Model organisms
This site contains a list of model organisms to study human myopathies. Please feel free to edit/amend the list.
Contents
Mouse models
Table of mouse models
mouse model | description | contact |
---|---|---|
Mdx mutation | MDX mutant mice do not express dystrophin and are used as a model system for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. | Alessandra Sacco mailto:asacco@sanfordburnham.org |
mdx/mTR | MDX mice lacking the RNA component of telomerase (mdx/mTR) have shortened telomeres in muscle cells and severe muscular dystrophy that progressively worsens with age. | Alessandra Sacco mailto:asacco@sanfordburnham.org |
Obscurin knockout | The obscurin mouse develops a mild skeletal muscle myopathy, characterised by an age-dependent increase in centralised nuclei. | Stephan Lange mailto:slange@ucsd.edu |
nesprin-1 knockout | Data suggest that Nesprin 1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. | Ju Chen mailto:juchen@ucsd.edu |
nebulin knockout | Nebulin is a giant modular sarcomeric protein that has been proposed to play critical roles in myofibrillogenesis, thin filament length regulation, and muscle contraction. Nebulin-deficient mice die within 8-11 d after birth, with symptoms including decreased milk intake and muscle weakness. | Ju Chen mailto:juchen@ucsd.edu |
Cypher knockout | Cypher is a member of a recently emerging family of proteins containing a PDZ domain at their NH(2) terminus and one or three LIM domains at their COOH terminus. Cypher knockout mice display a severe form of congenital myopathy and die postnatally from functional failure in multiple striated muscles. | Ju Chen mailto:juchen@ucsd.edu |
FHL1 knockout | Recent human genetic studies have provided evidences that sporadic or inherited missense mutations in four-and-a-half LIM domain protein 1 (FHL1), resulting in alterations in FHL1 protein expression, are associated with rare congenital myopathies, including reducing body myopathy and Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. | Ju Chen mailto:juchen@ucsd.edu |
Net25 knockout | 6 nuclear envelope transmembrane proteins (NETs) are predicted to have important functions in muscle development and/or maintenance from their expression patterns during myoblast differentiation and in mouse tissues. Mutations in certain NETs cause muscular dystrophies and other disorders, but the disease mechanisms remain unclear. | Gerace |
SP-C/TNF-alpha over- expressing mouse | 6 SP-C/TNF-alpha mice exhibited increased levels of TNF-alpha in the circulation and increased endogenous TNF-alpha expression in skeletal muscle, potentially reflecting an amplificatory response to circulating TNF-alpha. Decreased muscle and body weights observed in SP-C/TNF-alpha mice were indicative of muscle wasting. | Hogan, Wagner |
Desmin knockout | Desmin knockout muscles generate lower stress and are less vulnerable to injury compared with wild-type muscles | Lieber |
Mdx mutation
MDX mutant mice do not express dystrophin and are used as a model system for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
- More information: More information on the mouse model (JAX lab)
- Human disease: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- Contact: Alessandra Sacco mailto:asacco@sanfordburnham.org
mdx/mTR
MDX mice lacking the RNA component of telomerase (mdx/mTR) have shortened telomeres in muscle cells and severe muscular dystrophy that progressively worsens with age.
- Read the publication here.
- Human disease: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- Contact: Alessandra Sacco mailto:asacco@sanfordburnham.org
Obscurin knockout
The obscurin mouse develops a mild skeletal muscle myopathy, characterised by an age-dependent increase in centralised nuclei.
- Read the publication here or find more information on an SDMRC funded Pilot Projects. More general information on the role of obscurin proteins for muscles can be found here.
- Human disease: Limb-girdle Muscular Dystrophy
- Contact: Stephan Lange mailto:slange@ucsd.edu
nesprin-1 knockout
Data suggest that Nesprin 1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy.
- Read the publication here.
- Human disease: Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD)
- Contact: Ju Chen mailto:juchen@ucsd.edu
nebulin knockout
Nebulin is a giant modular sarcomeric protein that has been proposed to play critical roles in myofibrillogenesis, thin filament length regulation, and muscle contraction. Nebulin-deficient mice die within 8-11 d after birth, with symptoms including decreased milk intake and muscle weakness.
- Read the publication here.
- Human disease: Nemaline Myopathy
- Contact: Ju Chen mailto:juchen@ucsd.edu
Cypher knockout
Cypher is a member of a recently emerging family of proteins containing a PDZ domain at their NH(2) terminus and one or three LIM domains at their COOH terminus. Cypher knockout mice display a severe form of congenital myopathy and die postnatally from functional failure in multiple striated muscles.
- Read the publication here.
- Human disease: Zaspopathy
- Contact: Ju Chen mailto:juchen@ucsd.edu
FHL1 knockout
Recent human genetic studies have provided evidences that sporadic or inherited missense mutations in four-and-a-half LIM domain protein 1 (FHL1), resulting in alterations in FHL1 protein expression, are associated with rare congenital myopathies, including reducing body myopathy and Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy.
- Read the publication here.
- Human disease: XMPMA (x-linked myopathy with postural muscle atrophy and generalized hypertrophy)
- Contact: Ju Chen mailto:juchen@ucsd.edu
Net25 knockout
6 nuclear envelope transmembrane proteins (NETs) are predicted to have important functions in muscle development and/or maintenance from their expression patterns during myoblast differentiation and in mouse tissues. Mutations in certain NETs cause muscular dystrophies and other disorders, but the disease mechanisms remain unclear.
- Read the publication here.
- Human disease: Laminopathy-related muscular dystrophies: Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, limb girdle MD 1B
- Contact: Gerace
SP-C/TNF-alpha over- expressing mouse
SP-C/TNF-alpha mice exhibited increased levels of TNF-alpha in the circulation and increased endogenous TNF-alpha expression in skeletal muscle, potentially reflecting an amplificatory response to circulating TNF-alpha. Decreased muscle and body weights observed in SP-C/TNF-alpha mice were indicative of muscle wasting.
- Read the publication here.
- Human disease: Chronic obstructive lung disease, Muscle Wasting
- Contact: Hogan, Wagner
Desmin knockout
Desmin knockout muscles generate lower stress and are less vulnerable to injury compared with wild-type muscles.
- Read the publication here.
- Human disease: Chronic obstructive lung disease, Desminopathy
- Contact: Lieber