Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Lieberman, Andrew P.
• Yu, Zhigang
• Murray, Sue
• Peralta, Raechel
• Low, Audrey
• Guo, Shuling
• Yu, Xing Xian
• Cortes, Constanza J.
• Bennett, C. Frank
• Monia, Brett P.
• La Spada, Albert R.
• Hung, Gene

Titel

Peripheral Androgen Receptor Gene Suppression Rescues Disease in Mouse Models of Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy

Ist Teil von

• Cell reports (Cambridge), 2014-05, Vol.7 (3), p.774-784

Ort / Verlag

United States: Elsevier Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2014

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is caused by the polyglutamine androgen receptor (polyQ-AR), a protein expressed by both lower motor neurons and skeletal muscle. Although viewed as a motor neuronopathy, data from patients and mouse models suggest that muscle contributes to disease pathogenesis. Here, we tested this hypothesis using AR113Q knockin and human bacterial artificial chromosome/clone (BAC) transgenic mice that express the full-length polyQ-AR and display androgen-dependent weakness, muscle atrophy, and early death. We developed antisense oligonucleotides that suppressed AR gene expression in the periphery but not the CNS after subcutaneous administration. Suppression of polyQ-AR in the periphery rescued deficits in muscle weight, fiber size, and grip strength, reversed changes in muscle gene expression, and extended the lifespan of mutant males. We conclude that polyQ-AR expression in the periphery is an important contributor to pathology in SBMA mice and that peripheral administration of therapeutics should be explored for SBMA patients. [Display omitted] •AR-targeted antisense oligonucleotides suppressed gene expression in mice•Subcutaneous delivery suppressed AR gene expression in the periphery but not the CNS•Subcutaneous administration rescued disease in two mouse models of SBMA•Peripherally expressed polyQ AR contributes to disease and is a therapeutic target Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is a CAG repeat disorder characterized by degeneration of the neuromuscular system that is caused by the polyglutamine androgen receptor (polyQ AR). Lieberman et al. developed antisense oligonucleotides to suppress expression of the mutant protein. They show that peripheral administration of these compounds rescues disease in two mouse models, without altering expression within the CNS. Their findings demonstrate an important contribution of peripherally expressed polyQ AR to disease and highlight a new therapeutic approach.