17th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Inhibition of the NF-kappa B pathway in the mdx mouse model
Ashley L. Siegel
Dr. C. George Carlson (AT Still University) and Ms. Jeanne Mitchell, Faculty Mentors
The fibers of skeletal muscle are influenced by the NF-κB pathway, which causes proinflammatory genes to be transcribed. This pathway involves the phosphorylation of IκB, which is then released from NF-κB so that NF-κB can diffuse into the nucleus, and activate transcription of the targeted genes. NFkappa B is elevated by passive stretch in nondystrophic muscle and is higher in dystrophic (mdx) mouse skeletal muscle than in nondystrophic muscle (Kumar and Boriek, Faseb J., 17, 386,2003). Individual mdx muscles subjected to chronic passive stretch are also more severely dystrophic than unstretched muscles. To determine if NFkappa B activation is directly involved in muscular dystrophy, mdx mice were treated with an inhibitor of the NF-κB pathway (pyrrolidine dithiocarbimate, PDTC) and whole body muscle strength was assessed noninvasively. Initial studies provide evidence that daily PDTC injections may lead to decreases in fatigue and mild increases in muscle strength in the dystrophic mouse.
Keywords: dystrophy, mouse, inhibition, mdx, PDTC
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 11-1
Location: VH 1010
Time: 8:30