Missing protein restored in patients with muscular dystrophy

Missing protein restored in patients with muscular dystrophy
These are 3D reconstructions of dysferlin localization in muscle biopsies from a healthy subject (left panel), from a dysferlin deficient patient before (middle panel) and 36 hours after (right panel) systemic administration of a single dose of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib. Credit: Neuromuscular Center, Clinic of Neurology, University Hospital of Basel

Advances in the treatment of muscular dystrophy: For the first time, a research team has succeeded in restoring a missing repair protein in skeletal muscle of patients with muscular dystrophy. Researchers from the University and the University Hospital of Basel, Department of Biomedicine and Clinic of Neurology, report their recent findings in the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine.

When cell membranes are damaged, the repair protein dysferlin is activated and reseals muscle membrane tears. If this repair protein is altered due to a genetic mutation, the body's own "quality control" system (the so called proteasome) identifies the protein as being defective and eliminates it. Without dysferlin, injured muscle cell membranes cannot be repaired, which leads to progressive loss of and thus to muscle wasting. It appears that the body's own quality control system neutralizes mutated dysferlin even if the mutation does not actually impair its repair function.

Repair protein reactivated

The research group led by Professor Michael Sinnreich at the Departments of Neurology and Biomedicine at the University and the University Hospital of Basel had previously demonstrated that proteasome inhibitors can reactivate mutated dysferlin proteins in cultured from patients. The inhibition of the exaggerated cellular quality control enables the altered repair protein to regain its function and to repair damaged muscle membranes.

Now the team has translated these findings into clinical application and has, in a proof-of-principle study, restored the missing dysferlin protein in of patients with muscular dystrophy. Three patients carrying a dysferlin mutation received a single systemic dose of a proteasome inhibitor. After only a few days the patients' musculature produced the missing dysferlin protein at levels that could be therapeutically effective.

Long-term trial planned

For Head of Research Michael Sinnreich, the new findings serve as groundwork for future long-term clinical trials: "These findings could be of importance for the treatment of with muscular dystrophy as well as other, previously incurable genetic diseases."

More information: B. A. Azakir, B. Erne, S. Di Fulvio, G. Stirnimann, M. Sinnreich, Proteasome inhibitors increase missense mutated dysferlin in patients with muscular dystrophy, Science Translational Medicine (2014). stm.sciencemag.org/lookup/doi/ … scitranslmed.3009612

Journal information: Science Translational Medicine
Citation: Missing protein restored in patients with muscular dystrophy (2014, August 20) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-08-protein-patients-muscular-dystrophy.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Faulty cell membrane repair causes heart disease

 shares

Feedback to editors