Constitutive properties, not molecular adaptations, mediate extraocular muscle sparing in dystrophic mdx mice.

John D. Porter, Anita P. Merriam, Sangeeta Khanna, Francisco H. Andrade, Chelliah R. Richmonds, Patrick Leahy, Georgiana Cheng, Paraskevi Karathanasis, Xiaohua Zhou, Linda L. Kusner, Marvin E. Adams, Michael Willem, Ulrike Mayer, Henry J. Kaminski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

Extraocular muscle (EOM) is spared in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Here, we tested putative EOM sparing mechanisms predicted from existing dystrophinopathy models. Data show that mdx mouse EOM contains dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC)-competent and DGC-deficient myofibers distributed in a fiber type-specific pattern. Up-regulation of a dystrophin homologue, utrophin, mediates selective DGC retention. Counter to the DGC mechanical hypothesis, an intact DGC is not a precondition for EOM sarcolemmal integrity, and active adaptation at the level of calcium homeostasis is not mechanistic in protection. A partial, fiber type-specific retention of antiischemic nitric oxide to vascular smooth muscle signaling is not a factor in EOM sparing, because mice deficient in dystrophin and alpha-syntrophin, which localizes neuronal nitric oxide synthase to the sarcolemma, have normal EOMs. Moreover, an alternative transmembrane protein, alpha7beta1 integrin, does not appear to substitute for the DGC in EOM. Finally, genomewide expression profiling showed that EOM does not actively adapt to dystrophinopathy but identified candidate genes for the constitutive protection of mdx EOM. Taken together, data emphasize the conditional nature of dystrophinopathy and the potential importance of nonmechanical DGC roles and support the hypothesis that broad, constitutive structural cell signaling, and/or biochemical differences between EOM and other skeletal muscles are determinants of differential disease responsiveness.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)893-895
Number of pages3
JournalFASEB Journal
Volume17
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Constitutive properties, not molecular adaptations, mediate extraocular muscle sparing in dystrophic mdx mice.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this