REMIND

The project investigates the mechanisms linking Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to the progressive decline of cardiac function, with a particular focus on the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In DMD, the absence of dystrophin not only affects muscle tissue but also disrupts the balance among complex systems involving skeletal muscle, the heart, and the nervous system. In this context, the accumulation of specific ECM components appears to promote dysfunction of the sympathetic neurons that regulate the heart, contributing to the loss of proper muscle tone and the onset of arrhythmias. Based on the hypothesis that ECM composition may be capable of inhibiting sympathetic cardiac innervation, the project seeks to clarify the pathological role of these processes and to develop innovative strategies to restore cardiac innervation. To achieve this, the study will employ advanced 3D cultures, enabling the creation of highly representative experimental models and a more precise characterization of the contribution of the ECM to cardiac deterioration in DMD.