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Postsymptomatic restoration of SMN rescues the disease phenotype in a mouse model of severe spinal muscular atrophy
Cathleen M. Lutz, … , Margaret L. Winberg, Umrao R. Monani
Cathleen M. Lutz, … , Margaret L. Winberg, Umrao R. Monani
Published July 25, 2011
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2011;121(8):3029-3041. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI57291.
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Research Article

Postsymptomatic restoration of SMN rescues the disease phenotype in a mouse model of severe spinal muscular atrophy

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Abstract

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common neuromuscular disorder in humans. In fact, it is the most frequently inherited cause of infant mortality, being the result of mutations in the survival of motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene that reduce levels of SMN protein. Restoring levels of SMN protein in individuals with SMA is perceived to be a viable therapeutic option, but the efficacy of such a strategy once symptoms are apparent has not been determined. We have generated mice harboring an inducible Smn rescue allele and used them in a model of SMA to investigate the effects of turning on SMN expression at different time points during the course of the disease. Restoring SMN protein even after disease onset was sufficient to reverse neuromuscular pathology and effect robust rescue of the SMA phenotype. Importantly, our findings also indicated that there was a therapeutic window of opportunity from P4 through P8 defined by the extent of neuromuscular synapse pathology and the ability of motor neurons to respond to SMN induction, following which restoration of the protein to the organism failed to produce therapeutic benefit. Nevertheless, our results suggest that even in severe SMA, timely reinstatement of the SMN protein may halt the progression of the disease and serve as an effective postsymptomatic treatment.

Authors

Cathleen M. Lutz, Shingo Kariya, Sunita Patruni, Melissa A. Osborne, Don Liu, Christopher E. Henderson, Darrick K. Li, Livio Pellizzoni, José Rojas, David M. Valenzuela, Andrew J. Murphy, Margaret L. Winberg, Umrao R. Monani

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Figure 1

Construction of the inducible Smn rescue allele.

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Construction of the inducible Smn rescue allele.
   
The structure of th...
The structure of the Smn inducible rescue allele prior to and following Cre-mediated recombination, depicting the expected transcripts from the 2 different conformations. The WT murine Smn allele and its single FL-SMN transcript are included for reference. Drawing is not to scale.

Copyright © 2023 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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