Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which affects 1 in 5,000 male births, is one of the most common genetic disorders of children. This disease is caused by an absence or deficiency of dystrophin protein in striated muscle. The major DMD deletion “hot spots” are found between exon 6 to 8, and exons 45 to 53. Here, three DMD mouse models are provided that can be used to test a variety of DMD exon skipping and refraining strategies. Among these are, CRISPR/Cas9 oligonucleotides, small molecules or other therapeutic modalities that promote exon skipping or exon refraining or micro dystrophin mini genes or cell based therapies. Methods for restoring the reading frame of exon 43, exon 45, and exon 52 deletion via CRISPR-mediated exon skipping and refraining in the humanized DMD mouse model, in patient-derived iPSCs and ultimately, in patients using various delivery systems are also contemplated. The impact of CRISPR technology on DMD is that gene editing can permanently correct mutations.
CORRECTION OF DYSTROPHIN EXON 43, EXON 45, OR EXON 52 DELETIONS IN DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY