Fibroblasts from the muscles of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients are resistant to cell detachment apoptosis

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including collagen and growth factors, are greatly increased in tissue fibrosis and mainly secreted by fibroblasts. We previously demonstrated that muscle-derived fibroblasts from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients have a profibrotic phenotype, that includes significantly reduced expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease 3 (TIMP-3) compared to control. Since TIMP-3 induces apoptosis in various cell types, we hypothesized increased resistance of DMD fibroblasts to apoptosis. To address this, we evaluated apoptotic nuclei, caspase 3, caspase 3 substrate expression, and migration and adhesion properties of muscle-derived fibroblasts, after applying different apoptosis-inducing treatments. We found that DMD fibroblasts were less susceptible to cell death, more adhesive, and had greater tendency to migrate than control fibroblasts — findings further supported by alterations in FAK and ERK/MAPK expression. Resistance to apoptosis and greater adhesion are likely to contribute to muscle fibrosis so a pharmacological treatment that targets dysregulated pathways involved in cell detachment apoptosis (anoikis) may limit the progressive fibrotic remodeling characteristic of DMD. ► Muscle-derived DMD fibroblasts have a pro-fibrotic phenotype. ► We now find lower cell detachment apoptosis (anoikis) than in control fibroblasts. ► DMD fibroblasts are also more adhesive and have greater tendency to migrate. ► Thus, they are likely to contribute to the fibrotic remodeling of DMD muscle. ► A drug targeting dysregulated anoikis pathways could limit fibrosis in DMD.