Pregabalin: role of calcium in the muscle inflammation and regeneration of mdx mice

• Grant number: 17/24255-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2018
• End date: April 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Anatomy
• Principal Investigator: Samara Camaçarí de Carvalho
• Grantee: Jaqueline Silva Ferreira
• Host Institution: Instituto Superior de Educação (ISE). Centro Universitário Hermínio Ometto (UNIARARAS). Fundação Hermínio Ometto (FHO). Araras , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In Duchene Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and in mdx mice, an experimental model of DMD, the absence of the protein dystrophin leads to muscle degeneration. It is believed that the pathogenesis of DMD is related to sarcolemma fragility, mechanical stress, and malfunction of calcium channels in the muscle fiber. The pathways knowledge involved in muscle degeneration/regeneration and in the protection of the muscle dystrophic missile is essential for the characterization of muscular dystrophies, as well as for the establishment of diagnostic methods and therapeutic treatments. In the present work we will study the effects of pregabalin, a calcium channel blocking agent, on calcium-related proteins (calsequestrin and TRPC-1), sarcolemma (²-disytroglican), inflammatory (NFkB, TNF-± and F4/80) and regenerative stabilizers (MyoD), in the diaphragm and tibialis anterior muscle of mdx mice.