4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and Muscular-Dystrophies

Oxidative stress contributes to myonecrosis in the dystrophin-deficient fibers of mdx mice and in Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. We examined the effects of ascorbic acid (AA), an antioxidant and free radical scavenger, on the dystrophic diaphragm muscle.. Mdx mice (14 d old) received AA for 14 d. Control mdx mice received saline. The muscle damage was visualized by the penetration of Evans blue dye into myofibers and the extent of inflammation was assessed by histologic analysis. Creatine kinase levels were measured for the biochemical evaluation of muscle fiber degeneration. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (a proinflammatory cytokine) and 4-hydroxynonenal (a marker of lipid peroxidation) were analyzed by immunoblotting.. Ascorbic acid decreased creatine kinase levels, myonecrosis, inflammation, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and 4-hydroxynonenal.. The present results suggest that AA plays a protective role in dystrophic muscle degeneration, possibly by decreasing reactive oxygen species, and support further investigations of AA as a potential therapy for dystrophinopathies.

Topics: Aldehydes; Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Creatine Kinase; Diaphragm; Dystrophin; Female; Inflammation; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred mdx; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal; Muscular Dystrophies; Necrosis; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Several lines of evidence indicate that the nonenzymatic oxidative modification of proteins and the subsequent accumulation of the modified proteins have been found in cells during aging and oxidative stress and in various pathological states, including premature diseases, muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, and atherosclerosis. Our previous work suggested the existence of molecular mimicry between antibodies raised against hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-modified protein and anti-DNA autoantibodies, a serologic hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In the present study, we investigated the possible involvement of HNE-modified proteins as the endogenous source of the anti-DNA antibodies. Accumulation of the antigen recognized by the antibody against the HNE-modified protein was observed in the nucleus of almost all of the epidermal cells from patients with autoimmune diseases, including SLE. The SLE patients also showed significantly higher serum levels of the anti-HNE titer than healthy individuals. To determine if a specific anti-DNA response could be initiated by the HNE-derived epitopes, we immunized BALB/c mice with the HNE-modified protein and observed a progressive increase in the anti-DNA response. Moreover, we generated the monoclonal antibodies, showing recognition specificity toward DNA, and found that they can bind to two structurally distinct antigens (i.e. the native DNA and protein-bound 4-oxo-2-nonenal). The findings in this study provide evidence to suspect an etiologic role for lipid peroxidation in autoimmune diseases.

Topics: Aldehydes; Animals; Antibodies, Antinuclear; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Atherosclerosis; Autoantigens; Cattle; Cellular Senescence; Epitopes; Female; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Molecular Mimicry; Muscular Dystrophies; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Serum Albumin, Bovine