Role of CD82 in the Pathophysiology of DMD

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease that causes skeletal muscle degeneration. As the disease progresses, the affected individuals lose their ability to breathe and walk. Currently, there is no definitive cure for this disease. Previous research found CD82, a protein expressed on the surface of skeletal muscle cells, to be decreased by 2.5 times in muscle tissues from DMD patients. The purpose of this project is to test the hypothesis that a decrease in CD82 levels plays an aberrant role in DMD. CD82 will be delivered to the muscles of dystrophic mice and after 3 months, muscle biopsies will be taken from the treated mice to assess, through techniques such as immunostaining and Western blotting, how changes in CD82 levels alter muscle health. It is expected that the CD82-positive mice will have more intact muscle fibers with fewer tears and scarring compared to CD82-negative mice.

Faculty Supervisor:

Illimar Altosaar

Student:

Partner:

Harvard University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Ottawa

Program: