title: Dasatinib as a treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
abstract: Identification of a systemically acting and universal small molecule therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy would be an enormous advance for this condition. Based on evidence gained from studies on mouse genetic models, we have identified tyrosine phosphorylation and degradation of β-dystroglycan as a key event in the aetiology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Thus, preventing tyrosine phosphorylation and degradation of β-dystroglycan presents itself as a potential therapeutic strategy. Using the dystrophic sapje zebrafish, we have investigated the use of tyrosine kinase and other inhibitors to treat the dystrophic symptoms in this model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Dasatinib, a potent and specific Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was found to decrease the levels of β-dystroglycan phosphorylation on tyrosine and to increase the relative levels of non-phosphorylated β-dystroglycan in sapje zebrafish. Furthermore, dasatinib treatment resulted in the improved physical appearance of the sapje zebrafish musculature and increased swimming ability as measured by both duration and distance of swimming of dasatinib-treated fish compared with control animals. These data suggest great promise for pharmacological agents that prevent the phosphorylation of β-dystroglycan on tyrosine and subsequent steps in the degradation pathway as therapeutic targets for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lipscomb
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Piggott
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Emmerson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK s.winder@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Steve J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Winder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069439:Dasatinib / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049030:Dystroglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059748:Proteolysis; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D049030:Dystroglycans; D019061:src-Family Kinases; D000069439:Dasatinib