Integrin therapeutics for the treatment of muscular dystrophy
The α7β1 integrin is the predominant laminin-binding integrin in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Several studies have demonstrated the α7β1 integrin is a major modifier of disease progression in DMD and MDC1A.
Enhanced transgenic expression of the α7 integrin in the skeletal muscle of mouse models of DMD and MDC1A improves muscle pathology and increases life expectancy.
Loss of α7 integrin in the dystrophin deficient mdx mouse model of DMD accelerates muscle disease progression.
AAV-mediated gene transfer of α7 or β1D integrin alleviates muscle disease in mouse models of DMD.
Together these results support the idea the α7β1 integrin is target for drug-based therapies.
Strykagen has licensed worldwide patent pending technology from the University of Nevada, Reno for several novel integrin enhancing therapeutics for the treatment of muscular dystrophy.