title: Injection of a soluble fragment of neural agrin (NT-1654) considerably improves the muscle pathology caused by the disassembly of the neuromuscular junction.
abstract: Treatment of neuromuscular diseases is still an unsolved problem. Evidence over the last years strongly indicates the involvement of malformation and dysfunction of neuromuscular junctions in the development of such medical conditions. Stabilization of NMJs thus seems to be a promising approach to attenuate the disease progression of muscle wasting diseases. An important pathway for the formation and maintenance of NMJs is the agrin/Lrp4/MuSK pathway. Here we demonstrate that the agrin biologic NT-1654 is capable of activating the agrin/Lrp4/MuSK system in vivo, leading to an almost full reversal of the sarcopenia-like phenotype in neurotrypsin-overexpressing (SARCO) mice. We also show that injection of NT-1654 accelerates muscle re-innervation after nerve crush. This report demonstrates that a systemically administered agrin fragment has the potential to counteract the symptoms of neuromuscular disorders.
authors: Neurotune AG, Schlieren, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Hettwer
authors: Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Shuo
authors: S
authors: Lin
authors: Neurotune AG, Schlieren, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Kucsera
authors: Neurotune AG, Schlieren, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Haubitz
authors: Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Filippo
authors: F
authors: Oliveri
authors: Neurotune AG, Schlieren, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Ruggero G
authors: RG
authors: Fariello
authors: Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Markus A
authors: MA
authors: Ruegg
authors: Neurotune AG, Schlieren, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Jan W
authors: JW
authors: Vrijbloed
mesh_terms: D018171:Agrin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009409:Nerve Crush; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D018171:Agrin; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C108493:neurotrypsin