[MyoD mRNA expression in skeletal muscle of patients with myotonic dystrophy].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the mRNA expression of MyoD gene in the skeletal muscles of myotonic dystrophy (MD) patients.


METHODS
Muscle biopsy specimens were obtained from the biceps muscles of arm of 4 MD patients and 4 healthy controls. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate the mRNA expression of MyoD in the specimens.


RESULTS
The mRNA expression index of MyoD of the MD patients was (0.267 +/- 0.114), significantly lower than that of the healthy controls [(0.788 +/- 0.136), P = 0.001].


CONCLUSIONS
Down-regulated mRNA expression of MyoD gene is involved in the mechanism of DM.
Zhao
Xiao-Ping
XP
Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, China.
Pu
Chuan-Qiang
CQ
Duan
Feng
F
Liu
Jie-Xiao
JX
Mao
Yan-Ling
YL
Luo
Ping
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D017570:MyoD Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
D017570:MyoD Protein; C057363:MyoD1 myogenic differentiation protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger