title: Gene and splicing therapies for neuromuscular diseases.
abstract: Neuromuscular disorders (NMD) are heterogeneous group of genetic diseases characterized by muscle weakness and wasting. Duchenne Muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are two of the most common and severe forms in humans and although the molecular mechanisms of these diseases have been extensively investigated, there is currently no effective treatment. However, new gene-based therapies have recently emerged with particular noted advances in using conventional gene replacement strategies and RNA-based technology. Whilst proof of principle have been demonstrated in animal models, several clinical trials have recently been undertaken to investigate the feasibility of these strategies in patients. In particular, antisense mediated exon skipping has shown encouraging results and hold promise for the treatment of dystrophic muscle. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of therapeutic approaches to neuromuscular diseases, with an emphasis on gene therapy and splicing modulation for DMD and SMA, focusing on the advantages offered by these technologies but also their challenges.
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benchaouir
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Robin
authors.affiliation: Chair of Excellence HandiMedEx, Laboratory Biotherapies des Maladies Neuromusculaires, UFR des sciences de la sante Simone Veil, Universite de Versailles Saint Quentin, 2 Avenue de la source de la bievre, 78180 Montigny le bretonneux, France, aurelie.goyenvalle@uvsq.fr.
authors.forename: Aurelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goyenvalle
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012326:RNA Splicing; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense