21st Annual Student Research Conference
The Effect of Sulfasalazine (SS) and its Metabolites, Sulfapyridine (SP) and 5-Aminosalicylic Acid (5-ASA), on Nuclear p65 Activation in the MDX Mouse
Walter T. Winders* and Eric C. Turin
Dr. Anton Weisstein and Dr. C. George Carlson (AT Still University), Faculty Mentors
Previous experiments indicate that inhibitors of the NF-κB signaling pathway are useful in the treatment of muscular dystrophy (Carlson et al., Neurobiol. of Disease, 20, 719-730, 2005). SS is in current clinical use to treat unrelated inflammatory disorders. To examine the potential efficacy of SS in treating muscular dystrophy, the drug was injected at 50 or 100 mg/kg using solutions of 5mg/ml (pH 8.1). This protocol was ineffective at reducing nuclear p65 activation and produced insoluble deposits in the intraperitoneal cavity. Injections of 2.5 mg/ml (pH 7.5) at 100 mg/kg produced no insoluble deposits and reduced nuclear p65 activation by 83%. Oral administration at approximately 100 mg/kg produced smaller reductions. Direct exposure of agents to isolated mdx diaphragms indicated that 5-ASA was more effective at reducing nuclear p65 than SS while SP had no effect. These results are useful in determining potential new treatments for Duchenne and related muscular dystrophies. (This work was supported by Charleys Fund and the AFM).
Keywords: Duchenne, muscular, dystrophy, p65, NF-κB
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 3-8
Location: OP Lobby
Time: 4:15