22nd Annual Student Research Conference
Gossypol (GP), a known inhibitor of the classic NF-kB cell signaling pathway, is a potentially useful treatment for Duchenne (DMD) and related muscular dystrophies
Walter T. Winders* and Chris A. Sumski
Dr. Anton Weisstein, Faculty Mentor
Gossypol is a cottonseed extract originally used as a male contraceptive in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been established that depression of the NF-kB pathway is useful in treating DMD. GP effectively reduces NF-kB p65 expression because it inhibits a NF-kB promoter, Sp1, from binding DNA. Literature demonstrated that the (-) GP isomer was effective at inducing apoptosis in squamous cell carcinomas at a dosage of 5 mg/kg. The GP obtained was a racemic mixture, so the dosage of 10 mg/kg was implemented in order to determine if GP was effective in reducing NF-kB p65 activation in the mdx mouse. Mdx mice were exposed to GP via the sub-cutaneous, intraperitoneal, and oral routes of administration. Western protein blots were utilized to measure the nuclear p65 content, and the results tentatively indicated that GP did not effectively reduce p65 activation. However, further studies need pursued.
Keywords: Gossypol, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, mdx mouse, NF-kB
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 10-15
Location: PML
Time: 4:15