Over the past decade different stem cell (SC) based approaches were tested to treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a lethal X-linked disorder caused by mutations in dystrophin gene. Despite research efforts, there is no curative therapy for DMD. Allogeneic SC therapies aim to restore dystrophin in the affected muscles; however, they are challenged by rejection and limited engraftment. Thus, there is a need to develop new more efficacious SC therapies. Chimeric Cells (CC), created via ex vivo fusion of donor and recipient cells, represent a promising therapeutic option for tissue regeneration and Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) due to tolerogenic properties that eliminate the need for lifelong immunosuppression. This proof of concept study tested feasibility of myoblast fusion for Dystrophin Expressing. Chimeric Cell (DEC) therapy through in vitro characterization and in vivo assessment of engraftment, survival, and efficacy in the mdx mouse model of DMD. Murine DEC were created via ex vivo fusion of normal (snj) and dystrophin–deficient (mdx) myoblasts using polyethylene glycol. Efficacy of myoblast fusion was confirmed by flow cytometry and dystrophin immunostaining, while proliferative and myogenic differentiation capacity of DEC were assessed in vitro. Therapeutic effect after DEC transplant (0.5 × 106) into the gastrocnemius muscle (GM) of mdx mice was assessed by muscle functional tests. At 30 days post-transplant dystrophin expression in GM of injected mdx mice increased to 37.27 ± 12.1% and correlated with improvement of muscle strength and function. Our study confirmed feasibility and efficacy of DEC therapy and represents a novel SC based approach for treatment of muscular dystrophies.

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Study Design-A gross anatomical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration in fresh cadaveric lumbar spines.Objective-The purpose of this study was to find the rate of IVD degeneration.Summary of Background Data-Age, sex, race, and lumbar level are among some of the factors that play a role in IVD degeneration. The rate at which IVDs degenerate is unknown.Methods-Complete lumbar spine segments (T11/12 to S1) were received within 24 hours of death. The nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, cartilaginous and bony end-plate, and the peripheral verterbral body were assessed with MRI and IVD degeneration was graded by two observers from grade 1(nondegenerated) to grade 5(severely degenerated) based on a scale developed by Tanaka et al. The specimens were then sectioned and gross anatomical evaluation was performed according to Thompson et al.Results-433 donors and 1712 IVDs were analyzed. There were 366 Caucasians, 47 Africans, 16 Hispanics, 4 Asian. There were 306 males and 127 females. The age range was 14-81 years, (average 60.5+/−11.3). For donors greater than age 40, the L5/S1 IVD degenerated at a significantly faster rate of 0.043/year compared to 0.031, 0.034, 0.033, 0.027 for L12, L23, L34, L45, respectively. For donors younger than 40, L5/S1 IVD degenerated at a significantly faster rate of 0.141/year compared to 0.033,0.021, 0.031, 0.050 for L12, L23, L34, L45, respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed that gender had no significant effect on IVD degeneration whereas African ethnicity was associated with lower Thompson score at L12, L23, L34, L45 when compared to Caucasians.Corresponding Author: Gabriella Cs-Szabo, PhD, Gabriella_Cs-Szabo@rush.edu, Departments of Biochemistry and Orthopaedic Surgery, 1735 W. Harrison St., Cohn Research Building, Ste. 514, Chicago, IL 60612. NIH Public AccessAuthor Manuscript Spine (Phila Pa 1976). Author manuscript; available in PMC 2012 August 1. Conclusions-The relatively early degeneration at L5-S1 in all races and lower Thompson grade in donors of African ethnicity needs further investigation. Factors such as sagittal alignment, facet joint arthritis, and genetics potentially play a role in IVD degeneration.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive and lethal disease caused by mutations of the dystrophin gene. Currently no cure exists. Stem cell therapies targeting DMD are challenged by limited engraftment and rejection despite the use of immunosuppression. There is an urgent need to introduce new stem cell-based therapies that exhibit low allogenic profiles and improved cell engraftment. In this proof-of-concept study, we develop and test a new human stem cell-based approach to increase engraftment, limit rejection, and restore dystrophin expression in the mdx/scid mouse model of DMD. We introduce two Dystrophin Expressing Chimeric (DEC) cell lines created by ex vivo fusion of human myoblasts (MB) derived from two normal donors (MBN1/MBN2), and normal and DMD donors (MBN/MBDMD). The efficacy of fusion was confirmed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy based on donor cell fluorescent labeling (PKH26/PKH67). In vitro, DEC displayed phenotype and genotype of donor parent cells, expressed dystrophin, and maintained proliferation and myogenic differentiation. In vivo, local delivery of both DEC lines (0.5 × 106) restored dystrophin expression (17.27%±8.05—MBN1/MBN2 and 23.79%±3.82—MBN/MBDMD) which correlated with significant improvement of muscle force, contraction and tolerance to fatigue at 90 days after DEC transplant to the gastrocnemius muscles (GM) of dystrophin-deficient mdx/scid mice. This study establishes DEC as a potential therapy for DMD and other types of muscular dystrophies.