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Localization and early time course of TGF‐β1 mRNA expression in dystrophic muscle
Author(s) -
Gosselin Luc E.,
Williams Jacqueline E.,
Deering Melissa,
Brazeau Daniel,
Koury Stephen,
Martinez Daniel A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.20150
Subject(s) - mdx mouse , duchenne muscular dystrophy , decorin , endocrinology , medicine , diaphragm (acoustics) , fibrosis , transforming growth factor , messenger rna , cytokine , skeletal muscle , muscular dystrophy , biology , dystrophin , microbiology and biotechnology , extracellular matrix , biochemistry , physics , proteoglycan , loudspeaker , acoustics , gene
Fibrosis is a common pathological feature observed in muscle from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In the dystrophic ( mdx ) mouse model of DMD, the diaphragm is more severely affected than other skeletal muscles. The level of transforming growth factor‐beta1 (TGF‐β1), an inflammatory cytokine, is significantly elevated in mdx diaphragm. However, little is known about the onset of TGF‐β1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression, or which cells express the mRNA. In this study, we characterized the location and time course of expression of TGF‐β1 mRNA in diaphragm from mdx mice. TGF‐β1 mRNA was significantly elevated in mdx diaphragm at 6 and 9 but not 12 weeks of age, and these changes corresponded with changes in type I collagen mRNA and hydroxyproline concentration. Mononucleated cells localized to areas of fiber necrosis highly expressed the TGF‐β1 transcript in mdx diaphragm. Neutralization of TGF‐β1 by decorin administration resulted in a 40% reduction in the level of diaphragm muscle type I collagen mRNA. These findings support a role for TGF‐β1 during the early stages of fibrogenesis in dystrophic diaphragm muscle. Therapeutic interventions aimed at neutralizing this cytokine may be beneficial in slowing the development of fibrosis in DMD. Muscle Nerve, 2004