Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an incurable, genetic disease in which sufferers progressively lose muscle tissue. The disease is caused by aGene mutation triggered, which leads to muscle inflammation and muscle weakness. Since the inflammatory processes in muscle tissue can accelerate the progression of the disease and lead to the condition worsening, researchers are looking for anti-inflammatory therapies. A new method that is being tested could prove effective. Anti-inflammatory nanoparticles could slow the progression of the disease.
Anti-inflammatory nanoparticles as an alternative to usual therapies
Currently, patients with DMD are treated with various anti-inflammatory medications. However, doctors have found that they can achieve better results with local therapy than with systematic administration of medication.
A team of researchers from Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering has developed a new treatment therapy that uses anti-inflammatory nanoparticles topically. This can be used to treat both chronically inflamed and weakened muscles. The therapy proves to be particularly helpful because medications taken orally are often distributed throughout the body and the affected parts of the body only receive a small dose.
The new method has already been tested on mice. The results of the animal experiments are promising, as the nanoparticles improved the animals' muscle strength by 40%. “If we use nanoparticle therapy, we can promote a therapeutic immune response by increasing the number of T cells. With the help of the new therapeutic approach, interleukin-4 can be delivered to the affected muscle areas. The cytokine is responsible for communication between T cells”.
The researchers hope that this therapy can be used not only to relieve symptoms, but also to improve breathing and heart muscle function. However, further studies are necessary to better explore these possible applications.
This therapy could also be offered to patients for whom usual treatment methods have proven ineffective. It could also be used as an adjunctive therapy for other neuromuscular diseases.
