title: Understanding the beneficial effects of doxycycline on the dystrophic phenotype of the mdx mouse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to better understand the beneficial effects of doxycycline on the dystrophic muscles of the mdx mouse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Doxycycline (DOX) was administered for 36 days, starting on postnatal day 0, via drinking water. Untreated mdx mice received plain water for the same period and served as a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DOX decreased the levels of metalloproteinase-9 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the biceps brachii and diaphragm of the mdx mice. It also reduced the total amount of calcium in the muscles studied, concomitant with an increase in the levels of calsequestrin 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that DOX can affect factors that are important in dystrophic pathogenesis and highlight its potential as a readily accessible therapy in clinical trials for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-865, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliano Alves
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Cintia Yuri
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Minatel
authors.forename: Maria Julia
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Santo Neto
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002155:Calsequestrin; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018101:Mice, Inbred mdx; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002155:Calsequestrin; C503130:Casq1 protein, mouse; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; C027576:4-hydroxy-2-nonenal; D004318:Doxycycline; D002118:Calcium
keywords: DMD; TNF-α; calsequestrin 1; doxycycline; mdx; metalloproteinase-9