Up-regulation of the dystrophin-related gene utrophin represents a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). In order to re-program the utrophin expression level in muscle, we engineered artificial zinc finger transcription factors (ZF-ATFs) that target the utrophin Ê»Aʼ promoter. We have previously shown that the ZF-ATF âJazzâ, either by transgenic manipulation or by systemic adeno-associated viral delivery, induces significant rescue of muscle function in dystrophic âmdxâ mice. We present the full characterization of an upgraded version of Jazz gene named âJZif1â designed to minimize any possible host immune response. JZif1 was engineered on the Zif268 gene-backbone using selective amino acid substitutions to address JZif1 to the utrophin âAâ promoter. Here, we show that JZif1 induces remarkable amelioration of the pathological phenotype in mdx mice. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying Jazz and JZif1 induced muscle functional rescue, we focused on utrophin related pathways. Coherently with utrophin subcellular localization and role in neuromuscular junction (NMJ) plasticity, we found that our ZF-ATFs positively impact the NMJ. We report on ZF-ATF effects on post-synaptic membranes in myogenic cell line, as well as in wild type and mdx mice. These results candidate our ZF-ATFs as novel therapeutic molecules for DMD treatment.
Utrophin up-regulation by artificial transcription factors induces muscle rescue and impacts the neuromuscular junction in mdx mice / Pisani, Cinzia; Strimpakos, Georgios; Gabanella, Francesca; Di Certo, Maria Grazia; Onori, Annalisa; Severini, Cinzia; Luvisetto, Siro; Farioli-Vecchioli, Stefano; Carrozzo, Irene; Esposito, Antonio; Canu, Tamara; Mattei, Elisabetta; Corbi, Nicoletta; Passananti, Claudio. - In: BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE. - ISSN 0925-4439. - 1864:4(2018), pp. 1172-1182. [10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.01.030]
Utrophin up-regulation by artificial transcription factors induces muscle rescue and impacts the neuromuscular junction in mdx mice
Esposito, Antonio;
2018-01-01
Abstract
Up-regulation of the dystrophin-related gene utrophin represents a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). In order to re-program the utrophin expression level in muscle, we engineered artificial zinc finger transcription factors (ZF-ATFs) that target the utrophin Ê»Aʼ promoter. We have previously shown that the ZF-ATF âJazzâ, either by transgenic manipulation or by systemic adeno-associated viral delivery, induces significant rescue of muscle function in dystrophic âmdxâ mice. We present the full characterization of an upgraded version of Jazz gene named âJZif1â designed to minimize any possible host immune response. JZif1 was engineered on the Zif268 gene-backbone using selective amino acid substitutions to address JZif1 to the utrophin âAâ promoter. Here, we show that JZif1 induces remarkable amelioration of the pathological phenotype in mdx mice. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying Jazz and JZif1 induced muscle functional rescue, we focused on utrophin related pathways. Coherently with utrophin subcellular localization and role in neuromuscular junction (NMJ) plasticity, we found that our ZF-ATFs positively impact the NMJ. We report on ZF-ATF effects on post-synaptic membranes in myogenic cell line, as well as in wild type and mdx mice. These results candidate our ZF-ATFs as novel therapeutic molecules for DMD treatment.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.