Actinomycin D Specifically Reduces Expanded CUG Repeat RNA in Myotonic Dystrophy Models.

ABSTRACT: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an inherited disease characterized by the inability to relax contracted muscles. Affected individuals carry large CTG expansions that are toxic when transcribed. One possible treatment approach is to reduce or eliminate transcription of CTG repeats. Actinomycin D (ActD) is a potent transcription inhibitor and FDA-approved chemotherapeutic that binds GC-rich DNA with high affinity. Here, we report that ActD decreased CUG transcript levels in a dose-dependent manner in DM1 cell and mouse models at significantly lower concentrations (nanomolar) compared to its use as a general transcription inhibitor or chemotherapeutic. ActD also significantly reversed DM1-associated splicing defects in a DM1 mouse model, and did so within the currently approved human treat

SUBMITTER: Siboni RB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4691565 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature