scholarly journals Benfotiamine reduces pathology and improves muscle function in mdx mice

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keryn G. Woodman ◽  
Chantal A. Coles ◽  
Su L Toulson ◽  
Elizabeth M. Gibbs ◽  
Matthew Knight ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Influx ◽  
Dystrophin Gene ◽  
Mdx Mice ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Severe Reduction ◽  
Dystrophin Deficiency ◽  
Inflammatory Processes ◽  
Dystrophin Glycoprotein ◽  
And Oxidative Stress ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

AbstractDuchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease which arises from mutations in the dystrophin gene (DMD) that result in the absence or severe reduction of the cytoskeletal protein dystrophin. In addition to the primary dystrophin defect, secondary processes such as inflammation, calcium influx, dysregulated autophagy and fibrosis exacerbate dystrophic pathology and thus increase disease progression. While therapies to restore dystrophin deficiency are being developed, strategies which target these secondary processes could be of benefit to patients. Benfotiamine is a lipid soluble precursor to thiamine that can reduce secondary processes such as inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetic patients. As such we tested it in the mdx mouse model of DMD and found that benfotiamine reduced multiple markers of dystrophic pathology and improved grip strength. In addition, members of the utrophin and dystrophin glycoprotein complexes were significantly increased at the sarcolemma which could improve cell adhesion. We also demonstrated that benfotiamine treatment lowered the expression of macrophage markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines suggesting that benfotiamine is reducing dystrophic pathology by acting on inflammatory processes.

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.

scholarly journals Sarcospan reduces dystrophic pathology: stabilization of the utrophin–glycoprotein complex

2008 ◽  
Vol 183 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela K. Peter ◽  
Jamie L. Marshall ◽  
Rachelle H. Crosbie
Keyword(s):  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Dystrophin Gene ◽  
Muscular Dystrophies ◽  
Mdx Mice ◽  
Future Design ◽  
Glycoprotein Complex ◽  
Analogous Complex ◽  
Dystrophin Glycoprotein Complex ◽  
Extrasynaptic Membrane ◽  
Dystrophin Glycoprotein

Mutations in the dystrophin gene cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy and result in the loss of dystrophin and the entire dystrophin–glycoprotein complex (DGC) from the sarcolemma. We show that sarcospan (SSPN), a unique tetraspanin-like component of the DGC, ameliorates muscular dystrophy in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. SSPN stabilizes the sarcolemma by increasing levels of the utrophin–glycoprotein complex (UGC) at the extrasynaptic membrane to compensate for the loss of dystrophin. Utrophin is normally restricted to the neuromuscular junction, where it replaces dystrophin to form a functionally analogous complex. SSPN directly interacts with the UGC and functions to stabilize utrophin protein without increasing utrophin transcription. These findings reveal the importance of protein stability in the prevention of muscular dystrophy and may impact the future design of therapeutics for muscular dystrophies.

scholarly journals Mutant glucocorticoid receptor binding elements on the interleukin-6 promoter regulate dexamethasone effects

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Teng Chang ◽  
Ming-Yuan Hong ◽  
Chien-Liang Chen ◽  
Chi-Yuan Hwang ◽  
Cheng-Chieh Tsai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Sites ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Inducible Promoter ◽  
Transcriptional Factor ◽  
Factor Binding ◽  
Inflammatory Processes ◽  
Nuclear Receptor Family ◽  
Specificity Protein ◽  
Receptor Family ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Abstract Background Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been extensively used as essential modulators in clinical infectious and inflammatory diseases. The GC receptor (GR) is a transcription factor belonging to the nuclear receptor family that regulates anti-inflammatory processes and releases pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6. Results Five putative GR binding sites and other transcriptional factor binding sites were identified on theIL-6 promoter, and dexamethasone (DEX) was noted to reduce the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-6 production. Among mutant transcriptional factor binding sites, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), activator protein (AP)-1, and specificity protein (Sp)1–2 sites reduced basal and LPS-induced IL-6 promoter activities through various responses. The second GR binding site (GR2) was noted to play a crucial role in both basal and inducible promoter activities in LPS-induced inflammation. Conclusions We concluded that selective GR2 modulator might exert agonistic and antagonistic effects and could activate crucial signaling pathways during the LPS-stimulated inflammatory process.

Global/temporal gene expression in diaphragm and hindlimb muscles of dystrophin-deficient (mdx) mice

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (3) ◽  
pp. C773-C784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Rouger ◽  
Martine Le Cunff ◽  
Marja Steenman ◽  
Marie-Claude Potier ◽  
Nathalie Gibelin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dystrophin Gene ◽  
Diaphragm Muscle ◽  
Mdx Mouse ◽  
Mdx Mice ◽  
First Year ◽  
Temporal Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Functions ◽  
Hindlimb Muscles ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Dystrophin Protein

The mdx mouse is a model for human Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an X-linked degenerative disease of skeletal muscle tissue characterized by the absence of the dystrophin protein. The mdx mice display a much milder phenotype than DMD patients. After the first week of life when all mdx muscles evolve like muscles of young DMD patients, mdx hindlimb muscles substantially compensate for the lack of dystrophin, whereas mdx diaphragm muscle becomes progressively affected by the disease. We used cDNA microarrays to compare the expression profile of 1,082 genes, previously selected by a subtractive method, in control and mdx hindlimb and diaphragm muscles at 12 time points over the first year of the mouse life. We determined that 1) the dystrophin gene defect induced marked expression remodeling of 112 genes encoding proteins implicated in diverse muscle cell functions and 2) two-thirds of the observed transcriptomal anomalies differed between adult mdx hindlimb and diaphragm muscles. Our results showed that neither mdx diaphram muscle nor mdx hindlimb muscles evolve entirely like the human DMD muscles. This finding should be taken under consideration for the interpretation of future experiments using mdx mice as a model for therapeutic assays.

scholarly journals Soy Milk Consumption, Inflammation, Coagulation, and Oxidative Stress Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients With Nephropathy

Diabetes Care ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 1981-1985 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Miraghajani ◽  
A. Esmaillzadeh ◽  
M. M. Najafabadi ◽  
M. Mirlohi ◽  
L. Azadbakht
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Milk Consumption ◽  
Soy Milk ◽  
Type 2 Diabetic Patients ◽  
And Oxidative Stress ◽  
Type 2 Diabetic

The protective effects of carvacrol and thymol against paracetamol–induced toxicity on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2)

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 1252-1263 ◽  
Author(s):  
SS Palabiyik ◽  
E Karakus ◽  
Z Halici ◽  
E Cadirci ◽  
Y Bayir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Hepg2 Cells ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Hepatoprotective Activity ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
And Oxidative Stress ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose could induce liver damage and lead to acute liver failure. The treatment of APAP overdoses could be improved by new therapeutic strategies. Thymus spp., which has many beneficial effects and has been used in folk medicine, is one such potential strategy. In the present study, the hepatoprotective activity of the main constituents of Thymus spp., carvacrol and thymol, were evaluated in light of APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. We hoped to understand the hepatoprotective mechanism of these agents on the antioxidant system and pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Dose-dependent effects of thymol and carvacrol (25, 50, and 100 µM) were tested on cultured HepG2 cells. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) was tested as positive control. We showed that APAP inhibited HepG2 cell growth by inducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Incubating APAP-exposed HepG2 cells with carvacrol and thymol for 24 h ameliorated this inflammation and oxidative stress. We also evaluated alanine transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase levels of HepG2 cells. We found that thymol and carvacrol protected against APAP-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells by increasing antioxidant activity and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β. Taking together high-dose thymol and carvacrol treatment has an effect close to NAC treatment in APAP toxicity, but thymol has better treatment effect than carvacrol.

scholarly journals Proinflammatory Soluble Interleukin-15 Receptor Alpha Is Increased in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Cecilia Machado Diaz ◽  
Araceli Chico Capote ◽  
Celia Aurora Arrieta Aguero ◽  
Yunier Rodríguez Alvarez ◽  
Diana García del Barco Herrera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Synovial Fluid ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Reverse Signaling ◽  
Synovial Fluids ◽  
Inflammatory Processes ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Interleukin 15 ◽  
Interleukin 15 Receptor Alpha ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease in which many cytokines have been implicated. In particular, IL-15 is a cytokine involved in the inflammatory processes and bone loss. The aim of this study was to investigate the existence in synovial fluid of soluble IL-15Rα, a private receptor subunit for IL-15 which may act as an enhancer of IL-15-induced proinflammatory cytokines. Soluble IL-15Rα was quantified by a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in samples of synovial fluid from patients with RA and osteoarthritis (OA). The levels of IL-15Rα were significantly increased in RA patients compared to OA patients. Also, we studied the presence of membrane-bound IL-15 in cells from synovial fluids, another element necessary to induce pro-inflammatory cytokines through reverse signaling. Interestingly, we found high levels of IL-6 related to high levels of IL-15Rα in RA but not in OA. Thus, our results evidenced presence of IL-15Rα in synovial fluids and suggested that its pro-inflammatory effect could be related to induction of IL-6.

scholarly journals Docosahexaenoic Acid-Acylated Astaxanthin Esters Exhibit Superior Renal Protective Effect to Recombination of Astaxanthin with DHA via Alleviating Oxidative Stress Coupled with Apoptosis in Vancomycin-Treated Mice with Nephrotoxicity

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 499
Author(s):  
Hao-Hao Shi ◽  
Ying Guo ◽  
Li-Pin Chen ◽  
Cheng-Cheng Wang ◽  
Qing-Rong Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Acute Kidney Injury ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Docosahexaenoic Acid ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Clinical Problem ◽  
Kidney Dysfunction ◽  
Serum Biochemical ◽  
And Oxidative Stress ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Prevention of acute kidney injury caused by drugs is still a clinical problem to be solved urgently. Astaxanthin (AST) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are important marine-derived active ingredients, and they are reported to exhibit renal protective activity. It is noteworthy that the existing forms of AST in nature are mainly fatty acid-acylated AST monoesters and diesters, as well as unesterified AST, in which DHA is an esterified fatty acid. However, no reports focus on the different bioactivities of unesterified AST, monoesters and diesters, as well as the recombination of DHA and unesterified AST on nephrotoxicity. In the present study, vancomycin-treated mice were used to evaluate the effects of DHA-acylated AST monoesters, DHA-acylated AST diesters, unesterified AST, and the recombination of AST and DHA in alleviating nephrotoxicity by determining serum biochemical index, histopathological changes, and the enzyme activity related to oxidative stress. Results found that the intervention of DHA-acylated AST diesters significantly ameliorated kidney dysfunction by decreasing the levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine, alleviating pathological damage and oxidative stress compared to AST monoester, unesterified AST, and the recombination of AST and DHA. Further studies revealed that dietary DHA-acylated AST esters could inhibit the activation of the caspase cascade and MAPKs signaling pathway, and reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings indicated that the administration of DHA-acylated AST esters could alleviate vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity, which represented a potentially novel candidate or therapeutic adjuvant for alleviating acute kidney injury.

scholarly journals Contraction-Induced Loss of Plasmalemmal Electrophysiological Function Is Dependent on the Dystrophin Glycoprotein Complex

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cory W. Baumann ◽  
Angus Lindsay ◽  
Sylvia R. Sidky ◽  
James M. Ervasti ◽  
Gordon L. Warren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
M Wave ◽  
Glycoprotein Complex ◽  
Dystrophic Mouse ◽  
Dystrophin Deficiency ◽  
Torque Loss ◽  
Dystrophin Glycoprotein Complex ◽  
The Many ◽  
Dystrophin Glycoprotein ◽  
Mouse Lines

Weakness and atrophy are key features of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Dystrophin is one of the many proteins within the dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC) that maintains plasmalemmal integrity and cellular homeostasis. The dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse is also predisposed to weakness, particularly when subjected to eccentric (ECC) contractions due to electrophysiological dysfunction of the plasmalemma. Here, we determined if maintenance of plasmalemmal excitability during and after a bout of ECC contractions is dependent on intact and functional DGCs rather than, solely, dystrophin expression. Wild-type (WT) and dystrophic mice (mdx, mL172H and Sgcb−/− mimicking Duchenne, Becker and Limb-girdle Type 2E muscular dystrophies, respectively) with varying levels of dystrophin and DGC functionality performed 50 maximal ECC contractions with simultaneous torque and electromyographic measurements (M-wave root-mean-square, M-wave RMS). ECC contractions caused all mouse lines to lose torque (p<0.001); however, deficits were greater in dystrophic mouse lines compared to WT mice (p<0.001). Loss of ECC torque did not correspond to a reduction in M-wave RMS in WT mice (p=0.080), while deficits in M-wave RMS exceeded 50% in all dystrophic mouse lines (p≤0.007). Moreover, reductions in ECC torque and M-wave RMS were greater in mdx mice compared to mL172H mice (p≤0.042). No differences were observed between mdx and Sgcb−/− mice (p≥0.337). Regression analysis revealed ≥98% of the variance in ECC torque loss could be explained by the variance in M-wave RMS in dystrophic mouse lines (p<0.001) but not within WT mice (R2=0.211; p=0.155). By comparing mouse lines that had varying amounts and functionality of dystrophin and other DGC proteins, we observed that (1) when all DGCs are intact, plasmalemmal action potential generation and conduction is maintained, (2) deficiency of the DGC protein β-sarcoglycan is as disruptive to plasmalemmal excitability as is dystrophin deficiency and, (3) some functionally intact DGCs are better than none. Our results highlight the significant role of the DGC plays in maintaining plasmalemmal excitability and that a collective synergism (via each DGC protein) is required for this complex to function properly during ECC contractions.

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