Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an incurable neuromuscular degenerative disease, caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene. Mdx mice recapitulate DMD features. Here we show that injection of wild-type (WT) embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into mdx blastocysts produces mice with improved pathology and function. A small fraction of WT ESCs incorporates into the mdx mouse nonuniformly to upregulate protein levels of dystrophin in the skeletal muscle. The chimeric muscle shows reduced regeneration and restores dystrobrevin, a dystrophin-related protein, in areas with high and with low dystrophin content. WT ESC injection increases the amount of fat in the chimeras to reach WT levels. ESC injection without dystrophin does not prevent the appearance of phenotypes in the skeletal muscle or in the fat. Thus, dystrophin supplied by the ESCs reverses disease in mdx mice globally in a dose-dependent manner.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2653195 | PMC |
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0004759 | PLOS |
Nanoscale
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Diadema, SP, Brazil.
This study aims to use superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), specifically magnetite (FeO), to deliver deflazacort (DFZ) and ibuprofen (IBU) to Duchenne muscular dystrophy-affected (DMD) mouse muscles using an external magnetic field. The SPIONs are synthesized by the co-precipitation method, and their surfaces are functionalized with L-cysteine to anchor the drugs, considering that the cysteine on the surface of the SPIONs in the solid state dimerizes to form the cystine molecule, creating the FeO-(Cys)-DFZ and FeO-(Cys)-IBU systems for tests. The FeO nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and magnetic measurements.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Biosci (Landmark Ed)
December 2024
Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Microbiology, Mari State University, 424001 Yoshkar-Ola, Russia.
Objective: Ca overload of muscle fibers is one of the factors that secondarily aggravate the development of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the Ca channel modulator 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (APB) on skeletal muscle pathology in dystrophin-deficient mice.
Methods: Mice were randomly divided into six groups: wild type (WT), WT+3 mg/kg APB, WT+10 mg/kg APB, , +3 mg/kg APB, +10 mg/kg APB.
J Proteomics
December 2024
School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand; Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8014, New Zealand; Biomolecular Interaction Centre, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland 1010, New Zealand. Electronic address:
Extreme heterogeneity exists in the hypersensitive stress response exhibited by the dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Because stress hypersensitivity can impact dystrophic phenotypes, this research aimed to understand the peripheral pathways driving this inter-individual variability. Male and female mdx mice were phenotypically stratified into "stress-resistant" or "stress-sensitive" groups based on their response to two laboratory stressors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle
February 2025
Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.
Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating disease characterized by progressive muscle wasting that leads to diminished lifespan. In addition to the inherent weakness of dystrophin-deficient muscle, the dysfunction of resident muscle stem cells (MuSC) significantly contributes to disease progression.
Methods: Using the mdx mouse model of DMD, we performed an in-depth characterization of disease progression and MuSC function in dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle using immunohistology, isometric force measurements, transcriptomic analysis and transplantation assays.
Dis Model Mech
December 2024
CNRS, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400 Saclay, France.
The severity of brain comorbidities in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) depends on the mutation position within the DMD gene and differential loss of distinct brain dystrophin isoforms (i.e. Dp427, Dp140, Dp71).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!