Open AccessInfluenza A Virus Infection Damages Zebrafish Skeletal Muscle and Exacerbates Disease in Zebrafish Modeling Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Author(s) -
Michelle F. Goody,
Denise Jurczyszak,
Carol H. Kim,
Clarissa A. Henry
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos currents
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.282
H-Index - 49
ISSN - 2157-3999
DOI - 10.1371/currents.md.8a7e35c50fa2b48156799d3c39788175
Subject(s) - zebrafish , duchenne muscular dystrophy , innate immune system , skeletal muscle , sarcolemma , immunology , inflammation , biology , immune system , medicine , mdx mouse , itga7 , muscular dystrophy , dystrophin , genetics , anatomy , gene
Both genetic and infectious diseases can result in skeletal muscle degeneration, inflammation, pain, and/or weakness. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common congenital muscle disease. DMD causes progressive muscle wasting due to mutations in Dystrophin. Influenza A and B viruses are frequently associated with muscle complications, especially in children. Infections activate an immune response and immunosuppressant drugs reduce DMD symptoms. These data suggest that the immune system may contribute to muscle pathology. However, roles of the immune response in DMD and Influenza muscle complications are not well understood. Zebrafish with dmd mutations are a well-characterized model in which to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of DMD pathology. We recently showed that zebrafish can be infected by human Influenza A virus (IAV). Thus, the zebrafish is a powerful system with which to ask questions about the etiology and mechanisms of muscle damage due to genetic and/or infectious diseases.