title: Sonic hedgehog gene therapy increases the ability of the dystrophic skeletal muscle to regenerate after injury.
abstract: The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is a crucial regulator of muscle development during embryogenesis. We have previously demonstrated that Sonic hedgehog (Shh) regulates postnatal myogenesis in the adult skeletal muscle both directly, by acting on muscle satellite cells, and indirectly, by promoting the production of growth factors from interstitial fibroblasts. Here, we show that in mdx mice, the murine equivalent of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in humans, progression of the dystrophic pathology corresponds to progressive inhibition of the Hh signaling pathway in the skeletal muscle. We also show that the upregulation of the Hh pathway in response to injury and during regeneration is significantly impaired in mdx muscle. Shh treatment increases the proliferative potential of satellite cells isolated from the muscles of mdx mice. This treatment also increases the production of proregenerative factors, such as insulin-like growth factor-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor, from fibroblasts isolated from the muscle of mdx mice. In vivo, overexpression of the Hh pathway using a plasmid encoding the human Shh gene promotes successful regeneration after injury in terms of increased number of proliferating myogenic cells and newly formed myofibers, as well as enhanced vascularization and decreased fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Medicine, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy [2] Division of Cardiovascular Research, Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaetani
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Medicine, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy [2] Division of Cardiovascular Research, Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palladino
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Research, Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Medicine, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy [2] Division of Cardiovascular Research, Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcantoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Giarretta
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Research, Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratory of Vascular Pathology, IDI IRCCS Research Institute, Rome, Italy [2] Explora Biotech, srl, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Straino
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Vascular Pathology, IDI IRCCS Research Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capogrossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Landolfi
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Medicine, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy [2] Division of Cardiovascular Research, Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018101:Mice, Inbred mdx; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000235:genetics; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000293:injuries; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D032446:Myoblasts / Q000473:pathology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A