Circadian Genes as Exploratory Biomarkers in DMD: Results From Both the mdx Mouse Model and Patients

Rachele Rossi, Maria Sofia Falzarano, Hana Osman, Annarita Armaroli, Chiara Scotton, Paola Mantuano, Brigida Boccanegra, Ornella Cappellari, Elena Schwartz, Anton Yuryev, Eugenio Mercuri, Enrico Bertini, Adele D’Amico, Marina Mora, Camilla Johansson, Cristina Al-Khalili Szigyarto, Annamaria De Luca, Alessandra Ferlini

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare genetic disease due to dystrophin gene mutations which cause progressive weakness and muscle wasting. Circadian rhythm coordinates biological processes with the 24-h cycle and it plays a key role in maintaining muscle functions, both in animal models and in humans. We explored expression profiles of circadian circuit master genes both in Duchenne muscular dystrophy skeletal muscle and in its animal model, the mdx mouse. We designed a customized, mouse-specific Fluidic-Card-TaqMan-based assay (Fluid-CIRC) containing thirty-two genes related to circadian rhythm and muscle regeneration and analyzed gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles from both unexercised and exercised mdx mice. Based on this first analysis, we prioritized the 7 most deregulated genes in mdx mice and tested their expression in skeletal muscle biopsies from 10 Duchenne patients. We found that CSNK1E, SIRT1, and MYOG are upregulated in DMD patient biopsies, consistent with the mdx data. We also demonstrated that their proteins are detectable and measurable in the DMD patients’ plasma. We suggest that CSNK1E, SIRT1, and MYOG might represent exploratory circadian biomarkers in DMD.

Original languageEnglish
Article number678974
JournalFrontiers in Physiology
Volume12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 8 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • biomarker
  • circadian rhythm
  • Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)
  • mdx mice
  • RNA analysis
  • skeletal muscle

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