miR-33 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach for treating muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the dystrophin gene resulting in the absence of a functional dystrophin protein. While the primary cause of DMD is well-documented, the impact of disrupted secondary signaling pathways in dystrophic muscles...

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Main Authors: Michael A Lopez, Matthew S Alexander
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-07-01
Series:EMBO Molecular Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44321-025-00271-x
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author Michael A Lopez
Matthew S Alexander
author_facet Michael A Lopez
Matthew S Alexander
author_sort Michael A Lopez
collection DOAJ
description Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the dystrophin gene resulting in the absence of a functional dystrophin protein. While the primary cause of DMD is well-documented, the impact of disrupted secondary signaling pathways in dystrophic muscles and organs is still being unraveled. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs known to regulate key signaling pathways in growth, regeneration, and disease. In this issue of EMBO Molecular Medicine, Sowa and colleagues report the inhibition of a key microRNA (miR-33a/b) that when inhibited can improve muscle regeneration and mitigate dystrophic symptoms in a DMD (mdx) mouse model. miR-33a/b knockout mice showed enhanced muscle regeneration response to cardiotoxin injury and attenuated muscle fibrosis on the mdx background. miR-33a/b muscle expression blocked muscle satellite cell proliferation impaired muscle regeneration while increasing by targeting Cdk6, Fst, and Abca1 transcripts. Injection of anti-microRNA oligonucleotides (AMOs) targeting miR-33a/b improved muscle regeneration, histopathologies, and dystrophic regeneration signaling pathways. These studies demonstrate the impact of key secondary signaling pathways that may serve as new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of DMD symptoms.
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spelling doaj-art-2bdccfd83d534e3eb7f5cc5aea75126a2025-08-20T03:42:52ZengSpringer NatureEMBO Molecular Medicine1757-46842025-07-011781893189510.1038/s44321-025-00271-xmiR-33 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach for treating muscular dystrophyMichael A Lopez0Matthew S Alexander1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children’s of AlabamaDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children’s of AlabamaDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the dystrophin gene resulting in the absence of a functional dystrophin protein. While the primary cause of DMD is well-documented, the impact of disrupted secondary signaling pathways in dystrophic muscles and organs is still being unraveled. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs known to regulate key signaling pathways in growth, regeneration, and disease. In this issue of EMBO Molecular Medicine, Sowa and colleagues report the inhibition of a key microRNA (miR-33a/b) that when inhibited can improve muscle regeneration and mitigate dystrophic symptoms in a DMD (mdx) mouse model. miR-33a/b knockout mice showed enhanced muscle regeneration response to cardiotoxin injury and attenuated muscle fibrosis on the mdx background. miR-33a/b muscle expression blocked muscle satellite cell proliferation impaired muscle regeneration while increasing by targeting Cdk6, Fst, and Abca1 transcripts. Injection of anti-microRNA oligonucleotides (AMOs) targeting miR-33a/b improved muscle regeneration, histopathologies, and dystrophic regeneration signaling pathways. These studies demonstrate the impact of key secondary signaling pathways that may serve as new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of DMD symptoms.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44321-025-00271-x
spellingShingle Michael A Lopez
Matthew S Alexander
miR-33 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach for treating muscular dystrophy
EMBO Molecular Medicine
title miR-33 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach for treating muscular dystrophy
title_full miR-33 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach for treating muscular dystrophy
title_fullStr miR-33 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach for treating muscular dystrophy
title_full_unstemmed miR-33 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach for treating muscular dystrophy
title_short miR-33 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach for treating muscular dystrophy
title_sort mir 33 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach for treating muscular dystrophy
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44321-025-00271-x
work_keys_str_mv AT michaelalopez mir33inhibitionasanoveltherapeuticapproachfortreatingmusculardystrophy
AT matthewsalexander mir33inhibitionasanoveltherapeuticapproachfortreatingmusculardystrophy