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Dynamin-2 reduction rescues the skeletal myopathy of a SPEG-deficient mouse model
Qifei Li, Jasmine Lin, Jeffrey J. Widrick, Shiyu Luo, Gu Li, Yuanfan Zhang, Jocelyn Laporte, Mark A. Perrella, Xiaoli Liu, Pankaj B. Agrawal
Qifei Li, Jasmine Lin, Jeffrey J. Widrick, Shiyu Luo, Gu Li, Yuanfan Zhang, Jocelyn Laporte, Mark A. Perrella, Xiaoli Liu, Pankaj B. Agrawal
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Research Article Muscle biology Therapeutics

Dynamin-2 reduction rescues the skeletal myopathy of a SPEG-deficient mouse model

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Abstract

Striated preferentially expressed protein kinase (SPEG), a myosin light chain kinase, is mutated in centronuclear myopathy (CNM) and/or dilated cardiomyopathy. No precise therapies are available for this disorder, and gene replacement therapy is not a feasible option due to the large size of SPEG. We evaluated the potential of dynamin-2 (DNM2) reduction as a potential therapeutic strategy because it has been shown to revert muscle phenotypes in mouse models of CNM caused by MTM1, DNM2, and BIN1 mutations. We determined that SPEG-β interacted with DNM2, and SPEG deficiency caused an increase in DNM2 levels. The DNM2 reduction strategy in Speg-KO mice was associated with an increase in life span, body weight, and motor performance. Additionally, it normalized the distribution of triadic proteins, triad ultrastructure, and triad number and restored phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate levels in SPEG-deficient skeletal muscles. Although DNM2 reduction rescued the myopathy phenotype, it did not improve cardiac dysfunction, indicating a differential tissue-specific function. Combining DNM2 reduction with other strategies may be needed to target both the cardiac and skeletal defects associated with SPEG deficiency. DNM2 reduction should be explored as a therapeutic strategy against other genetic myopathies (and dystrophies) associated with a high level of DNM2.

Authors

Qifei Li, Jasmine Lin, Jeffrey J. Widrick, Shiyu Luo, Gu Li, Yuanfan Zhang, Jocelyn Laporte, Mark A. Perrella, Xiaoli Liu, Pankaj B. Agrawal

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Figure 6

DNM2 reduction restores the localization of triadic proteins, triad ultrastructure, and triad number in Speg-rescue skeletal muscle.

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DNM2 reduction restores the localization of triadic proteins, triad ultr...
(A) Transverse TA muscle sections stained for DHPRα1, RyR1, SERCA1, and DNM2. Abnormally accumulated DHPRα1 (denoted by arrowheads), SERCA1 (denoted by arrows), and DNM2 (denoted by asterisks) were evident in discrete areas of Speg-KO myofibers yet absent in Speg-rescue mice (over 100 fibers were analyzed from each group, n = 3 per genotype). Scale bar: 50 μm. (B) Electron micrographs in quadriceps specimens obtained from control, Speg-KO, and Speg-rescue mice at 3 months of age. The upper panel shows an overall organization of muscle structure, and the lower panel shows an enlarged view of triad ultrastructure (white arrows) from each group. Abnormal and fewer triads (white asterisk) are noted in Speg-KO mice. (C) The number of triads per 50 μm2 was significantly decreased in Speg-KO mice compared with control mice. However, the triad number in Speg-rescue mice was remarkably increased compared with Speg-KO mice. Each dot represents a randomly selected field to count the triad number; *P ˂ 0.05; ****P < 0.0001; n = 3 per genotype; 1-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test.

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