TitleA Exon-52 Deleted Miniature Pig Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Evaluation of Exon Skipping.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsEchigoya, Y, Trieu, N, Duddy, W, Moulton, HM, Yin, H, Partridge, TA, Hoffman, EP, Kornegay, JN, Rohret, FA, Rogers, CS, Yokota, T
JournalInt J Mol Sci
Volume22
Issue23
Date Published2021 Dec 02
ISSN1422-0067
KeywordsAnimals, Animals, Genetically Modified, Dependovirus, Disease Models, Animal, Dystrophin, Dystrophin-Associated Proteins, Exons, Female, Gene Deletion, Male, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne, Nuclear Transfer Techniques, Oligonucleotides, Antisense, Sarcolemma, Swine, Swine, Miniature
Abstract

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the gene and the subsequent lack of dystrophin protein. Recently, phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO)-antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting exon 51 or 53 to reestablish the reading frame have received regulatory approval as commercially available drugs. However, their applicability and efficacy remain limited to particular patients. Large animal models and exon skipping evaluation are essential to facilitate ASO development together with a deeper understanding of dystrophinopathies. Using recombinant adeno-associated virus-mediated gene targeting and somatic cell nuclear transfer, we generated a Yucatan miniature pig model of DMD with an exon 52 deletion mutation equivalent to one of the most common mutations seen in patients. Exon 52-deleted mRNA expression and dystrophin deficiency were confirmed in the skeletal and cardiac muscles of DMD pigs. Accordingly, dystrophin-associated proteins failed to be recruited to the sarcolemma. The DMD pigs manifested early disease onset with severe bodywide skeletal muscle degeneration and with poor growth accompanied by a physical abnormality, but with no obvious cardiac phenotype. We also demonstrated that in primary DMD pig skeletal muscle cells, the genetically engineered exon-52 deleted pig gene enables the evaluation of exon 51 or 53 skipping with PMO and its advanced technology, peptide-conjugated PMO. The results show that the DMD pigs developed here can be an appropriate large animal model for evaluating in vivo exon skipping efficacy.

DOI10.3390/ijms222313065
Alternate JournalInt J Mol Sci
PubMed ID34884867
PubMed Central IDPMC8657897
Grant ListAR061900 / AR / NIAMS NIH HHS / United States