Reduced necrosis of dystrophic muscle by depletion of host neutrophils, or blocking TNFα function with Etanercept in mdx mice

S Hodgetts, H Radley, M Davies, MD Grounds - Neuromuscular Disorders, 2006 - Elsevier
Necrosis of skeletal muscle fibres in the lethal childhood myopathy Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy results from deficiency of the cell membrane associated protein, dystrophin. We
test the hypothesis in dystrophin-deficient mice, that the initial sarcolemmal breakdown
resulting from dystrophin deficiency is exacerbated by inflammatory cells, specifically
neutrophils, and that cytokines, specifically Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα), contribute
to myofibre necrosis. Antibody depletion of host neutrophils resulted in a delayed and …