November 27, 2012 Ottawa Scientists have discovered that injecting a novel human protein into muscle affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy significantly increases its size and strength, findings that could lead to a therapy akin to the use of insulin by diabetics. These results were published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. Julia von Maltzahn and Dr. Michael Rudnicki, the Ottawa scientist who discovered muscle stem cells in adults.
"This is an unprecedented and dramatic restoration in muscle strength," says Dr. Rudnicki, a senior scientist and director for the Regenerative Medicine Program and Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. He is also a Canada Research Chair in Molecular Genetics and professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa.
"We know from our previous work that this protein, called Wnt7a, promotes the growth and repair of healthy muscle tissue. In this study we show the same types of improvement in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We found that Wnt7a injections increased muscle strength almost two-fold, to nearly normal levels. We also found that the size of the muscle fibre increased and there was less muscle damage, compared to mice not given Wnt7a."
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that affects one of every 3,500 newborn males. In Canada, all types of muscular dystrophy affect more than 50,000 people. The disease often progresses to a state where the muscles are so depleted that the person dies due to an inability to breath. For people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, this usually happens in their 20s or 30s.
"This is also exciting because we think it's a therapeutic approach that could apply to other muscle-wasting diseases," says Dr. Rudnicki.
Dr. Rudnicki's lab is a world leader in research on muscle stem cells. They have contributed significantly to our underst
'/>"/>
| Contact: Paddy Moore padmoore@ohri.ca 613-737-8899 x73687 Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. IU biologists offer clearer picture of how protein machine systems tweak gene expression
2. Making memories: How 1 protein does it
3. Embryonic development protein active in cancer growth
4. More effective method of imaging proteins
5. The loss of a protein makes jump the tumor to the lymph node
6. Gold nanoantennas detect proteins
7. The Japanese traditional therapy, honokiol, blocks key protein in inflammatory brain damage
8. New hope for treating Alzheimers Disease: A role for the FKBP52 protein
9. Protein jailbreak helps breast cancer cells live
10. Plant research reveals new role for gene silencing protein
11. Newly found protein helps cells build tissues
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |