Protocol for using MYOD1-transduced human urine-derived cells as a predictive platform for exon skipping therapy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-based exon skipping is a splice-modulating therapy effective for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) caused by dystrophin deficiency. Here, we present a protocol for evaluating exon skipping efficacy in MYOD1-transduced human urine-derived cells (MYOD1-UDCs) from patients. We describe steps for isolating UDCs, selecting CD90-positive cells, inducing myogenic differentiation, and assessing the restoration of DMD mRNA and proteins after exon skipping. This platform enhances the predictability of ASO screening, promoting early-stage drug discovery and translational research in DMD. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Komaki et al.¹