-Flores ◽  
Tatiana M Fontelonga ◽  
Ryan D Wuebbles ◽  
Hailey J Hermann ◽  
Andreia M Nunes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Muscle Disease ◽  
Muscle Pathology ◽  
Mdx Mouse ◽  
Protein Therapy ◽  
Muscle Fibrosis ◽  
Dog Model

Abstract Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating X-linked disease affecting ~1 in 5000 males. DMD patients exhibit progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, leading to loss of ambulation and premature death from cardiopulmonary failure. We previously reported that mouse Laminin-111 (msLam-111) protein could reduce muscle pathology and improve muscle function in the mdx mouse model for DMD. In this study, we examined the ability of msLam-111 to prevent muscle disease progression in the golden retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) dog model of DMD. The msLam-111 protein was injected into the cranial tibial muscle compartment of GRMD dogs and muscle strength and pathology were assessed. The results showed that msLam-111 treatment increased muscle fiber regeneration and repair with improved muscle strength and reduced muscle fibrosis in the GRMD model. Together, these findings support the idea that Laminin-111 could serve as a novel protein therapy for the treatment of DMD.

Necroptosis, a programmed form of necrosis participates in muscle degeneration in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. S7
Author(s):  
M. Bencze ◽  
J. Meng ◽  
V. Pini ◽  
F. Conti ◽  
F. Muntoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscle Degeneration
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