Muscle inflammatory pattern in alpha- and gamma-sarcoglycanopathies

Aim: Since the immune system plays a role in the pathogenesis of several muscular dystrophies, we aim to characterize several muscular inflammatory features in alpha- (LGMD R3) and gamma-sarcoglycanopathies (LGMD R5). Materials and methods: We explored the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules (MHCI), and we analyzed the composition of the immune infiltrates in muscle biopsies from 10 patients with LGMD R3 and 8 patients with LGMD R5, comparing the results to Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients (DMD). Results: A consistent involvement of the immune response was observed in sarcoglycanopathies, although it was less evident than in DMD. LGMD R3-R5 and DMD shared an abnormal expression of MHCI, and the composition of the muscular immune cell infiltrate was comparable. Conclusion: These findings might serve as a rationale to fine-tune a disease-specific immunomodulatory regimen, particularly relevant in view of the rapid development of gene therapy for sarcoglycanopathies.