The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Laminin {alpha}1 chain reduces muscular dystrophy in laminin {alpha}2 chain deficient mice.

Author

Summary, in English

Laminin (LN) {alpha}2 chain deficiency in humans and mice leads to severe forms of congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD). Here, we investigated whether LN{alpha}1 chain in mice can compensate for the absence of LN{alpha}2 chain and prevent the development of muscular dystrophy. We generated mice expressing a LN{alpha}1 chain transgene in skeletal muscle of LN{alpha}2 chain deficient mice. LN{alpha}1 is not normally expressed in muscle, but the transgenically produced LN{alpha}1 chain was incorporated into muscle basement membranes, and normalized the compensatory changes of expression of certain other laminin chains ({alpha}4, ß2). In 4-month-old mice, LN{alpha}1 chain could fully prevent the development of muscular dystrophy in several muscles, and partially in others. The LN{alpha}1 chain transgene not only reversed the appearance of histopathological features of the disease to a remarkable degree, but also greatly improved health and longevity of the mice. Correction of LN{alpha}2 chain deficiency by LN{alpha}1 chain may serve as a paradigm for gene therapy of CMD in patients.

Publishing year

2004

Language

English

Pages

1775-1784

Publication/Series

Human Molecular Genetics

Volume

13

Issue

16

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Topic

  • Medical Genetics

Status

Published

Research group

  • Muscle Biology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0964-6906