Myostatin mRNA expression in patients of Duchenne muscular dystrophy / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the expression of myostatin mRNA,a negative regulator of muscle growth,in the skeletal muscle of Duchenne muscular dystrophy(DMD)patients.Methods A semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate the expression of myostatin in the skeletal muscle of 7 DMD patients and 4 healthy controls.Results The level of myostatin gene expression in the skeletal muscle of DMD patients was higher than that of healthy controls(0.56 ± 0.16 vs 0.34 ± 0.15,Z =-2.268,P =0.023).Conclusions The myostatin gene expression was increased in the DMD patients compared to the healthy controls.Enhanced expression of myostatin in the skeletal muscle might be involved in the pathogenesis of DMD.