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1
Gaschen, Lorrie. "Cardiomyopathy in dystrophin-deficient hypertrophic feline muscular dystrophy /." [S.l.] : [s.n.], 1998. http://www.ub.unibe.ch/content/bibliotheken_sammlungen/sondersammlungen/dissen_bestellformular/index_ger.html.
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Howard, Judith. "Electrodiagnostic evaluation of dystrophin-deficient hypertrophic feline muscular dystrophy /." [S.l.] : [s.n.], 2000. http://www.ub.unibe.ch/content/bibliotheken_sammlungen/sondersammlungen/dissen_bestellformular/index_ger.html.
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Laws, Nicola. "Characterisation and strategic treatment of dystrophic muscle." University of Southern Queensland, Faculty of Sciences, 2005. http://eprints.usq.edu.au/archive/00001457/.
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The mdx mouse is widely used as a model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal X-linked disease caused by a deficiency of the sub-sarcolemmal protein, dystrophin. This dissertation reports characterisation of the features of dystrophy in the mdx mouse, including parameters such as electrophysiological and contractile properties of dystrophic cardiac tissue, quantitative evaluation of kyphosis throughout the mdx lifespan, and contractile properties of respiratory and paraspinal muscles. Following these characterisation studies, the efficacy of antisense oligonucleotides (AOs) to induce alternative mRNA splicing in mdx skeletal muscles (diaphragm and paraspinal muscles) was evaluated. The left atria of younger (<6 weeks) and older (>15 months) mdx mice showed consistently lower basal forces and responsiveness to increased calcium, while action potential duration was significantly shorter in young mice (3 weeks) and older mice (9 and 12 months) (P<0.05). Cardiac fibrosis increased with age in mdx atria and ventricles and was elevated in young (6-8 weeks) and old (15 months) mdx compared to control mice (P<0.01). This study provided insights into DMD cardiomyopathy, and suggested that very young or old mdx mice provide the most useful models. Mdx mice show thoracolumbar kyphosis like boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. A novel radiographic index, the Kyphotic Index (KI), was developed and showed that mdx mice are significantly more kyphotic from 9 months of age, an effect maintained until 17 months (P<0.05). At 17 months, the paraspinal and respiratory muscles (latissimus dorsi, diaphragm and intercostal muscles) are significantly weaker and more fibrotic (P<0.05). Administration of AOs at four sites within the diaphragm at 4 and 5 months of age significantly increased twitch and tetanic forces compared to sham treated mdx (P<0.05). However, no difference in collagen was evident and dystrophin was not detected, possibly due to the low concentration of AO utilised. This study suggested that AOs can provide functional improvement in treated skeletal muscles. Monthly injections with AOs into the paraspinal muscles from 2 months to 18 months of age alleviated kyphosis, without significantly altering twitch and tetanic forces of latissimus dorsi, diaphragm and intercostal muscles. There was evidence of less fibrosis in diaphragm and latissimus dorsi muscles (P<0.05) and reduced central nucleation of the latissimus dorsi and intercostal muscles (P<0.05). Again, dystrophin was not detected by immunoblot. These studies indicate that very young and old mdx mice display previously uncharacterised dystrophic features, and are useful models for testing new therapies such as AOs. Low doses of AOs were shown to be safe and efficacious for long-term use, however there remains a need for testing higher concentrations and improved delivery strategies.
4
Abmayr, Simone. "Gene therapy for muscular dystrophy using secondary modifiers of the dystrophic phenotype." [S.l.] : [s.n.], 2005. http://deposit.ddb.de/cgi-bin/dokserv?idn=973452595.
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Montanaro, Federica. "The role of dystroglycan in muscular dystrophy and synaptogenesis." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape7/PQDD_0020/NQ55361.pdf.
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Anderson, Jennifer Louise Medical Sciences Faculty of Medicine UNSW. "Cerebellar synaptic plasticity in two animal models of muscular dystrophy." Publisher:University of New South Wales. Medical Sciences, 2008. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/43524.
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Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and congenital muscular dystrophy 1A (MDC1A) are the two most common forms of muscular dystrophy in humans, caused by mutations in dystrophin and laminin α2 genes respectively. Both are severe forms of the disease that lead to premature death due and are both now known to have a significant effect on the central nervous system. This project investigated the role of both proteins involved in each of these diseases in cerebellar Purkinje cells of two murine models of disease: the mdx mouse a dystrophin-deficient model of DMD and the dy2J a laminin α2-deficient murine model of MDC1A. In the case of dystrophin further studies were undertaken in order to determine if increasing age had any effects on cerebellar function. It was found that there is no difference in electrophysiological characteristics (RMP, IR, eEPSP) of the cells when compared to appropriate control groups, nor was there any difference when young and aged dystrophin-deficient mdx groups were compared. Evoked IPSP characteristics were examined in young mdx cerebellar Purkinje cells and again no difference was found when compared to wildtype. There was a significant difference in response to the GABAA antagonist bicuculline, with wildtype increasing eEPSP amplitude by almost double that found in mdx. There was no difference in short term plasticity as measured by paired pulse facilitation in any of these groups. There was no difference in paired pulse depression at the inhibitory interneuron- Purkinje cell synapse of young wildtype and mdx cerebellar Purkinje cells. There a significant blunting of long term depression (LTD, (a form of long term synaptic plasticity) between young wildtype and mdx. When young wildtype animals were compared to aged wildtype animals LTD was found to be similar, when young mdx was compared to aged mdx, there was a recovery of LTD seen in the aged population. There was also significant differences in LTD found when littermate controls were compared to dy2J (laminin α2 mutants). A third of the phenotypic animals (dy2J) potentiated. Finally when rebound potentiation (a GABA-ergic form of long term synaptic plasticity in the cerebellum) was compared in young wildtype and mdx mice, mdx mice displayed depression, rather than the expected potentiation in contrast to potentiation (or no change) as seen in all wildtype cells.
7
Pearce, Marcela. "Genomic structure of the human utrophin gene." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.318897.
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Coovert, Daniel David. "Analysis of dystrophin in duchenne muscular dystrophy and SMN in spinal muscular atrophy /." The Ohio State University, 1998. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487951595500021.
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Reza, Mojgan. "Engineering and optimisation of mini-dystrophin constructs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy." Thesis, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/2827.
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Muscular dystrophies (MDs) are inherited disorders characterised by muscle weakness and atrophy. One of the most severe forms is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) which together with the milder allelic form Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) are known as the dystrophinopathies and result from defects in the X-linked gene encoding dystrophin. Dystrophin is a structural protein of the muscle that connects the internal cytoskeleton of muscle fibres to the extracellular matrix. DMD is also amongst the most common forms of muscular dystrophy, affecting ~1 in 4000 live male birth and manifests as rapidly progressive muscle degeneration leading to loss of ambulation and death in the second or third decade from respiratory or cardiac failure. Currently, there is no cure for this devastating disease. Clinical management of symptoms and complications is limited to stabilising the condition, slowing deterioration over time and palliative care. Since discovery of the DMD gene in 1986, researchers have dedicated substantial effort into vector technologies, facilitating the use of gene therapy to reintroduce a functional copy of the dystrophin gene into muscle fibres, a potential approach to treat DMD patients. However, this approach poses additional challenges relative to many gene therapy approaches since the full-length dystrophin cDNA is ~14 kb, exceeding the packaging capacity of most viral vectors. A number of large internal in-frame dystrophin deletions have been identified in patients that produce a relatively mild phenotype with later age of onset and a slower rate of disease progression than classical DMD. This observation has inspired the construction of internally truncated, but largely functional versions of dystrophin suitable for gene transfer using viral vectors. So far the most widely used miniaturised dystrophin transgenes have been tested in AAV-mediated gene delivery which has identified several limitations indicating the use of more favourable transgenes that have smaller deletions, yet carrying more functional parts of dystrophin. In this study human mini-dystrophin constructs of 4.3-7.7 kb in size were designed that retain key functional elements of dystrophin molecule and their relative functionality investigated in mdx mice. The ultimate aim of this study is the characterisation and optimisation of these mini-dystrophin constructs for gene delivery studies via viral vectors as a therapeutic tool for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
10
Winblad, Stefan. "Myotonic dystrophy type 1 : cognition, personality and emotion /." Göteborg : Göteborg University, Dept. of Psychology, 2006. http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&doc_number=015464022&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA.
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Judge, Luke Milburn. "Dissecting the signaling and mechanical functions of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex in skeletal muscle /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/4989.
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Dutton, Anna Louise. "An investigation into the effects of dystrophin on the lateral mobility of muscle membrane components." Thesis, Durham University, 1999. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/4576/.
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Dystrophin is the product of the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy gene locus, whose absence results in progressive skeletal muscle breakdown. Despite considerable work on the localisation of dystrophin and its associated complex, its role in muscle function remains unclear. In the light of the structural and mechanical instability of the dystrophic membrane, the idea was tested that dystrophin might impart membrane integrity and strength by anchoring membrane proteins and/or delineating the surface into specialised subcellular functional domains. Specifically, because dystrophin shows high sequence, structural and spatial similarities to the cytoskeletal protein spectrin; and because spectrin is proven to sterically restrict protein lateral diffusion through a subplasmalemmal network; the capacity of dystrophin to act as a 'molecular fence' to membrane diffusion was studied by comparing lateral mobility of membrane glycoproteins by fluorescence photobleach recovery in mdx and normal tissue. Secondly, as dystrophin has been proven to interact directly with proteins of the dystrophin associated glycoprotein complex in vivo, experiments addressed whether specific binding and immobilisation of the complex by dystrophin at the membrane was essential for function. Finally, given the homology of dystrophin and spectrin, the presence of dystrophin at the neuromuscular junction, and the importance of spectrins in immobilisation of voltage gated sodium channels in the nervous system, the role of dystrophin in regulating voltage gated sodium channel distribution at the neuromuscular junction was investigated. The results show that membrane glycoproteins were immobile in the presence and absence of dystrophin, suggesting dystrophin is not an essential molecular fence component. Alternatively, viability may have been the major influence on protein and lipid diffusion in these fibres and suggestions are made as to how this may be recognised and overcome for subsequent investigation. Three novel exon specific anti-dystrophin peptide antibodies were generated during the work that will be useful for studies into Duchenne muscular dystrophy in general, and dystrophin revertant fibres in particular.
13
Lekan, Jaimy Marie. "Exercise-induced mechanisms of muscle adaptation in mdx mice." The Ohio State University, 2004. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1095372379.
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Johnson, Eric K. "A new model for the dystrophin associated protein complex in striated muscles." The Ohio State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1354554580.
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15
Holst, Holst. "The history of muscular dystrophy." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/27477.
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The muscular dystrophies, Duchenne muscular dystrophy being the most common type, are a group for which there is no apparent pathology to the spinal motor neurons concomitant to progressive muscular degeneration. After this fact was established during the nineteenth century through postmortem examination, Charcot divided muscular disease into the "Great Classes" of myopathy and neuropathy. Erb's study of the histopathology brought a further division between the two before death and therefore the muscle biopsy became a tool for differential diagnosis. He also discovered that the response of muscle in myopathy and neuropathy to the application of electric current differed. While the response of myopathic muscle was progressively diminishing and equally so to the application of either galvanic or alternating current, neuropathic muscle maintained its ability to contract upon the application of galvanic current during the course of the disease.
As well as the animating power of the nervous system by way of the anterior nerves, its trophic effect upon the muscle was evident by loss of volume upon interruption of its influence. Even though the absence of a lesion involving the spinal motor neurons or descending motor tracts was a constant in muscular dystrophy, there remained some reluctance to accept myopathy as being independent of the nervous system. According to the maintenance of the contractile response to galvanic current in neuropathy Erb suggested that there was a nerve centre other than that of the anterior cornua of the spinal cord which supplied the trophic influence. When he found histological features which were typical of myopathy in poliomyelitis he was convinced that muscular dystrophy was the result of a trophic disturbance. However, this theory was not sustainable because there was no anatomical evidence for a special trophic centre.
In 1970 McComas again proposed that a neurogenic phenomenon was responsible for the pathogenesis of the muscular dystrophies. It was the re-emergence of a neurogenic hypothesis for muscular dystrophy which was the purpose of my exercise. In order to answer the question as to why a trophic theory reappeared I followed the research and theory regarding muscular dystrophy over time.
The powerful effect of the somatic innervation upon muscle metabolism as determined by cross innervation experiments during the 1960's, set the stage for the reassertion of a trophic disturbance in muscular dystrophy. In addition, the division between myopathy and neuropathy had become less.distinct by 1970 in terms of histology, serum enzymes and the intramuscular innervation. Histological features considered to by typical of myopathy were seen in the biopsies of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and Kugelberg-Welander spinal muscular atrophy. As well, abnormally elevated serum levels of creatine phosphokinase which was characteristic of muscular dystrophy, were measured in these neuropathies. Changes in the intramuscular innervation of myotonic dystrophy and the animal model for muscular dystrophy also brought into question the myopathicity of muscular dystrophy.
By 1970 the types of muscular dystrophy had been classified according to clinical and genetic criteria and were thus known to be genetically distinct diseases. A unifying hypothesis is always desireable and therefore, mental deficiency according to clinical assessment in Duchenne and myotonic dystrophy, the latter being an "impure" dystrophy, were considered to be supportive of the neurogenic hypothesis. "Hypertrophic paraplegia of infancy of cerebral origin" was the original title of what became known as Duchenne dystrophy. The frequent occurrence of mental retardation was the foundation of the name but with knowledge concerning the profound influence of the nerve upon the metabolism of the muscle, the alleged cerebral defect in Duchenne dystrophy favoured the neuropathicity of dystrophy even more.Medicine, Faculty of
Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Department of
Graduate
16
Machuca-Tzili, Laura E. "Molecular basis of myotonic dystrophy." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.440000.
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Clement, E. "Congenital muscular dystrophy in 2010." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2011. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1318071/.
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Congenital Muscular Dystrophies (CMDs) are a heterogeneous group of conditions that usually present in the first months of life with weakness and hypotonia. Extramuscular manifestations are common and may include brain, skin and eye abnormalities. CMDs are relatively rare disorders and despite the major progress made over the last 2 decades in identifying, mapping and investigating these conditions, there remains a lot to be learned. Little is known about the relative frequency of the various forms of CMD in the UK population. Experience had shown that founder mutations are common in different ethnic populations and epidemiological studies performed in other countries are of limited value in this regard. Since 2001, the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre (DNC) has been the National Commissioning Group UK Centre for CMD. As such we are in the privileged position to have access to a large number of UK patients with CMD. I analysed a cohort of 214 CMD referrals to the DNC between 2001 and 2008 with a view to reporting the diagnostic outcome and the frequency of the various forms of CMD encountered in our patient population. The second part of the thesis is concerned with the dystroglycanopathies, a recently described group of CMDs associated with aberrant glycosylation of alpha dystroglycan. To date, 7 genes have been identified, some of which give rise to multiple dystroglycanopathy phenotypes. I studied the genotype-phenotype relationship in a large group of dystroglycanopathy patients, reporting new clinical phenotypes and establishing the mutation frequency in this group. I also report in detail the spectrum of MRI brain changes seen in 27 dystroglycanopathy patients. In summary, this work reports the diagnostic outcome in the largest cohort of UK CMD cases studied and refines the genotype-phenotype correlation in patients with dystroglycanopathies.
18
Betts, Corinne A. "Exon skipping peptide-pmos for correction of dystrophin in mouse models of duchenne muscular dystrophy." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2014. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:545d586a-ad7b-4089-8537-b2677957b874.
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Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal, muscle-wasting disorder due to mutations/deletions in the dystrophin gene. Whilst improvements in palliative care have increased the life expectancy of patients, cardiomyopathy and respiratory complications are still the leading causes of death. A potential therapy for the treatment of DMD is antisense oligonucleotides (AOs), which modulate dystrophin pre-mRNA splicing to restore the dystrophin reading frame and generate a truncated functional protein. Conjugation of AOs to cell penetrating peptides (CPP), such as Pip5e-, significantly improves delivery to skeletal muscles and to the heart, which is imperative given the impact of cardiomyopathy to mortality. However, it should be noted that the contribution of skeletal muscles, such as the core respiratory muscle, the diaphragm, in dystrophic cardiopulmonary function is poorly understood. The specific aims of the work in this thesis were to (i) understand the effect of the diaphragm on cardiac function using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), (ii) screen a number of derivatives of Pip5e (Pip6) in an effort to discover further promising peptides and define the properties integral to heart penetrating capacity, and (iii) assess whether Pip6-PMOs restore cardiac function (MRI) following a repeat, low dose regimen. In short, the specific restoration of dystrophin in the diaphragm of the dystrophic mouse model, the mdx mouse, did not improve cardiac function, highlighting the importance of a body-wide therapy. The screening of multiple Pip5e-PMO derivatives revealed 3 promising peptides with improved cardiac splicing capacity; however, serial deletions of amino acids from the central core resulted in the diminution of dystrophin restoration, possibly due to a reduction in hydrophobicity. Finally, the Pip6-PMO treatment regimen substantially restored dystrophin protein (28% in heart) and stabilised cardiac function, even with an increased work load. In conclusion, this study illustrates the importance of a body-wide treatment, such as the CPP strategy (Pip-PMO). These Pip-PMO conjugates demonstrate high dystrophin restoration in a number of muscles, including cardiac muscle, and have a beneficial effect on cardiac function.
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Woolf, Peter James. "Cardiac calcium handling in the mouse model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy." University of Southern Queensland, Faculty of Sciences, 2003. http://eprints.usq.edu.au/archive/00001525/.
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The dystrophinopathies are a group of disorders characterised by cellular absence of the membrane stabilising protein, dystrophin. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most severe disorder clinically. The deficiency of dystrophin, in the muscular dystrophy X-linked (mdx) mouse causes an elevation in intracellular calcium in cardiac myocytes. Potential mechanisms contributing to increased calcium include enhanced influx, sarcoplasmic reticular calcium release and\or reduced sequestration or sarcolemmal efflux. This dissertation examined the potential mechanisms that may contribute to an intracellular calcium overload in a murine model of muscular dystrophy. The general cardiomyopathy of the mdx myocardium was evident, with the left atria from mdx consistently producing less force than control atria. This was associated with delayed relaxation. The role of the L-type calcium channels mediating influx was initially investigated. Dihydropyridines had a lower potency in contracting left atria corresponding to a redued dihydropyridine receptor affinity in radioligand binding studies of mdx ventricular homogenates (P<0.05). This was associated with increased ventricular dihydropyridine receptor protein and mRNA levels (P<0.05). The function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in terms of release and also sequestration of calcium via the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum ATPase were investigated. A lower force of contraction was evident in mdx left atria in response to a range of stimulation frequencies (P<0.05) and concentrations of extracellular calcium (P<0.05). However, in the presence of 1 nM Ryanodine to block sarcoplasmic reticular calcium release, increased stimulation frequency caused similar forces to those obtained in control mice suggesting enhanced calcium influx via L-type calcium channels in mdx. Rapid cooling contractures showed a reduced contracture in mdx compared to control in response to cooling. This suggests some dysfunction in SR storage, which may be associated with the delayed relaxation time. Concentration-response curves to inhibitors of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum showed no difference in function of the enzyme responsible for calcium uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Although sarco-endoplasmic reticulum ATPase mRNA was upregulated, no functional benefit was evident. This study indicates that a deficiency of dystrophin leads to upregulation of L-type calcium channels that contribute to increased calcium influx, with no functional change in sarcoplasmic reticular sequestration. Upregulation of the influx pathway is a potential mechanism for the calcium overload observed in mdx cardiac muscle.
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Al-Rewashdy, Hasanen. "Determining the Contribution of Utrophin A Versus Other Components of the Slow, Oxidative Phenotype in the Beneficial Adaptations of Dystrophic Muscle Fibers Following AMPK Activation." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/31470.
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Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) results from the absence of a functional dystrophin protein. Among its possible therapeutic options is the upregulation of dystrophin’s autosomal analogue, utrophin A. This can be achieved by a pharmacologically induced shift towards a slower, more oxidative skeletal muscle phenotype, which has been shown to confer morphological and functional improvements on models of DMD. Whether these improvements are a result of the utrophin A upregulation or other beneficial adaptations associated with the slow, oxidative phenotype, such as improved autophagy, has not been determined. To understand the importance of utrophin A to the therapeutic value of the slow, oxidative phenotype, we used the utrophin/dystrophin double knockout (dKO) model of DMD. We found the dKO mouse to have a similar skeletal muscle signaling capacity and phenotype to mdx mice. When treated with the adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) agonist 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), both dKO and mdx mice expressed a shift towards a slower, more oxidative phenotype. In the mdx mice, this shift caused improvements in muscle fiber central nucleation, IgM penetration, damage from eccentric contractions, and forelimb grip strength. These morphological and functional benefits were not seen in the AICAR treated dKO mice. This study highlights the importance of utrophin A upregulation to the benefits of the slow, oxidative myogenic program to dystrophic mice. It confirms utrophin A as a therapeutic target in DMD and the slow, oxidative myogenic program as clinically relevant avenue towards treatment of the disease.
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Deol, Jatinderpal. "Development of helper-dependent adenovirus for gene expression in muscle." Thesis, McGill University, 2001. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=33745.
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Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by necrosis and progressive loss of muscle fibers. DMD patients have a mutation in the gene encoding dystrophin, a large membrane-associated cytoskeletal protein on the cytoplasmic side of the sarcolemma. Gene therapy using fully deleted adenoviral vectors shows great potential for the eventual treatment of DMD and other genetic diseases. These vectors are less immunogenic than their predecessors and have the capacity to carry large DNA inserts such as the full-length dystrophin (12 kb). However, the lack of viral genes results in a weakened and subsiding (short) transgene expression in muscle. Findings in the lung and liver have shown the adenoviral E4 region, in particular E4 open reading frame 3 (ORF3) to contribute to the maintenance of transgene expression. We constructed an adenovirus in which E4 ORF3 was reintroduced into a fully-deleted adenovirus along with full-length dystrophin (AdCBDysORF3). Dystrophin levels produced by AdCBDysORF3 were found to be not sustained in mdx mice, dropping significantly by day 90. However, expression levels did increase when AdCBDysORF3 was complemented with other viral proteins such as EIB. Likewise, increasing the expression of the primary adenovirus receptor (CAR) in muscle also resulted in a higher initial dystrophin expression in myofibers.
22
Winchester, Catherine Louisa. "Expression of myotonic dystrophy candidate proteins." Thesis, Imperial College London, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.265141.
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Rabinowitz, Adam Howard. "Antisense therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.444590.
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Smith, T. J. "Molecular analysis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1988. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.233559.
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Hodgson, Shirley V. "Genetic studies in Duchenne muscular dystrophy." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.235878.
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Wakefield, Philip M. "Gene therapy for duchenne muscular dystrophy." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.365743.
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Bakir, Hadil. "Studies on muscular dystrophy associated genes." Thesis, Durham University, 2007. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/2143/.
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Muscular dystrophy is a collective group of genetic disorder that results in progressive wasting of skeletal muscle. Dysferlin, the gene responsible for Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B) and Miyoshi Myopathy (MM) was found to be a member of a newly identified protein family named the ferlins. Recent work has suggested that dysferlin is necessary for efficient calcium sensitive membrane resealing therefore is involved in membrane repair, a mechanism which if defective results in progressive muscle wasting. In this project, the involvement of other genes that could possibly be associated with muscular dystrophy is investigated. Myoferlin, a member of the ferlin protein family is highly homologous to dysferlin and is also a plasma membrane protein with six C2 domains and a C-terminus transmembrane domain. To date no disease has been associated with mutations in the myoferlin gene but its high similarity to dysferlin means that it could be a potential muscular dystrophy associated gene. Results obtained from this study strongly suggest that myoferlin like dysferlin is enriched at plasma membrane disruption sites and during myoblast differentiation, two processes which involve the fusion of two opposed bilayers, a process vital in membrane repair. In addition, a fifth member of the ferlin protein family is reported in this project and the primary results obtained are consistent with it being a potential muscular dystrophy associated gene. Finally, a group of MM affected families that were previously excluded for mutations in their dysferlin gene were analysed for muscular dystrophy associated genes other than dysferlin.
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Coonrod, Leslie, and Leslie Coonrod. "Targeting Myotonic Dystrophy with Small Molecules." Thesis, University of Oregon, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1794/12379.
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Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy, characterized by its hallmark symptom myotonia. DM is an autosomal dominant disease caused by a toxic gain of function RNA. The toxic RNA is produced from expanded non-coding CTG/CCTG repeats, and these CUG/CCUG repeats sequester a family of RNA binding proteins. The Muscleblind-like (MBNL) family of RNA binding proteins are sequestered to the expanded CUG/CCUG repeats. The MBNL proteins are regulators of alternative splicing, and their sequestration to the toxic RNA leads to mis-splicing events, which are believed to cause the symptoms observed in DM patients.
A previously reported screen for small molecules used to identify compounds that could disrupt MBNL from binding the toxic CUG repeats found that pentamidine was able to rescue splicing defects associated with DM. Herein, we present a new class of molecules (phenolsulphonphthaleins) that inhibited MBNL1/CUG repeat complex formation in a competitive electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Additionally, one of these molecules, bromophenol blue (BPB), acted in a synergistic manner with the previously described inhibitor pentamidine. We also demonstrated that the halogenation of the phenolsulphonphthalein dyes is an important factor for activity. Moreover, we presentant analysis of a series of methylene linker variants of pentamidine that revealed heptamidine (an analog of pentamidine) could reverse splicing defects in a DM1 tissue culture model and rescue myotonia in a DM1 mouse model.
Finally, we report on a new crystal structure of CUG repeats, crystallized in the context of a GAAA tetraloop/receptor which facilitated ordered packing within the crystal. This structure was consistent with previous structures showing that the repeats are essentially A-form RNA, despite having a U-U mismatch every third base pair. We also identified six types of U-U mismatch in the context of the 5'CUG/3'GUC motif, suggesting that the interactions between the uridines are dynamic. This structure also contains the highest resolution GAAA tetraloop/receptor structure (1.95 Å) reported to date.
This dissertation includes previously unpublished co-authored material.
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Wang, Eric T. (Eric Tzy-shi). "Alternative isoform regulation in myotonic dystrophy." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/70816.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, 2012.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references.
Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is the most common form of adult onset muscular dystrophy, affecting more than 1 in 8000 individuals globally. The symptoms of DM are multi-systemic and include myotonia, severe muscle wasting, cardiac arrhythmias, cataracts, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and cognitive deficits. DM is caused by the expansion of CTG or CCTG repeat sequences expressed in noncoding portions of RNA, which sequester or activate RNA splicing factor proteins, leading to widespread deleterious changes in transcriptome isoform usage. We developed a method for studying transcriptomes, RNAseq, which provides a high resolution, digital inventory of gene and isoform expression. By applying RNAseq to human tissues and cell lines, we discovered that essentially 92-94% of all human genes are alternatively spliced, 86% of them with a minor isoform frequency 15% or more. We found that the majority of alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation and cleavage events are tissue-regulated, and that patterns of these RNA processing events are strongly correlated across tissues, implicating protein factors that may regulate both types of events. We applied this method towards the goal of identifying transcriptome changes occurring in DM, focusing on the Muscleblind-like (MBNL) family of RNA binding proteins, which are functionally inactivated by CUG or CCUG repeats. Using RNAseq to profile tissues and cells depleted of MBNLs, we found that MBNL1 and MBNL2 co-regulate hundreds of redundant targets. MBNL1 UV cross-linking and immunoprecipitation, followed by sequencing (CLIPseq), was used to identify the in vivo transcriptome-wide binding locations of MBNL1, and facilitated the construction of a context-dependent RNA map for MBNL1 splicing regulation. Extensive 3' UTR binding of MBNL1 was found to localize mRNAs to membrane compartments of mouse myoblasts, suggesting a new global function for MBNLs, and additional mechanisms by which MBNL depletion can lead to DM symptoms.
by Eric T. Wang.
Ph.D.
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Koppaka, Sisir. "Imaging biomarkers for Duchenne muscular dystrophy." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/106959.
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Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, Center for Computational Engineering, Computation for Design and Optimization Program, 2015.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 75-78).
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common muscular dystrophy of childhood and affects 1 in 3600 male births. The disease is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene leading to progressive muscle weakness which ultimately results in death due to respiratory and cardiac failure. Accurate, practical, and painless tests to diagnose DMD and measure disease progression are needed in order to test the effectiveness of new therapies. Current clinical outcome measures such as the sixminute walk test and North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) can be subjective and limited by the patient's degree of effort and cannot be accurately performed in the very young or severely affected older patients. We propose the use of image-based biomarkers with suitable machine learning algorithms instead. We find that force-controlled (precise acquisition at a certain force) and force-correlated (acquisition over a force sweep) ultrasound helps to reduce variability in the imaging process. We show that there is a high degree of inter-operator and intra-operator reliability with this integrated hardware-software setup. We also discuss how other imaging biomarkers, segmentation algorithms to target specific subregions, and better machine learning techniques may provide a boost to the performance reported. Optimizing the ultrasound image acquisition process by maximizing the peak discriminatory power of the images vis-à-vis force applied at the contact force is also discussed. The techniques presented here have the potential for providing a reliable and non-invasive method to discriminate, and eventually track the progression of DMD in patients.
by Sisir Koppaka.
S.M.
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Tay, Shaun Li Jian. "Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy—Insight and Treatment." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/595055.
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Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of muscle fibers and dystrophic changes on muscle biopsy¹. DMD accounts for approximately 50% of all dystrophinopathies, with around 21,000 male babies born with the disease each year², ³, ⁴, ⁵. It is also the most lethal X-linked recessive disorder as phenotypic traits are not immediately present at birth¹¹, ³. Patients usually do not live past their 20's without medical intervention to treat associated respiratory and cardiac dysfunctions¹¹, ³. For these reasons DMD remains one of the greatest threats, amongst a range of pediatric pathologies, to the normalcy of child development and parental care. Although treatment options have shown to mitigate the progression of DMD, most are controversial and costly - the estimated annual treatment cost of DMD per patient is $50,953⁵⁸. In light of this, disease awareness and public health education are critical components for acquiring funds needed for research towards a cure¹². My hope is that through this integrated overview of DMD, the medical layman will better understand the depths of this lethal disease, and how it can be detrimental to both the affected child and his caretaker.
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Wallace, Lindsay M. "Gene Therapy for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy." The Ohio State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1338315498.
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Beers, Leanne. "Living With Muscular Dystrophy: Sexual Education." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4908.
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Sexual pleasure and intimacy are fundamental and innate human needs. Individuals with physical disabilities often find it difficult to meet these needs because of such factors as impaired mobility and lack of knowledge about sexual health. People with physical disabilities are often seen as asexual and not capable of having sex, and sexuality is often not considered a concern among this population. These misconceptions can result in individuals with physical disabilities not receiving basic sex education or advice and guidance when issues arise. Not receiving this attention may impede disabled individuals' sexual potential and personal relationships. This study's focus was on the unique challenges individuals with muscular dystrophy (MD) face regarding sexual pleasure and intimacy. Humanistic psychology and the human rights theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. Using a qualitative multiple case study approach, 4 individuals with MD were asked what sexual education, if any, they received, and if they did receive sexual education, whether it met their needs. Data were analyzed using open and axial coding. Key findings were that there is an overarching theme of sexual silence and lack of sex education for people with MD. These findings can help inform efforts to provide more inclusive education for people with MD and individuals with other types of physical disabilities. Study findings contribute to social change by showing the importance of the need for more inclusive sexual education. Providing such education will better meet the basic human needs of an often undeserved and stigmatized population and end the silence that individuals with physical disabilities have regarding sexual health and intimacy.
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vianello, sara. "Molecular modifiers in Duchenne muscular dystrophy." Doctoral thesis, Università degli studi di Padova, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11577/3426720.
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Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked progressive neuromuscular disease affecting 1:3500 –1/5000 boys at birth. It is caused by the absence of dystrophin, a subsarcolemmal protein that confers membrane stability linking cytoskeletal actin to the extracellular matrix. Dystrophin is part of a multi-protein complex called dystrophin associated protein complex (DAPC), which contains, among the other components, β-dystroglycan and nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The consequences of the absence of dystrophin are: deregulation of calcium homeostasis, tissue necrosis, and progressive accumulation of fat and fibrosis and loss of contractile muscle fibers. The ensuing muscle weakness leads to progressive and severe disability, with loss of independent ambulation around the early teens, and cardiac and respiratory failure leading to patient’s death, usually around the age of 20-30 years.Despite all patients having a complete lack of dystrophin in muscle fibers, a relevant inter-patient variability in disease severity is observed (e.g. loss of ambulation may range from 8 to beyond 15 years of age). Emerging evidence points to genetic modifiers, i.e. polymorphisms in genes different form the disease gene, as one of the causes of this variability, but little is yet known about the underlying molecular mechanisms.My PhD work can be divided into 4 aims: Aim 1: To characterize the molecular mechanism underlying the modifier effect of the rs28357094 T>G SNP in the SPP1gene, encoding osteopontin (OPN) the first identified genetic modifier of DMD. I treated dystrophic and healthy cell line with two different concentrations of deflazacort (DFZ), one of the glucocorticoids mainly used to treat DMD patients, in order to analyze osteopontin expression in relation to genetic background at rs24357094. The results obtained revealed: (I) a developmental regulated expression pattern of OPN; (II) no difference of osteopontin expression are observed related to rs28357094 genotype; (III) an increase in OPN expression only in TG DFZ-treated myotubes, suggesting a possible interaction between glucocorticoid responsive elements (GRs) in the promoter of the SPP1gene and the glucocorticoid.Aim 2: To investigate the possible roles of SPP1splicing isoforms in DMDmuscle biopsies and cells. Three SPP1isoforms, named a, b and c, were analyzed. SPP1mRNA studies revealed that all three isoforms are overexpressed in DMD muscle compared to controls, but not in myogenic cell cultures. Moreover, SPP1isoforms expression was directly correlated withage in DMD patients’ muscle biopsies. Finally, muscle biopsies carrying the rs24357094 TT genotype showed an increased expression of all three SPP1isoforms compared to TG genotype.
Aim 3: To validate the known DMD geneticmodifiers in novel cohorts of DMD patients utilizing different outcome measures. First, we asked if SPP1genotype and LTBP4haplotype (the second identified modifier of DMD) can modulate the cardiac involvement in DMD. LTBP4haplotye and the SPP1rs28357094 were genotyped in 168 DMD patients. LTBP4haplotype is composed of 4 polymorphisms in perfect linkage disequilibrium (LD). The genotype at rs10880 resulted, as expected, to be associated to a delay at age of loss of ambulation (LoA) and, as novel finding, also to a delay in cardiomyopathy onset. The SPP1minor G allele at rs28357094 resulted also associated to a later cardiomyopathy onset.Finally, I participate to the identification of the third genetic modifier in DMD: CD40. CD40was identified through a GWAS approach in a large cohort of DMD patients.The CD40rs1883832 C>T polymorphism is located within the Kozak sequence of the gene and it causes a decrease of transcriptional activity of the promoter resulting in an increase of the CD40 secreted isoform. In order to validate CD40 as a genetic modifier in DMD in an independent cohort from the discovery cohort, rs1883832 was genotyped in 96 DMD patients.DMD patients carrying the minor T allele lost ambulation earlier compared to patients carrying the C allele. Moreover, in order to study the functional role of CD40 in DMD, RT-PCR and immunoblot were performed in a subset of patients’ muscle biopsies stratified according to rs1883832 genotype. Our results reveal that the minor T allele is associated to an increase of the transcript and a decrease of the protein compared to C genotype.Taken together these data contribute to clarify some aspects of the molecular mechanisms underlying the downstream consequences of genetic modifiers in DMD. Further studies are needed to fully translate the knowledge acquired in thefield of genetic modifiers in DMD to the clinic, e.g. to implement patient genotyping for genetic counseling, prognosis, planning of treatments, and stratification in clinical trials
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Thorogood, Francesca Clare. "Modulation of dystrophin pre-mRNA splicing by antisense oligonucleotides : a potential therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy." Thesis, Royal Holloway, University of London, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.504809.
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Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked muscle wasting disorder caused by mutations in the gene for dystrophin, a 427kDa cytoskeletal protein important for maintaining the integrity of muscle fibres. A number of DMD mutations result in an absence of functional protein due to disruption of the translational reading frame. It has been shown previously that antisense oligonucleotide (AON) reagents can modulate dystrophin pre-mRNA splicing to specifically exclude an out-of-frame exon from the mRNA. This restores the open reading frame resulting in production of a semi-functional internally-truncated dystrophin protein, mimicking what occurs in the milder allelic Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD). Previous work in this laboratory demonstrated successful exclusion of nonsense mutation carrying exon 23 in the mdx mouse model of DMD. This thesis is concerned with extension of the investigation by examining the bioactivity of alternative AON backbone chemistries 2' -O-methyl phosphorothioate (20Me), peptide nucleic acid (PNA) and phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) targeting the 5'splice site of exon 23 in vitro and in vivo. In cultured murine muscle cells both the 20Me and PMO-based AON reagents induced detectable exon 23 exclusion. In the mdx mouse model intramuscular delivery of the 20Me-based AON reagent resulted in de novo dystrophin expression correctly localised at the sarcolemma that persisted for up to 4 weeks after a single dose. The PMO-based reagent resulted in de novo dystrophin expression that persisted for up to 10 weeks after a single intramuscular dose and for up to 8 weeks after a single intravenous dose. To broaden the investigation nine additional murine dystrophin exons were selected and AON regents designed targeting the 5'splice site and putative exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) sequences. Overall the results demonstrate that the AONs employed here induce detectable, reproducible exclusion of exon 23. The PMO-based reagent is currently superior for modulation of dystrophin pre-mRNA splicing.
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Tandon, Animesh. "Dystrophin genotype-cardiac phenotype correlations in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1396453528.
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Kaspar, Rita Wen. "Genotype-Phenotype Association Analysis of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Becker Muscular Dystrophy." The Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243469474.
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Sabourin, Luc. "Myotonic dystrophy: A study of the expression of the myotonic dystrophy gene in affected tissues and cells." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/9871.
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Recently, the molecular basis of myotonic dystrophy(DM) has been characterized as an unstable trinucleotide CTG repeat amplification in the 3' untranslated region of a gene encoding a protien with serine/threonine kinase activity. As a first step towards understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying DM, we have analyzed the amplification of the CTG repeat and the DM kinase (DMK) mRNA steady state levels in tissues and cell lines obtained from normal and congenital DM individuals. We have raised polyclonal antibodies against human DMK fusion protein and undertook DMK protein expression analysis in freshly sampled muscle tissues from normal and DM individuals. Our antibody detected DMK protein isoforms of 72 and 84 kDa, for which the levels and distribution were not significantly altered in tissues from adult and congenital DM patients. In addition, we have demonstrated that the previously reported decrease in DMK mRNA expression in affected tissues may be the result of a significant loss of type I myofibers, which preferentially express DMK. In contrast to previous reports, our results also showed that the mutant DMK allele was clearly transcribed as a high molecular weight mRNA in muscle tissue of a severely affected patient. We have examined DMK expression during muscle differentiation in vitro and subsequently investigated the effect of DMK over-expression on the terminal differentiation of the murine myoblast cell line C2C12. We demonstrated that DMK is up-regulated 2 to 3-fold during skeletal myogenesis and that constitutive over-expression of DMK mRNA in myoblasts caused a marked inhibition of myoblast terminal differentiation. Surprisingly, this activity mapped to the 3'UTR of the DMK transcript.When the DMK 3'UTR was placed downstream of a hygromycin resistance gene, the same inhibition of myogenesis was observed. Over-expression of the DMK 3' UTR in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts did not have any effect on their proliferation, suggesting that the 3' UTR does not prevent cell cycle withdrawal and differentiation by promoting growth. Further characterization of the 3' UTR sequences mediating the observed inhibition of terminal differentiation mapped these elements to a 239 bp conserved segment of the 3' UTR located upsteam of the CTG repeat. Furthermore, the DMK 3' UTR did not have any significant effect on the activity of the myogenic regulator MyoD when co-transfected into 10T1/2 cells along with a reporter construct bearing a muscle specific enhancer element. This suggested that the 3' UTR did not interfere with the ability of MyoD to transactivate muscle-specific genes. However, when the mRNA levels for two early myogenic regulators were analysed, myoblast clones over-expressing the 3' UTR expressed normal levels of MEF-2C, but showed reduced myogenin mRNA levels compared to controls, following the induction of differentiation. In addition, in contrast to controls, myogenin protien levels were found to be unchanged during myogenesis in these clones. These data suggested that over-expression of the DMK 3' UTR may alter the expression of specific mRNAs leading to a delay in terminal differentiation. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
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Parry, David Alasdair. "Molecular genetics of cone-rod dystrophy : loss of ADAM9 leads to cone-rod dystrophy; mutations in CNNM4 cause Jalili syndrome, consisting of cone-rod dystrophy and amelogenesis imperfecta." Thesis, University of Leeds, 2011. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.555849.
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The term "cone-rod dystrophy" (CORD) describes a clinically heterogeneous group of progressive retinal dystrophies characterised by predominant or equal loss of cone compared to rod photoreceptors, reduced ' visual acuity, colour vision abnormalities, photophobia and visual field loss. Over 20 genes and loci have been associated with CORD to date. This thesis details the discovery of mutations in two genes not previously known to be associated with CORD or retinal function in families with CORD in isolation and families with Jalili syndrome. Refinement of the previously published CORD9 locus by microsatellite and SNP genotyping followed by screening of candidate genes identified mutations in the gene ADAM9 in the original CORD9 family and three further consanguineous families autozygous for the CORD9 region. Examination of A dam 9-1- mice identified a progressive retinal degeneration in these animals which appears to manifest first as a defect in the interface between photoreceptor outer segments and the retinal pigment epithelium. Jalili syndrome, consisting of recessively inherited CORD and amelogenesis imperfecta, was first described in a large consanguineous family from the Gaza strip and subsequently linked to a region on chromosome 2. Genotyping of six additional families with this condition confirmed the existence of a genetically homogenous .: condition and refined the candidate region to an 11 Mb interval. Sequencing of candidate genes uncovered biallelic mutations in CNNM4, a putative metal transporter in all families tested. Immunolocalisation .of the protein confirmed expression in the neural retina and ameloblasts of the developing tooth.
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Harris, Sarah Elizabeth. "Expression and functional analysis of the transcription factor DMAHP." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.284736.
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ANGELINO, ELIA. "Unacylated ghrelin enhances satellite cell function and relieves the dystrophic phenotype in Duchenne muscular dystrophy mdx model." Doctoral thesis, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11579/86982.
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Kim, Jihee. "Evaluating pathogenesis in FKRP related muscular dystrophy." Thesis, Royal Veterinary College (University of London), 2016. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.731277.
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Brais, Bernard. "Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy : from phenotype to genotype." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape11/PQDD_0002/NQ44369.pdf.
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Bogdanovic, Marko D. "Cerebral Structure and Function in Myotonic Dystrophy." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.501971.
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Li, Xin. "Screening for drugs to treat myotonic dystrophy." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2014. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.659218.
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Myotonic Dystrophy (DM) is the most common form of muscular dystrophy in adults with an occurrence of about 1 in 8000 people. DM type 1 (DM1) is caused an expanded CTG triplet repeat within the 3' -untranslated region (3' -UTR) of the Myotonic Dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) gene, while type 2 (DM2) is caused by an expanded CCTG repeat in intron I of the Zinc Finger 9 gene (ZNG9) gene. In DM, the mutant DMPK transcripts are trapped within nucleus and fOlm ribonuclear foci which interact with alternative splicing factors including MBNL and CUG-BP proteins. The abnormal levels of splicing factors lead to splicing defects contributing to the major symptoms of DM. At present, there is no treatment for DM. This study developed a series of screening and validation assays targeting different stages of DM pathophysiology. The subject of this thesis was to identify compounds and small molecules which are able to rescue molecular features of DM as a stat1ing point of therapeutic dmg development for DM. In this study, I have developed a high-throughput screen assay using an in situ hybridization protocol for compounds intenupting nuclear foci in DM patient cell lines. Enzo® Kinase, Phosphatase Inhibitor and NCGC Phatmaceutical Libraries were screened, and four compounds, Hypericin, Ro 31-8220, Gemcitabine and Chromomycin A3, which reduce or remove nuclear foci in DM cells, have been identified. Cyototoxic activities of hit compounds and their effects on molecular features of DM were examined with a series of validation assays. This study demonstrates that Ro 31-8220 alters the ratio of expansion allele of DMPK in the nucleus; Ro 31-8220 and Chromomycin A3 affect alternative splicing of SERCAl in some DMl cell lines, and eliminate or reduce nuclear MBNLl protein foci. The hit compounds identified can be a stat1ing point for dmg development for DM therapy.
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Gibb, Andrew J. "Molecular analysis of mytonic dystrophy type-1." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.400118.
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Smith, Philip E. M. "Breathing during sleep in Duchenne muscular dystrophy." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 1988. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.235539.
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Babaria, Arati. "Molecular Mechanisms that Underlie Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/612573.
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Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited, X-linked recessive skeletal muscle disorder that is characterized by mutations in the dystrophin gene [1]. Therefore, the disease affects primarily males and women are typically carriers. 1 in 3500 males in the United States are affected [1]. Dystrophin is a critical, large scaffolding protein in the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex found at the sarcolemma of skeletal muscle [1]. The complex helps maintain sarcolemma integrity and stability during muscle contractions by coupling the extracellular matrix proteins to the intracellular cytoskeleton in skeletal muscle [1]. Loss-of-function mutations in the dystrophin protein affect all skeletal muscle found throughout the human body. The 427 kD protein is also present in cardiac muscle, the brain, and peripheral nerves, thus affecting these tissues over time, as well [1]. One theory suggests the weakened stability of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex when dystrophin is not expressed results in transient membrane tears during contraction, which permit pathological calcium influx [1]. Damaged skeletal muscle results in repair and regeneration of the tissue however, continual damage over time (referred to as muscle wasting) results in extensive fibrosis and loss of muscle fibers. The purpose of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive review on several molecular mechanisms that underlie Duchenne muscular dystrophy and to investigate current treatments and propose potential therapeutic targets for future research.
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Skyrme, Sarah Louise. "Research decisions : living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy." Thesis, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/2678.
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Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe form of muscular dystrophy that affects males. Muscle deterioration leads to increasing levels of disability during childhood and adolescence, with death commonly occurring in the late teens or early twenties, although changes in care and treatment are leading to increasing numbers of boys with DMD living into adulthood. Parents and parent-led charities are raising funds to find effective treatments and a cure, and much of the medical research they promote requires the participation of those with DMD. This raises questions about children and young people’s involvement in research, including their role and approach to consent and how willing they are to be involved in the medical research their parents and DMD charities advocate. Through qualitative interviews with nine boys and young men with DMD and one young woman with muscular dystrophy, I explored their thoughts on medical research and the broader issue of how they live and cope with their condition. As part of this discussion I examined how they might make a decision to participate in medical research, focusing on the processes, interactions and individuals they consider important in helping them to decide. My approach privileges the participants’ thoughts and opinions, positioning them as able social actors (James & Prout 1997) who can provide insight into their experiences. Currently little is known about the lives of children and young people with a significant, degenerative disability, particularly around their thoughts on medical research participation and decision-making (Dixon-Woods 2006). The views of my participants provide the basis for this research, with work from the sociology of childhood and from disability studies informing and contextualising it. The way in which parents are involved in daily life is discussed to gain an understanding of how the participants work with those they trust. This relationship may provide understandings of how decisions are influenced by family input and how support assists those who are young and have a degenerative condition. It is possible that this model of working with the significant people in their lives promotes agency and independence, aiding the participants towards, rather than away from autonomy.
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Klesert, Todd Robert. "The DMAHP/SIX5 gene in myotonic dystrophy /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/6355.
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