Lymphatic dysfunction is linked to disease pathogenesis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy animal models
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe muscle-wasting disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and inflammation caused by mutations in the DMD gene. Chronic inflammation in DMD exacerbates the complications associated with disease progression. Since the lymphatic system plays a crucial role in regulating and resolving inflammation, our primary goal was to investigate whether lymphatics were dysregulated in skeletal muscle of DMD animals.
We used the D2.mdx murine and golden retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) canine models, as well as mouse and rat lymphatic muscle cells (LMCs) to determine the role of dystrophin in lymphatic structure and function in skeletal muscles. Single-cell RNA sequencing data from control LMCs showed dystrophin expression, and protein results demonstrated that the 427-, 140-, and 71-kDa dystrophin isoforms were detectable in the LMCs from control mice, whereas the 427 kDa isoform was undetectable in LMCs derived from D2.mdx mice.
Microlymphangiography and magnetic resonance lymphangiogram results showed a significant decrease in lymph transport in D2.mdx mice and GRMD dogs, respectively. Isolated flank lymphatic vessels from D2.mdx mice exhibited an increase in tonic contraction and a significant decrease in the phasic contractile frequency and amplitude, supporting lymphatic vessel dysfunction. The gene expression profile and immunofluorescence analyses of dystrophic muscle revealed inflammatory lymphangiogenesis in dystrophic muscle. Skeletal muscle tissues that showed improvement in function after adeno-associated virus-microdystrophin treatment also showed significant improvement in inflammatory lymphangiogenesis in GRMD dogs.
Thus, these results show a linkage between lymphatic function and DMD pathogenesis that merits further investigation in DMD patients.
SIGNIFICANCE
The lymphatic system plays important roles in regulating inflammatory processes in the body. This study explored whether lymphatics were dysregulated in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) animal models. Lymph transport function was significantly decreased and pathological lymphangiogenesis and inflammation were linked in skeletal muscle of mouse and dog DMD models. Isolated lymphatic vessels from DMD mice exhibited an increased tonic but reduced phasic contractile activity. Microdystrophin treatment in DMD dogs, previously shown to improve muscle function, also mitigated inflammatory lymphangiogenesis.
This work demonstrates the fine-tuned coupling of lymphatic and muscle function in DMD animals that may open therapeutic avenues in the DMD field.
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Subramanian, Bhuvaneshwaran; Johnson, Shedreanna; Narayanan, Akshaya; Wang, Wei; Seaberg, Bonnie L; Ball, Jillian; Paredes Mares, Ilse M; Majumder, Ahana; Aceves, Alexandria; Frazier, Sarah E; Rutledge, Alexis; Griffin, John F; Pal, Soumiya; Zawieja, Scott; Davis, Michael J; Rutkowski, Joseph M; Nghiem, Peter P; Rimer, Mendell; Muthuchamy, Mariappan
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe muscle-wasting disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and inflammation caused by mutations in the DMD gene. Chronic inflammation in DMD exacerbates the complications associated with disease progression. Since the lymphatic system plays a crucial role in regulating and resolving inflammation, our primary goal was to investigate whether lymphatics were dysregulated in skeletal muscle of DMD animals.
We used the D2.mdx murine and golden retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) canine models, as well as mouse and rat lymphatic muscle cells (LMCs) to determine the role of dystrophin in lymphatic structure and function in skeletal muscles. Single-cell RNA sequencing data from control LMCs showed dystrophin expression, and protein results demonstrated that the 427-, 140-, and 71-kDa dystrophin isoforms were detectable in the LMCs from control mice, whereas the 427 kDa isoform was undetectable in LMCs derived from D2.mdx mice.
Microlymphangiography and magnetic resonance lymphangiogram results showed a significant decrease in lymph transport in D2.mdx mice and GRMD dogs, respectively. Isolated flank lymphatic vessels from D2.mdx mice exhibited an increase in tonic contraction and a significant decrease in the phasic contractile frequency and amplitude, supporting lymphatic vessel dysfunction. The gene expression profile and immunofluorescence analyses of dystrophic muscle revealed inflammatory lymphangiogenesis in dystrophic muscle. Skeletal muscle tissues that showed improvement in function after adeno-associated virus-microdystrophin treatment also showed significant improvement in inflammatory lymphangiogenesis in GRMD dogs.
Thus, these results show a linkage between lymphatic function and DMD pathogenesis that merits further investigation in DMD patients.
SIGNIFICANCE
The lymphatic system plays important roles in regulating inflammatory processes in the body. This study explored whether lymphatics were dysregulated in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) animal models. Lymph transport function was significantly decreased and pathological lymphangiogenesis and inflammation were linked in skeletal muscle of mouse and dog DMD models. Isolated lymphatic vessels from DMD mice exhibited an increased tonic but reduced phasic contractile activity. Microdystrophin treatment in DMD dogs, previously shown to improve muscle function, also mitigated inflammatory lymphangiogenesis.
This work demonstrates the fine-tuned coupling of lymphatic and muscle function in DMD animals that may open therapeutic avenues in the DMD field.
Web | PDF | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | Paywall