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  4. Mifepristone alone and in combination with scAAV9-SMN1 gene therapy improves disease phenotypes in Smn2B/- spinal muscular atrophy mice
 
research article

Mifepristone alone and in combination with scAAV9-SMN1 gene therapy improves disease phenotypes in Smn2B/- spinal muscular atrophy mice

Sutton, Emma R.
•
McCallion, Eve
•
Hoolachan, Joseph M
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November 17, 2025
Scientific Reports

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by deletions or mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 ( SMN1 ) gene. SMA is characterised by alpha motor neuron loss in the spinal cord and subsequent muscle atrophy. There are currently three approved SMN-directed therapies for SMA patients. While these therapies have transformed what was once a life-limiting condition into one that can be managed and even improved, they are unfortunately not cures, highlighting the need for additional supporting second-generation therapies. These should not only target the neuromuscular system but also peripheral and metabolic perturbations that are present in both SMA models and patients. Krüppel-like factor 15 (Klf15) is a transcription factor that maintains metabolic homeostasis, is involved in the glucocorticoid-glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signalling pathway and is dysregultated in several peripheral and metabolic tissues in SMA mice. Here, we used murine and human cellular models as well as SMA mice and Caenorhabditis Elegans (C. elegans) to assess the therapeutic potential of reducing Klf15 activity with mifepristone, a glucocorticoid antagonist, combined with a SMN-targeted gene therapy. We report that mifepristone reduces Klf15 expression across several in vitro models, ameliorates neuromuscular pathology in SMA smn-1(ok355) C. elegans and improves survival of SMA Smn 2B/- mice. Furthermore, we show that combining mifepristone with an approved SMN-directed gene therapy (scAAV9- SMN1 ) results in improved tissue- and sex-specific responses to treatment. Our study demonstrates that a multi-tissue targeting SMN-independent drug, alone and in combination with an approved SMN-dependent therapy, has the potential to improve SMA disease pathology.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1038/s41598-025-24050-3
Author(s)
Sutton, Emma R.

Keele University

McCallion, Eve

Keele University

Hoolachan, Joseph M

Keele University

Çetin, Özge

Keele University

Pacheco-Torres, Paloma

University of Hertfordshire

Rashid, Saman

University of Hertfordshire

Bouhmidi, Sihame

Keele University

Haynes, Katie

Keele University

Churchill, Lauren

Keele University

Scaife, Taylor

Keele University

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Date Issued

2025-11-17

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Published in
Scientific Reports
Volume

15

Issue

1

Article Number

40225

Subjects

Metabolism

•

Klf15

•

Skeletal muscle

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Spinal muscular atrophy

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Mifepristone

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Combinatorial

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
PTBTG  
FunderFunding(s)Grant NumberGrant URL

Muscular Dystrophy UK

18GRO-PS48-0114

Academy of Medical Sciences

SBF006/1162

Medical Research Council

MR/Y003640/1

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Available on Infoscience
November 20, 2025
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/256040
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