title: Adeno-associated virus serotype-9 microdystrophin gene therapy ameliorates electrocardiographic abnormalities in mdx mice.
abstract: Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated microdystrophin gene therapy holds great promise for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Previous studies have revealed excellent skeletal muscle protection. Cardiac muscle is also compromised in DMD patients. Here we show that a single intravenous injection of AAV serotype-9 (AAV-9) microdystrophin vector efficiently transduced the entire heart in neonatal mdx mice, a dystrophin-deficient mouse DMD model. Furthermore, microdystrophin therapy normalized the heart rate, PR interval, and QT interval. The cardiomyopathy index was also significantly improved in treated mdx mice. Our study demonstrates for the first time that AAV microdystrophin gene therapy can ameliorate the electrocardiographic abnormalities in a mouse model for DMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bostick
authors.forename: Yongping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Dejia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dongsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000235:genetics; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D051379:Mice; D018101:Mice, Inbred mdx; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000628:therapy*; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000628:therapy*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D016189:Dystrophin