Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Luis Cordero on September 28, 2009 at 5:57pm

(Experimental Neurology, September 2009) Flavocoxid counteracts muscle necrosis and improves functional properties in mdx mice: a comparison study with methylprednisolone

Sonia Messina, Alessandra Bitto, M'hammed Aguennouz, Anna Mazzeo, Alba Migliorato, Francesca Polito, Natasha Irrera, Domenica Altavilla, Gian Luca Vita, Massimo Russo, Antonino Naro, Maria Grazia De Pasquale, Emanuele Rizzuto, Antonio Musarò, Francesco Squadrito and Giuseppe Vita

Muscle degeneration in dystrophic muscle is exacerbated by the endogenous inflammatory response and increased oxidative stress. A key role in is played by nuclear factor(NF)- κB. We showed that NF-κB inhibition through compounds with also antioxidant properties has beneficial effects in mdx mice, the murine model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), but these drugs are not available for clinical studies. We evaluated whether flavocoxid, a mixed flavonoid extract with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and NF-κB inhibiting properties, has beneficial effects in mdx mice in comparison with methylprednisolone, the gold standard treatment for DMD patients. Five-week old mdx were treated for 5 weeks with flavocoxid, methylprednisolone or vehicle. The evaluation of in vivo and ex vivo functional properties and morphological parameters was performed. Serum samples were assayed for oxidative stress markers, creatine-kinase (CK) and leukotriene B-4 determination. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), tumor necrosis factor-α, p-38, JNK1 expression was evaluated in muscle by western blot analysis. NF-κB binding activity was investigated by electrophoresis mobility shift assay. The administration of flavocoxid: 1) ameliorated functional properties in vivo and ex vivo; 2) reduced CK; 3) reduced the expression of oxidative stress markers and of inflammatory mediators; 4) inhibited NF-кB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signal pathways; 5) reduced muscle necrosis and enhanced regeneration. Our results highlight the detrimental effects of oxidative stress and NF-κB, MAPKs and COX/5-LOX pathways in the dystrophic process and show that flavocoxid is more effective in mdx mice than methylprednisolone.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by cheryl cliff on September 28, 2009 at 7:42pm

these papers look interesting but don't contain any information about when they were written, so as I can tell. Where did they come from if you don't mind my asking?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Marks33 on March 12, 2010 at 7:07pm

The Flavocoxid was one of three proposals put to the Treat NMD scientic committee in February in Rome, seeking a clinical trial. The committee is due to report back in the next few weeks on whether it will agree to running a trial.

cheryl cliff said:

these papers look interesting but don't contain any information about when they were written, so as I can tell. Where did they come from if you don't mind my asking?

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion