title: Osteoprotegerin protects against muscular dystrophy.
abstract: Receptor-activator of NF-κB, its ligand RANKL, and the soluble decoy receptor osteoprotegerin are the key regulators of osteoclast differentiation and bone remodeling. Although there is a strong association between osteoporosis and skeletal muscle atrophy/dysfunction, the functional relevance of a particular biological pathway that synchronously regulates bone and skeletal muscle physiopathology still is elusive. Here, we show that muscle cells can produce and secrete osteoprotegerin and pharmacologic treatment of dystrophic mdx mice with recombinant osteoprotegerin muscles. (Recombinant osteoprotegerin-Fc mitigates the loss of muscle force in a dose-dependent manner and preserves muscle integrity, particularly in fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus.) Our data identify osteoprotegerin as a novel protector of muscle integrity, and it potentially represents a new therapeutic avenue for both muscular diseases and osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: CHU (CHUL) Research Center of Quebec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Sébastien S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dufresne
authors.affiliation: CHU (CHUL) Research Center of Quebec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicolas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.affiliation: CHU (CHUL) Research Center of Quebec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.affiliation: CHU (CHUL) Research Center of Quebec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Éliane
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Lavergne
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Josef M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Penninger
authors.affiliation: CHU (CHUL) Research Center of Quebec, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: jerome.frenette@crchul.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frenette
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D053244:Osteoprotegerin