Detailed genetic and functional analysis of the hDMDdel52/mdx mouse model

PLoS One. 2020 Dec 23;15(12):e0244215. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244215. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe, progressive neuromuscular disorder caused by reading frame disrupting mutations in the DMD gene leading to absence of functional dystrophin. Antisense oligonucleotide (AON)-mediated exon skipping is a therapeutic approach aimed at restoring the reading frame at the pre-mRNA level, allowing the production of internally truncated partly functional dystrophin proteins. AONs work in a sequence specific manner, which warrants generating humanized mouse models for preclinical tests. To address this, we previously generated the hDMDdel52/mdx mouse model using transcription activator like effector nuclease (TALEN) technology. This model contains mutated murine and human DMD genes, and therefore lacks mouse and human dystrophin resulting in a dystrophic phenotype. It allows preclinical evaluation of AONs inducing the skipping of human DMD exons 51 and 53 and resulting in restoration of dystrophin synthesis. Here, we have further characterized this model genetically and functionally. We discovered that the hDMD and hDMDdel52 transgene is present twice per locus, in a tail-to-tail-orientation. Long-read sequencing revealed a partial deletion of exon 52 (first 25 bp), and a 2.3 kb inversion in intron 51 in both copies. These new findings on the genomic make-up of the hDMD and hDMDdel52 transgene do not affect exon 51 and/or 53 skipping, but do underline the need for extensive genetic analysis of mice generated with genome editing techniques to elucidate additional genetic changes that might have occurred. The hDMDdel52/mdx mice were also evaluated functionally using kinematic gait analysis. This revealed a clear and highly significant difference in overall gait between hDMDdel52/mdx mice and C57BL6/J controls. The motor deficit detected in the model confirms its suitability for preclinical testing of exon skipping AONs for human DMD at both the functional and molecular level.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Dystrophin / genetics*
  • Dystrophin / metabolism
  • Exons
  • Gait
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred mdx
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / genetics*
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / pathology
  • Phenotype*
  • Transgenes*

Substances

  • DMD protein, human
  • Dystrophin

Grants and funding

The Biomarin Pharmaceutical Ltd. (funder) and Charles River Laboratories provided support in the form of salaries for authors [RW, EK, CB, JvD and ND] and [JP, TB and TA] respectively but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, or preparation of the manuscript. The decision for the publication was also approved by Biomarin Pharmaceutical Ltd. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.