[HTML][HTML] Combination antisense treatment for destructive exon skipping of myostatin and open reading frame rescue of dystrophin in neonatal mdx mice

NB Lu-Nguyen, SA Jarmin, AF Saleh, L Popplewell… - Molecular Therapy, 2015 - cell.com
NB Lu-Nguyen, SA Jarmin, AF Saleh, L Popplewell, MJ Gait, G Dickson
Molecular Therapy, 2015cell.com
The fatal X-linked Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), characterized by progressive
muscle wasting and muscle weakness, is caused by mutations within the DMD gene. The
use of antisense oligonucleotides (AOs) modulating pre-mRNA splicing to restore the
disrupted dystrophin reading frame, subsequently generating a shortened but functional
protein has emerged as a potential strategy in DMD treatment. AO therapy has recently been
applied to induce out-of-frame exon skipping of myostatin pre-mRNA, knocking-down …
The fatal X-linked Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), characterized by progressive muscle wasting and muscle weakness, is caused by mutations within the DMD gene. The use of antisense oligonucleotides (AOs) modulating pre-mRNA splicing to restore the disrupted dystrophin reading frame, subsequently generating a shortened but functional protein has emerged as a potential strategy in DMD treatment. AO therapy has recently been applied to induce out-of-frame exon skipping of myostatin pre-mRNA, knocking-down expression of myostatin protein, and such an approach is suggested to enhance muscle hypertrophy/hyperplasia and to reduce muscle necrosis. Within this study, we investigated dual exon skipping of dystrophin and myostatin pre-mRNAs using phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers conjugated with an arginine-rich peptide (B-PMOs). Intraperitoneal administration of B-PMOs was performed in neonatal mdx males on the day of birth, and at weeks 3 and 6. At week 9, we observed in treated mice (as compared to age-matched, saline-injected controls) normalization of muscle mass, a recovery in dystrophin expression, and a decrease in muscle necrosis, particularly in the diaphragm. Our data provide a proof of concept for antisense therapy combining dystrophin restoration and myostatin inhibition for the treatment of DMD.
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