PMID: 9427295Jan 14, 1998Paper

Altered expression of the alpha7beta1 integrin in human and murine muscular dystrophies

Journal of Cell Science
B L HodgesS J Kaufman

Abstract

The alpha7beta1 integrin is the primary laminin receptor on skeletal myoblasts and adult myofibers. It has distinct functions during muscle development and contributes to muscle structural integrity. We have studied this integrin in cases where expression of dystrophin or laminin are compromised. Immunofluorescence demonstrates an increase in alpha7beta1 in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and in mdx mice that lack dystrophin. Analysis of RNA from mdx mice and from patients with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies indicates that the increase in the alpha7beta1 integrin is regulated at the level of alpha7 gene transcription. In contrast, the levels of alpha7beta1 integrin are severely diminished in patients with laminin alpha2 chain congenital dystrophy muscular dystrophy and in dy/dy mice that also do not make the alpha2 laminin chain. Analysis of RNA from the hindlimbs of dy/dy mice demonstrated that in the absence of laminin alpha7 gene transcription is inhibited and limited to specific alternatively spliced isoforms. We suggest that the increased expression of alpha7beta1 integrin in the absence of dystrophin compensates for the reduced dystrophin-mediated linkage of fibers with the basal lamina and modulates t...Continue Reading

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