Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe genetic disorder caused by mutations in the DMD gene. These mutations disrupt the dystrophin protein, essential for muscle function. Current treatments, like exon-skipping oligonucleotides, have limitations due to their short lifespan and need for frequent administration.   Objective: This study explored the use of a self-complementary adeno-associated virus (scAAV9) vector expressing U7 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) to target exon 2 of …

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  This study explores the impact of voluntary exercise on the effectiveness of a gene therapy approach for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) using the D2-mdx murine model. DMD is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, leading to muscle damage and impaired regeneration. The research uses adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated U7 snRNA to skip a mutation-containing exon and restore dystrophin production. D2-mdx mice were treated with AAV-U7 and allowed to run …

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This study addresses the challenges of aberrant pre-mRNA splicing in Pompe disease, caused by pathogenic variants in the acid α-glucosidase (GAA) gene. These variants often lead to the use of cryptic splice sites, resulting in disrupted protein production. The research proposes a pipeline to identify these splicing defects and correct them using antisense oligonucleotides (AONs).   The team developed a splicing assay to detect aberrant splicing patterns in patient-derived fibroblasts. …

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1. Background and Purpose: Antisense oligonucleotide (AO)-mediated exon skipping is a promising strategy for treating genetic disorders like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). This method alters dystrophin pre-mRNA splicing to create a shorter but functional protein, potentially converting severe DMD into a milder Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) phenotype. The paper highlights the significance of skipping exons 45–55, a common mutation area that could help nearly half of DMD patients.   2. …

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