AUTHOR=Mareedu Satvik , Million Emily D. , Duan Dongsheng , Babu Gopal J. 

TITLE=Abnormal Calcium Handling in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Mechanisms and Potential Therapies

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.647010

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2021.647010

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked muscle-wasting disease caused by the loss of dystrophin. DMD is associated with muscle degeneration, necrosis, inflammation, fatty replacement, and fibrosis, resulting in muscle weakness, respiratory and cardiac failure, and premature death. There is no curative treatment. Investigations on disease-causing mechanisms offer an opportunity to identify new therapeutic targets to treat DMD. An abnormal elevation of the intracellular calcium (<inline-formula><mml:math id="M1" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msubsup><mml:mtext>Ca</mml:mtext><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>i</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn><mml:mo>+</mml:mo></mml:mrow></mml:msubsup></mml:math></inline-formula>) concentration in the dystrophin-deficient muscle is a major secondary event, which contributes to disease progression in DMD. Emerging studies have suggested that targeting Ca<sup>2+</sup>-handling proteins and/or mechanisms could be a promising therapeutic strategy for DMD. Here, we provide an updated overview of the mechanistic roles the sarcolemma, sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria play in the abnormal and sustained elevation of <inline-formula><mml:math id="M2" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msubsup><mml:mtext>Ca</mml:mtext><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>i</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn><mml:mo>+</mml:mo></mml:mrow></mml:msubsup></mml:math></inline-formula> levels and their involvement in DMD pathogenesis. We also discuss current approaches aimed at restoring Ca<sup>2+</sup> homeostasis as potential therapies for DMD.</p>