Therapeutic Potential of Immunoproteasome Inhibition in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Mol Ther. 2016 Nov;24(11):1898-1912. doi: 10.1038/mt.2016.162. Epub 2016 Aug 10.

Abstract

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited fatal genetic disease characterized by mutations in dystrophin gene, causing membrane fragility leading to myofiber necrosis and inflammatory cell recruitment in dystrophic muscles. The resulting environment enriched in proinflammatory cytokines, like IFN-γ and TNF-α, determines the transformation of myofiber constitutive proteasome into the immunoproteasome, a multisubunit complex involved in the activation of cell-mediate immunity. This event has a fundamental role in producing peptides for antigen presentation by MHC class I, for the immune response and also for cytokine production and T-cell differentiation. Here, we characterized for the first time the presence of T-lymphocytes activated against revertant dystrophin epitopes, in the animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the mdx mice. Moreover, we specifically blocked i-proteasome subunit LMP7, which was up-regulated in dystrophic skeletal muscles, and we demonstrated the rescue of the dystrophin expression and the amelioration of the dystrophic phenotype. The i-proteasome blocking lowered myofiber MHC class I expression and self-antigen presentation to T cells, thus reducing the specific antidystrophin T cell response, the muscular cell infiltrate, and proinflammatory cytokine production, together with muscle force recovery. We suggest that i-proteasome inhibition should be considered as new promising therapeutic approach for Duchenne muscular dystrophy pathology.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Immunoproteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred mdx
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / drug therapy*
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / immunology
  • Oligopeptides / administration & dosage
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Proteasome Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Proteasome Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology

Substances

  • Immunoproteins
  • Oligopeptides
  • PR-957
  • Proteasome Inhibitors
  • LMP7 protein
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex