Background: Tissue sections of dystrophic muscle demonstrate apoptotic
myonuclei in degenerating muscle fibers of Duchene muscle dystrophy (DMD) patients. The apoptosis cascade can be triggered by 2 main pathways, via an intrinsic, endogenous system such as the mitochondrial Bax/Bcl-2 or via an extrinsic system involving transmembrane receptors of the death receptor family Fas and Fas Ligand (FasL).
Aim of the Work: The present study is an attempt to demonstrate the levels of Fas and FasL and Bax/Bcl-2 in DMD pathogenesis.
Patient and Methods: Subjects were 16 boys with DMD diagnosed clinically and at the molecular level versus 20 age and socioeconomic matching healthy boys.
Results: Plasma DNA fragmentation (0.38%±0.12 vs. 0.2%±.0.1.5) and Fas (9.9±2.8 vs. 2±0.1,
