Long-Term Therapy With Omega-3 Ameliorates Myonecrosis and Benefits Skeletal Muscle Regeneration in Mdx Mice

Author(s)

Apolinario, Leticia Montanholi ^[1] ; De Carvalho, Samara Camacari ^[1] ; Neto, Humberto Santo ^[1] ; Marques, Maria Julia ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, UNICAMP, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Estrutural & Func, BR-1083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Anatomical Record-Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology; v. 298, n. 9, p. 1589-1596, SEP 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

In Duchenne muscle dystrophy (DMD) and in the mdx mouse model of DMD, a lack of dystrophin leads to myonecrosis and cardiorespiratory failure. Several lines of evidence suggest a detrimental role of the inflammatory process in the dystrophic process. Previously, we demonstrated that short-term therapy with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), at early stages of disease, ameliorated dystrophy progression in the mdx mouse. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of a long-term therapy with omega-3 later in dystrophy progression. Three-month-old mdx mice received omega-3 (300 mg/kg) or vehicle by gavage for 5 months. The quadriceps and diaphragm muscles were removed and processed for histopathology and Western blot. Long-term therapy with omega-3 increased the regulatory protein MyoD and muscle regeneration and reduced markers of inflammation (TNF-alpha and NF-kB) in both muscles studied. The present study supports the long-term use of omega-3 at later stages of dystrophy as a promising option to be investigated in DMD clinical trials. (C) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/14750-3 - Eicosapentaenoic acid x deflazacort: mechanisms of action and effects in the dystrophic mdx mice
• Grantee: Letícia Montanholi Apolinário
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 11/02474-4 - Treatment in vivo and in vitro with calcium blocker and antioxidant in mdx mice
• Grantee: Elaine Minatel
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 10/13412-7 - Population of macrophages in skeletal muscles of mdx mice treated with eicosapentaenoic acid
• Grantee: Samara Camaçarí de Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 14/04782-6 - Pre-clinical studies in the mdx mouse: metabolomics, biomarkers and omega-3 therapy
• Grantee: Maria Julia Marques
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants