Therapeutics for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: current approaches and future directions

J Mol Med (Berl). 2004 Feb;82(2):102-15. doi: 10.1007/s00109-003-0484-1. Epub 2003 Dec 12.

Abstract

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common X-linked neuromuscular disorder. The devastating nature of DMD has led to an intense effort toward finding a cure for this disease, dating back to the time when Duchenne first initiated clinical trials using faradic stimulation for DMD patients. Unfortunately despite the passage of some 150 years the disease remains incurable, and its medical management is largely supportive. However, the discovery of the DMD gene about 20 years ago has allowed a change in the focus of therapeutic strategy dramatically toward delivery of the missing gene/protein. Indeed, some degree of success has been achieved in preclinical animal studies using such strategies, and gene therapy trials are currently underway in humans. Pharmacological approaches for DMD are also being developed since they can circumvent some of the technical problems associated with gene and cell based therapy. This review explores developments in therapeutic approaches for DMD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Design
  • Dystrophin / genetics
  • Dystrophin / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Muscular Dystrophies / classification
  • Muscular Dystrophies / genetics
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / genetics
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / metabolism
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / therapy*
  • Neuregulin-1 / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Utrophin

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Dystrophin
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Neuregulin-1
  • Utrophin