title: Combining stem cells and exon skipping strategy to treat muscular dystrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Muscular dystrophies are characterized by primary wasting of skeletal muscle. Mutations in the dystrophin gene cause hereditary muscular diseases such as Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the most severe form. Characterization of the dystrophin gene and evidence that different types of adult stem cells are capable of muscle regeneration has lead to the development of potential gene therapy and stem cell treatments for DMD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main goal is to combine gene modification strategies with cell-mediated therapies. This approach could permit autologous transplantation of cells, minimizing the risk of implant rejection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of gene and stem cell approaches seems to be most promising, particularly intra-arterial injections of the patient's own stem cells transduced by antisense oligonucleotide technology. This approach should offer the chance to distribute the autologous corrected stem cells to the whole body musculature providing a clinical benefit for dystrophic patients.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Milan, Padiglione Ponti, Fondazione IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico, via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meregalli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farini
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Torrente
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005091:Exons; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation