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Inhibition of the IKK/NF-κB pathway by AAV gene transfer improves muscle regeneration in older mdx mice

Gene Therapy volume 17, pages 1476–1483 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

The IκB kinase (IKKα, β and the regulatory subunit IKKγ) complex regulates nuclear factor of κB (NF-κB) transcriptional activity, which is upregulated in many chronic inflammatory diseases. NF-κB signaling promotes inflammation and limits muscle regeneration in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), resulting in fibrotic and fatty tissue replacement of muscle that exacerbates the wasting process in dystrophic muscles. Here, we examined whether dominant-negative forms of IKKα (IKKα-dn) and IKKβ (IKKβ-dn) delivered by adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors to the gastrocnemius (GAS) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of 1, 2 and 11-month-old mdx mice, a murine DMD model, block NF-κB activation and increase muscle regeneration. At 1 month post-treatment, the levels of nuclear NF-κB in locally treated muscle were decreased by gene transfer with either AAV-CMV-IKKα-dn or AAV-CMV-IKKβ-dn, but not by IKK wild-type controls (IKKα and β) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Although treatment with AAV-IKKα-dn or AAV-IKKβ-dn vectors had no significant effect on muscle regeneration in young mdx mice treated at 1 and 2 months of age and collected 1 month later, treatment of old (11 months) mdx with AAV-CMV-IKKα-dn or AAV-CMV-IKKβ-dn significantly increased levels of muscle regeneration. In addition, there was a significant decrease in myofiber necrosis in the AAV-IKKα-dn- and AAV-IKKβ-dn-treated mdx muscle in both young and old mice. These results demonstrate that inhibition of IKKα or IKKβ in dystrophic muscle reduces the adverse effects of NF-κB signaling, resulting in a therapeutic effect. Moreover, these results clearly demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of inhibiting NF-κB activation by AAV gene transfer in dystrophic muscle to promote regeneration, particularly in older mdx mice, and block necrosis.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Department of Defense (W81XWH-06-1-0406 subcontract to BW and W81XWH-06-1-0406 to PRC), the Pittsburgh Foundation and internal funds from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh. We thank Jonathan Proto for critical reading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Y Tang, M N Salay, M Y Mi, J Huard & B Wang

  2. Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    D P Reay & P R Clemens

  3. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Neurology Service, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    P R Clemens

  4. Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    D C Guttridge

  5. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    P D Robbins

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Correspondence to B Wang.

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Tang, Y., Reay, D., Salay, M. et al. Inhibition of the IKK/NF-κB pathway by AAV gene transfer improves muscle regeneration in older mdx mice. Gene Ther 17, 1476–1483 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/gt.2010.110

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