| First Author | Golumbek PT | Year | 2007 |
| Journal | Neuromuscul Disord | Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 376-84 |
| PubMed ID | 17452104 | Mgi Jnum | J:124559 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3721859 | Doi | 10.1016/j.nmd.2007.02.005 |
| Citation | Golumbek PT, et al. (2007) Strength and corticosteroid responsiveness of mdx mice is unchanged by RAG2 gene knockout. Neuromuscul Disord 17(5):376-84 |
| abstractText | Corticosteroids improve muscle function in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and mdx mice possibly via effects on T-cell and B-cells. We quantified T-cell/B-cell functional effects and refined prednisolone's therapeutic mechanism in mdx mice. RAG2(-/-) mice, which produce no T-cells or B-cells, were crossed with mdx mice, which lack dystrophin protein. Strength testing (3-36 weeks) was performed on treated and control groups of male mdx RAG2(-/-)and mdx RAG2(+/-) mice. Longitudinal grip strength testing and hanging wire testing were assessed. Voluntary wheel running and creatine kinase level were measured. The absence of T-cells/B-cells (RAG2(-/-) mutation) caused no physiologic improvement. Prednisolone improved performance in mdx mice, independent of RAG2 gene expression (+ or -/-). Prednisolone treatment increased the frequency of muscle calcification, while RAG2 genotype had no effect. There was no change in fiber type proportions due to RAG2 genotype or prednisolone treatment. Thus, T-cells and/or B-cells (and immunoglobulins), while demonstrable in mdx mouse muscle, are playing a negligible role in their mdx-related functional outcome. Prednisolone's therapeutic effect is through T-cell/B-cell independent mechanisms in mdx mice. |
