| abstract |
Disclosed herein are methods of treating and diagnosing muscular dystrophy. In some examples, the methods include treating muscular dystrophy by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that alters the expression of at least one miR gene product, such as miRNA-124 and/or miRNA-29 thereby treating muscular dystrophy. In one particular example, the method of treatment includes administering an agent that decreases the expression or activity of miRNA-124. In another embodiment, the method of treatment includes administering a composition that includes one or more agents to decrease the expression and/or activity of miRNA-124 and one or more agents to alter the activity of miRNA-29 (increase or decrease). Also disclosed are methods of enhancing muscle regeneration, repair, or maintenance in a subject and methods of enhancing α7β1 integrin expression. Methods of prospectively preventing or reducing muscle injury or damage in a subject are also disclosed. |