Identification of therapeutics that target eEF1A2 and upregulate utrophin A translation in dystrophic muscles

Nat Commun. 2020 Apr 24;11(1):1990. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15971-w.

Abstract

Up-regulation of utrophin in muscles represents a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. We previously demonstrated that eEF1A2 associates with the 5'UTR of utrophin A to promote IRES-dependent translation. Here, we examine whether eEF1A2 directly regulates utrophin A expression and identify via an ELISA-based high-throughput screen, FDA-approved drugs that upregulate both eEF1A2 and utrophin A. Our results show that transient overexpression of eEF1A2 in mouse muscles causes an increase in IRES-mediated translation of utrophin A. Through the assessment of our screen, we reveal 7 classes of FDA-approved drugs that increase eEF1A2 and utrophin A protein levels. Treatment of mdx mice with the 2 top leads results in multiple improvements of the dystrophic phenotype. Here, we report that IRES-mediated translation of utrophin A via eEF1A2 is a critical mechanism of regulating utrophin A expression and reveal the potential of repurposed drugs for treating DMD via this pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 5' Untranslated Regions / genetics
  • Animals
  • Betaxolol / pharmacology
  • Betaxolol / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Drug Repositioning
  • Humans
  • Internal Ribosome Entry Sites / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred mdx
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / drug therapy*
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / genetics
  • Myoblasts
  • Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / genetics
  • Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / metabolism
  • Pravastatin / pharmacology
  • Pravastatin / therapeutic use
  • Protein Biosynthesis / drug effects*
  • Protein Biosynthesis / genetics
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Utrophin / genetics*
  • Utrophin / metabolism

Substances

  • 5' Untranslated Regions
  • EEF1A2 protein, human
  • Eef1a2 protein, mouse
  • Internal Ribosome Entry Sites
  • Peptide Elongation Factor 1
  • UTRN protein, human
  • Utrn protein, mouse
  • Utrophin
  • Pravastatin
  • Betaxolol

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