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  • Title: Strength and corticosteroid responsiveness of mdx mice is unchanged by RAG2 gene knockout.
    Author: Golumbek PT, Keeling RM, Connolly AM.
    Journal: Neuromuscul Disord; 2007 May; 17(5):376-84. PubMed ID: 17452104.
    Abstract:
    Corticosteroids improve muscle function in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and mdx mice possibly via effects on T-cell and B-cells. We quantified T-cell/B-cell functional effects and refined prednisolone's therapeutic mechanism in mdx mice. RAG2(-/-) mice, which produce no T-cells or B-cells, were crossed with mdx mice, which lack dystrophin protein. Strength testing (3-36 weeks) was performed on treated and control groups of male mdx RAG2(-/-)and mdx RAG2(+/-) mice. Longitudinal grip strength testing and hanging wire testing were assessed. Voluntary wheel running and creatine kinase level were measured. The absence of T-cells/B-cells (RAG2(-/-) mutation) caused no physiologic improvement. Prednisolone improved performance in mdx mice, independent of RAG2 gene expression (+ or -/-). Prednisolone treatment increased the frequency of muscle calcification, while RAG2 genotype had no effect. There was no change in fiber type proportions due to RAG2 genotype or prednisolone treatment. Thus, T-cells and/or B-cells (and immunoglobulins), while demonstrable in mdx mouse muscle, are playing a negligible role in their mdx-related functional outcome. Prednisolone's therapeutic effect is through T-cell/B-cell independent mechanisms in mdx mice.
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