CONGENITAL MUSCULAR DISTROPHY ASSOCIATED TO LMA
Congenital muscular distropy associated to LMNA (L-CMD) is a rare genetic disease that appear in infants and young patients, and is characterized by slow progressive muscle weakness and wasting, atrio-ventricular conduction block, and respiratory distress. It is caused by mutations in LMNA gene which encodes for A-type lamins (lamin A/C), proteins that are part of the nuclear lamina in eucariotic cells. L-CMD is a severe disease with no cure currently available.
The aim of this project is to advance in the knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of L-CMD and to test new therapeutic approaches based on advanced therapies.
So far, we have:
- Generated a collection of mouse myoblasts (C2C12) with different mutations at Lmna exon 4 that have allowed us to study new features of the disease (Cells 2020, 9(5), 1286).
- Generated a conditional mouse model for the expression of the lmna-R249W mutation, which is causally associated with L-CMD in humans.

- Explored, in vitro, the potential of two CRISPR based strategies, HITI and the use of mutation-specific sgRNAs. In both cases, we have decided to go further and validate our hypothesis in vivo using the lmna-R249W model.

- Carried out preliminary experiments to test the therapeutic potential of Remodelin and ARRY-797. Our initial results, in human myoblasts, were good enough to design and perform an in vivo study for both molecules.


Title: Terapias Avanzadas para el Tratamiento de Laminopatías.
Agency (period): Fundación Andrés Marcio, niños contra la laminopatía (2016-2018).
PI: Ignacio Pérez de Castro and Fernando de Miguel Pedrero.
Amount: 150000€
Title: TERAPIAS AVANZADAS PARA EL TRATAMIENTO DE LAMINOPATÍAS: EDICIÓN GENÓMICA Y TERAPIA CELULAR CON CÉLULAS PROGENITORAS MESENQUIMALES (PI16CIII/00017).
Agency (period): MICIN-AESi (2016-2018).
PI: Fernando de Miguel Pedrero.
Amount: 117550€

Title: Estudio del potencial de terapias avanzadas basadas en CRISPR/Cas y células progenitoras mesenquimales para el tratamiento de distrofias musculares congénitas asociadas a LMNA.
Agency (period): Fundación Andrés Marcio, niños contra la laminopatía (2019-2023).
PI: Ignacio Pérez de Castro.
Amount: 150000€
Title: ESTUDIO DEL POTENCIAL DE LA TECNOLOGÍA CRISPR/CAS PARA EL TRATAMIENTO DE LA DISTROFIA MUSCULAR CONGÉNITA ASOCIADA A LMNA (PI20CIII/00038).
Agency (period): MICIN-AESi (2020-2022).
PI: Ignacio Pérez de Castro.
Amount: 72000€