Defective growth in vitro of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy myoblasts: The molecular and biochemical basis

As the molecular basis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) was being disco vered, increasing focus was placed on the mechanisms of progressive failure of myoregeneration. In this study, we propose a pathogenesis model for DMD , where an autocrine growth factor release of TGF-beta 1-from necrotic myof ibers-could contribute to the increasing loss of muscle regeneration. In fa ct, we report evidence that DMD myoblasts reduce their proliferation rate i n time and later cultures; in connection with this, we observed TGF-beta 1 increase in conditioned media of DMD myoblasts, able to control the myoblas t growth by reducing fusion and differentiation of DMD satellite cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 76:118-132, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.