By Emily Boyd, Abigail Powers

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ginny Morriss

Abstract

Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by CTG repeats and results in muscle wasting. Increased concentration and inactivation of platelet derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRβ) has been reported in a mouse model of DM1 and in DM1 patient muscles. PDGFRβ is involved in pathways promoting endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis. The effect of DM1 on angiogenesis is currently unknown. We hoped to optimize conditions for a coculture to identify the influence of cell communication between DM1 myotubes and endothelial cells on angiogenesis. Our findings showed that myoblasts grew best in endothelial cell media with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) though they also grew at 2% FBS, the baseline amount in endothelial cell media. Diluted Geltrex was tested as the basement membrane for the coculture. Myoblasts grew best on high concentrations of diluted Geltrex while endothelial cells were unable to form tubes at all concentrations. Therefore, nondiluted Geltrex will be used in high concentrations for the coculture to ensure both myoblasts and endothelial cells adhere to the basement membrane. Endothelial cell medium will also be used in the coculture with no additional FBS so that both cell types may grow at similar speeds. These results will facilitate a coculture to determine the concentration of phosphorylated PDGFRβ relative to total concentration in DM1 and unaffected myotubes co-cultured with endothelial cells.