Biomarkers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: metabolomic and immunoassay study in patients and in mdx mice

• Grant number: 13/00312-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Anatomy
• Principal Investigator: Maria Julia Marques
• Grantee: Cintia Yuri Matsumura
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Biological markers are cellular, structural and biochemical quantifiable components that can be used as parameters to evaluate the presence and progression of a disease or the effect of a treatment. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive degenerative disease that affects the skeletal and cardiac muscles leading the patient to death by cardiorespiratory failure. Whereas several treatments are being tested to minimize the evolution of DMD, prolonging and improving the patient's quality of life, the identification of new biomarkers for assessing disease progression and the effects of these treatments is essential. The parameters currently used as markers of dystrophy, such as the enzyme creatine kinase, the assessment of muscle strength and histology of biopsies, show some limitations. In this way, genome, proteomics and metabolomics analysis, by allowing an overview of the biological abnormalities caused by DMD, are being used to identify new markers. The aim of this project is to identify new serum biomarkers for monitoring the progression and treatment of DMD through the metabolome by nuclear magnetic resonance and quantification of inflammation, fibrosis and muscle regeneration markers by ELISA in DMD patients and in the mdx mice model of DMD. Our results will allow a better evaluation of disease progression. The new biomarkers may be used to evaluate the effects of new drugs in clinical trials. The correlation between biomarkers present in patients and in mdx mice may be useful to select new drugs in translational studies. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE CARVALHO, SAMARA CAMACARI; MATSUMURA, CINTIA YURI; NETO, HUMBERTO SANTO; MARQUES, MARIA JULIA. Identification of plasma interleukins as biomarkers for deflazacort and omega-3 based Duchenne muscular dystrophy therapy. CYTOKINE, v. 102, p. 55-61, FEB 2018. (12/15492-3, 14/04782-6, 13/00312-2)