Antiviral drugs prolong survival in murine recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
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ABSTRACT: Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a rare inherited skin disease characterized by defects in type VII collagen leading to a range of fibrotic pathologies resulting from skin fragility, aberrant wound healing and altered dermal fibroblast physiology. Using a novel in vitro model of fibrosis based on endogenously produced extracellular matrix, we screened an FDA-approved compound library and identified antivirals as a class of drug not previously associated with anti-fibrotic action. Pre-clinical validation of our lead hit, daclatasvir, in a mouse model of RDEB demonstrated significant improvement in fibrosis as well as overall quality of life with increased survival, weight gain and activity, and a decrease in pruritus-induced hair loss. Immunohistochemical assessment of daclatasvir-treated RDEB mouse skin showed a reduction in fibrotic markers, which was supported by in vitro data demonstrating TGFβ pathway targeting and a reduction of total collagen retained in the extracellular matrix. Our data support clinical development of antivirals for treatment of patients with RDEB and potentially other fibrotic diseases.
SUBMITTER: Dr. Grace Tartaglia
PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_1038-S44321-024-00048-8 | biostudies-other |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
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