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    Naturally Protected Muscle Phenotypes: Development of Novel Treatment Strategies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy


    Dowling, Paul and Doran, Philip and Lohan, James and Culligan, Kevin and Ohlendieck, Kay (2004) Naturally Protected Muscle Phenotypes: Development of Novel Treatment Strategies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Basic and applied myology : BAM, 14 (3). pp. 169-177. ISSN 1120-9992

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    Abstract

    Primary abnormalities in the dystrophin gene underlie x-linked muscular dystrophy. However, the absence of the dystrophin isoform Dp427 does not necessarily result in a severe dystrophic phenotype in all muscle groups. Distal mdx muscles, namely extraocular and toe fibres, appear to represent a protected phenotype in muscular dystrophy. Thus, a comparative analysis of affected versus naturally protected muscle cells should lead to a greater knowledge of the molecular pathogenesis of inherited neuromuscular disorders. Furthermore, rationalising the protective cellular mechanisms might help in developing new treatment strategies for muscular dystrophy. The rescuing of extraocular and toe muscle fibres has previously been attributed to the special protective properties of fasttwitching small-diameter fibres. More recent biochemical studies have shown that the upregulation of the autosomal dystrophin homologue named utrophin and the concomitant rescue of dystrophin-associated glycoproteins also plays an important role in the mechanical stabilisation of Dp427-deficient fibres. This result is mirrored in the dystrophic mdx brain where the dystrophin isoform Dp71 seems to be responsible for the preservation of the dystroglycan complex. It is envisaged that future proteomics-based comparisons of naturally protective extraocular, toe and brain tissues with severely affected skeletal muscle fibres will greatly add to our general understanding of the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophy.

    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Dystrophin; dystrophin-glycoprotein complex; dystroglycan; Dp427; Dp71; mdx; utrophin;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology
    Item ID: 7347
    Depositing User: Paul Dowling
    Date Deposited: 16 Aug 2016 15:46
    Journal or Publication Title: Basic and applied myology : BAM
    Publisher: Unipress
    Refereed: Yes
    Funders: Enterprise Ireland (EI), Health Research Board (HRB), Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, European Commission
    URI:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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