Compositions, recombinant viruses, and recombinant viral vectors for inhibiting sarcolipin (SLN) expression or activity in a cell and for preventing or treating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in a subject (e.g., a human patient having or predisposed to having DMD) and in some embodiments additionally cardiomyopathy, include a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of SLN. Methods of using these compositions, recombinant viruses, and recombinant viral vectors are also described herein. These compositions, recombinant viruses, and recombinant viral vectors and methods of use provide novel therapies for DMD and associated cardiomyopathy based on the reduction of SLN expression and/or activity.
