Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: Dystrophin deficiency leads to lethal dilated Duchenne cardiomyopathy. A promising therapy is to deliver a highly abbreviated microdystrophin gene to the heart using adeno-associated virus (AAV). Microdystrophin has been shown to mitigate dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle disease. However, it is not clear whether microdystrophin is equally effective in treating Duchenne cardiomyopathy. To evaluate microdystrophin therapy in the heart, we injected 5 × 10(12) viral genome particles/mouse of AAV-9 ΔR4-23/ΔC microdystrophin vector via tail vein to ~16-20-month-old (average 18.7-month-old) female mdx mice, a manifesting model of Duchenne cardiomyopathy. Cardiac transduction and heart function were examined at 2-8 months after gene transfer. We observed robust myocardial microdystrophin expression. Electrocardiography (ECG) and left ventricular catheter hemodynamic assays also revealed significant improvement. Furthermore, AAV-microdystrophin therapy prevented dobutamine-stress induced acute cardiac death. We demonstrate for the first time that AAV microdystrophin therapy significantly ameliorates functional deficiency in a phenotypic model of Duchenne cardiomyopathy. Our results support further exploration of microdystrophin therapy to treat Duchenne cardiomyopathy.
Source: Molecular Therapy
DOI: 10.1038/mt.2011.154
Authors: Brian Bostick, Jin-Hong Shin, Yongping Yue, Dongsheng Duan
Institution: University of Missouri
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
OpenAlex ID: W2000168224