title: alpha7B integrin changes in mdx mouse muscles after L-arginine administration.
abstract: Muscle fibers attach to laminin in the basal lamina using two mechanisms, i.e., dystrophin with its associated proteins and alpha7beta1 integrin. In humans, gene-mutation defects in one member of these complexes result in muscular dystrophies. This study revealed changes after L-arginine treatment of utrophin-associated proteins and the alpha7B integrin subunit in mdx mouse, a dystrophin-deficient animal model. In the two studied muscles (cardiac muscle and diaphragm), the alpha7B integrin subunit was increased in 5-week-old treated mice. Interestingly, the diaphragm histopathological appearance was significantly improved by L-arginine administration. These results highlight a possible way to compensate for dystrophin deficiency via alpha7beta1 integrin.
authors.affiliation: EA 701, Muscles et Pathologies Chroniques, Institut de Biologie, Boulevard Henri IV, 34060 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chazalette
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hnia
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rivier
authors.forename: Gérald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hugon
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mornet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018101:Mice, Inbred mdx; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D049411:Utrophin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016189:Dystrophin; D016023:Integrins; D049411:Utrophin; D001120:Arginine; C082908:integrin alpha7beta1