The formation of skeletal muscle: from somite to limb

Premature myogenic differentiation and depletion of progenitor cells cause severe muscle hypotrophy in Delta1 mutants

In vertebrates, skeletal myogenesis is initiated by the generation of myoblasts followed by their differentiation to myocytes and the formation of myofibers. The determination of myoblasts and their differentiation are controlled by muscle regulatory factors that are activated at specific stages during myogenesis. During late embryonic and fetal stages a distinct population of resident proliferating progenitor cells is the major source of myogenic cells. How the differentiation of myoblasts and progenitor cells is regulated is not clear. We show that in mouse embryos the Notch ligand Delta1 (Dll1) controls both differentiation of early myoblasts and maintenance of myogenic progenitor cells. Early dermomyotome-derived myoblasts are determined normally in Dll1 mutant embryos, but their differentiation is accelerated, leading to a transient excess of myotomal muscle fibers. Similarly, migratory hypaxial myogenic cells colonize the limb buds and activate muscle regulatory factor expression normally, but muscle differentiation progresses more rapidly. Resident progenitor cells defined by Pax3/Pax7 expression are formed initially, but they are progressively lost and virtually absent at embryonic day 14.5. Muscle growth declines beginning around embryonic day 12, leading to subsequent severe muscle hypotrophy in hypomorphic Dll1 fetuses. We suggest that premature and excessive differentiation leads to depletion of progenitor cells and cessation of muscle growth, and we conclude that Dll1 provides essential signals that are required to prevent uncontrolled differentiation early and ensure sustained muscle differentiation during development.

Enhancer of polycomb1, a novel homeodomain only protein-binding partner, induces skeletal muscle differentiation

Homeodomain only protein, Hop, is an unusual small protein that modulates target gene transcription without direct binding to DNA. Here we show that Hop interacts with Enhancer of Polycomb1 (Epc1), a homolog of a Drosophila polycomb group gene product that regulates transcription, to induce the skeletal muscle differentiation. Yeast two-hybrid assay with the human adult heart cDNA library revealed that Hop can associate with Epc1. The amino-terminal domain of Epc1 as well as full Epc1 physically interacted with Hop in mammalian cells and in yeast. Epc1 is highly expressed in the embryonic heart and adult skeletal muscles. Serum deprivation induced differentiation of H9c2, a myoblast cell line, into skeletal myocytes, and Epc1 was up-regulated. Differentiation of H9c2 was induced by Epc1 overexpression, although it was severely impaired in Epc1-knockdown cells. Co-transfection of Hop potentiated Epc1-induced transactivation of myogenin and myotube formation. Hop knock-out mice elicited a decrease in myosin heavy chain and myogenin expressions in skeletal muscle and showed delay in hamstring muscle healing after injury. Differentiation was impaired in skeletal myoblasts from Hop knock-out mice. These results suggest that Epc1 plays a role in the initiation of skeletal muscle differentiation, and its interaction with Hop is required for the full activity.

Shaping leg muscles in Drosophila: role of ladybird, a conserved regulator of appendicular myogenesis

Legs are locomotor appendages used by a variety of evolutionarily distant vertebrates and invertebrates. The primary biological leg function, locomotion, requires the formation of a specialised appendicular musculature. Here we report evidence that ladybird, an orthologue of the Lbx1 gene recognised as a hallmark of appendicular myogenesis in vertebrates, is expressed in leg myoblasts, and regulates the shape, ultrastructure and functional properties of leg muscles in Drosophila. ladybird expression is progressively activated in myoblasts associated with the imaginal leg disc and precedes that of the founder cell marker dumbfounded. The RNAi-mediated attenuation of ladybird expression alters properties of developing myotubes, impairing their ability to grow and interact with the internal tendons and epithelial attachment sites. It also affects sarcomeric ultrastructure, resulting in reduced leg muscle performance and impaired mobility in surviving flies. The over-expression of ladybird also results in an abnormal pattern of dorsally located leg muscles, indicating different requirements for ladybird in dorsal versus ventral muscles. This differential effect is consistent with the higher level of Ladybird in ventrally located myoblasts and with positive ladybird regulation by extrinsic Wingless signalling from the ventral epithelium. In addition, ladybird expression correlates with that of FGF receptor Heartless and the read-out of FGF signalling downstream of FGF. FGF signals regulate the number of leg disc associated myoblasts and are able to accelerate myogenic differentiation by activating ladybird, leading to ectopic muscle fibre formation. A key role for ladybird in leg myogenesis is further supported by its capacity to repress vestigial and to down-regulate the vestigial-governed flight muscle developmental programme. Thus in Drosophila like in vertebrates, appendicular muscles develop from a specialised pool of myoblasts expressing ladybird/Lbx1. The ladybird/Lbx1 gene family appears as a part of an ancient genetic circuitry determining leg-specific properties of myoblasts and making an appendage adapted for locomotion.

Hedgehog acts directly on the zebrafish dermomyotome to promote myogenic differentiation

Vertebrate myogenesis is regulated by signaling proteins secreted from surrounding tissues. One of the most important, Sonic hedgehog, has been proposed to regulate myogenic precursor cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation in a variety of vertebrates. In zebrafish, Hedgehog signaling is both necessary and sufficient for the development of embryonic slow muscle fibers-the earliest differentiating muscle fibers. Here we investigated the function of Hedgehog signaling in another zebrafish myogenic lineage, a dermomyotomal population of cells defined by somitic pax3/7 expression. We found that Hedgehog negatively regulates the number of myogenic precursors expressing pax3/7. Hh also positively regulates the growth of embryonic fast muscle. Unlike Hedgehog's function in regulating the elongation of fast muscle fibers, this regulation is not mediated by embryonic slow muscle fibers. Instead, it is a direct Hedgehog response, cell autonomous to myogenic precursors. The regulation of myogenic precursors and their differentiation into fast fibers have a different critical time period for Hh signaling, and different requirements for specific gli gene family members of Hh activated transcription factors from the earlier promotion of embryonic slow muscle fiber differentiation. We propose that Hedgehog signaling acts at multiple times on different lineages, through different downstream pathways, to promote myogenic differentiation.

MyoD inhibits Fstl1 and Utrn expression by inducing transcription of miR-206

Terminal differentiation of distinct cell types requires the transcriptional activation of differentiation-specific genes and the suppression of genes associated with the precursor cell. For example, the expression of utrophin (Utrn) is suppressed during skeletal muscle differentiation, and it is replaced at the sarcolemma by the related dystrophin protein. The MyoD transcription factor directly activates the expression of a large number of skeletal muscle genes, but also suppresses the expression of many genes. To characterize a mechanism of MyoD-mediated suppression of gene expression, we investigated two genes that are suppressed in fibroblasts converted to skeletal muscle by MyoD, follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1) and Utrn. MyoD directly activates the expression of a muscle-specific microRNA (miRNA), miR-206, which targets sequences in the Fstl1 and Utrn RNA, and these sequences are sufficient to suppress gene expression in the presence of miR-206. These findings demonstrate that MyoD, in addition to activating muscle-specific genes, induces miRNAs that repress gene expression during skeletal muscle differentiation.

The RNA helicases p68/p72 and the noncoding RNA SRA are coregulators of MyoD and skeletal muscle differentiation

MyoD regulates skeletal myogenesis. Since proteins associated with MyoD exert regulatory functions, their identification is expected to contribute important insights into the mechanisms governing gene expression in skeletal muscle. We have found that the RNA helicases p68/p72 are MyoD-associated proteins and that the noncoding RNA SRA also immunoprecipitates with MyoD. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that both p68/p72 and SRA are coactivators of MyoD. RNA interference toward either p68/p72 or SRA prevented proper activation of muscle gene expression and cell differentiation. Unexpectedly, reducing the levels of p68/p72 proteins impaired recruitment of the TATA binding protein TBP; RNA polymerase II; and the catalytic subunit of the ATPase SWI/SNF complex, Brg-1, and hindered chromatin remodeling. These findings reveal that p68/p72 play a critical role in promoting the assembly of proteins required for the formation of the transcription initiation complex and chromatin remodeling.

Pitx2c overexpression promotes cell proliferation and arrests differentiation in myoblasts

Pitx2 is a paired-related homeobox gene that has been shown to play a central role during development. In the mouse, there are three isoforms, Pitx2a, b, and c, which differ only in their amino terminal regions. Pitx2 is expressed in myotomes, myoblasts, and myofibers and may be involved in muscle patterning. However, the mechanism by which Pitx2 acts in muscle cell lineages as well as the distinct functions of the individual isoforms have not been investigated. In this study, we used Sol8 myoblasts to investigate the function of Pitx2 in skeletal myogenesis. We found that Pitx2c is the main Pitx2 isoform present in Sol8 myoblasts. Overexpression of Pitx2c in Sol8 myoblasts inhibited myocyte differentiation and myotube formation. Furthermore, Sol8 cells overexpressing Pitx2c maintained high proliferative capacity and a significant up-regulation of the cell cycle genes cyclin D1, cyclin D2, and c-myc. Gene expression analysis for Pax3 and the s MyoD and myogenin showed that Pitx2c-overexpression caused Sol8 cells to remain as myoblasts, in an undifferentiated myogenic state. Furthermore, down-regulation of the muscle-specific genes sTnI and MyHC3 demonstrated that Sol8-overexpressing Pitx2c myoblasts failed to reach terminal differentiation. This study sheds light on previously unknown functions of the Pitx2c isoform in balancing proliferation vs. differentiation in a myogenic cell line.

BMPs restrict the position of premuscle masses in the limb buds by influencing Tcf4 expression

Previous studies have shown the distally retreating source of Scatter factor/Hepatocyte growth factor (SF/HGF) can account for the distal migration of myogenic precursor cells in the limb bud mesenchyme. However, the normal expression pattern of Sf/Hgf alone does not explain the distribution of muscle precursor cells. Hence, the position of the dorsal and ventral premuscle masses suggests the presence of additional patterning factors. We present evidence that BMP2 and 4 can act as such factors by inhibiting the expression of Tcf4, a downstream element of the canonical Wnt pathway. The normal position of muscle cells depends on the correct distribution of BMP and SF/HGF throughout the limb bud mesenchyme. Removal or inhibition of the BMP signals within the limb margins leads to a shift in position resulting in the fusion of the dorsal and ventral premuscle masses towards the manipulated areas. In the absence of BMPs, mispositioning requires the presence of SF/HGF. Consequently, ectopic application of exogenous SF/HGF in the presence of BMP signals does not change muscle positioning. We conclude that correct positioning of the premuscle masses in the limb buds is controlled by the combined influence of SF/HGF signals--guiding cells mainly in the proximo-distal axis--and BMP signals that restrict the positioning to the dorsal and ventral central portions of the limb buds.

MicroRNA-1 facilitates skeletal myogenic differentiation without affecting osteoblastic and adipogenic differentiation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs emerging as important post-transcriptional gene regulators. In this study, we examined the role of miR-1, an miRNA specifically expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue, on the myogenic, osteoblastic, and adipogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells. Upon induction of myogenic differentiation, miR-1 was robustly expressed. Retrovirus-mediated overexpression of miR-1 markedly enhanced expression of muscle creatine kinase, sarcomeric myosin, and alpha-actinin, while the effects on myogenin and MyoD expression were modest. Formation of myotubes was significantly augmented in miR-1-overexpressing cells, indicating miR-1 expression enhanced not only myogenic differentiation but also maturation into myotubes. In contrast, osteoblastic and adipogenic differentiation was not affected by forced expression of miR-1. Thus, the muscle-specific miRNA, miR-1, plays important roles in controlling myogenic differentiation and maturation in lineage-committed cells, rather than functioning in fate determination.

SHP-2 activates signaling of the nuclear factor of activated T cells to promote skeletal muscle growth

The formation of multinucleated myofibers is essential for the growth of skeletal muscle. The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) promotes skeletal muscle growth. How NFAT responds to changes in extracellular cues to regulate skeletal muscle growth remains to be fully defined. In this study, we demonstrate that mice containing a skeletal muscle-specific deletion of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 (muscle creatine kinase [MCK]-SHP-2 null) exhibited a reduction in both myofiber size and type I slow myofiber number. We found that interleukin-4, an NFAT-regulated cytokine known to stimulate myofiber growth, was reduced in its expression in skeletal muscles of MCK-SHP-2-null mice. When SHP-2 was deleted during the differentiation of primary myoblasts, NFAT transcriptional activity and myotube multinucleation were impaired. Finally, SHP-2 coupled myotube multinucleation to an integrin-dependent pathway and activated NFAT by stimulating c-Src. Thus, SHP-2 transduces extracellular matrix stimuli to intracellular signaling pathways to promote skeletal muscle growth.

Physiological oxygenation status is required for fully differentiated phenotype in kidney cortex proximal tubules

Hypoxia has been suspected to trigger transdifferentiation of renal tubular cells into myofibroblasts in an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. To determine the functional networks potentially altered by hypoxia, rat renal tubule suspensions were incubated under three conditions of oxygenation ranging from normoxia (lactate uptake) to severe hypoxia (lactate production). Transcriptome changes after 4 h were analyzed on a high scale by restriction fragment differential display. Among 1,533 transcripts found, 42% were maximally expressed under severe hypoxia and 8% under mild hypoxia (Po2 = 48 mmHg), suggesting two different levels of oxygen sensing. Normoxia was required for full expression of the proximal tubule-specific transcripts 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1-hydroxylase ( Cyp27b1) and l-pyruvate kinase ( Pklr), transcripts involved in tissue cohesion such as fibronectin ( Fn1) and N-cadherin ( Cdh2), and non-muscle-type myosin transcripts. Mild hypoxia increased myogenin transcript level. Conversely, severe hypoxia increased transcripts involved in extracellular matrix remodeling, those of muscle-type myosins, and others involved in creatine phosphate synthesis and lactate transport ( Slc16a7). Accordingly, microscopy showed loss of tubule aggregation under hypoxia, without tubular disruption. Hypoxia also increased the levels of kidney-specific transcripts normally restricted to the less oxygenated medullary zone and others specific for the distal part of the nephron. We conclude that extensive oxygen supply to the kidney tubule favors expression of its differentiated functions specifically in the proximal tubule, whose embryonic origin is mesenchymal. The phenotype changes could potentially permit transient adaptation to hypoxia but also favor pathological processes such as tissue invasion.

Muscle cell survival mediated by the transcriptional coactivators p300 and PCAF displays different requirements for acetyltransferase activity

Normal skeletal muscle development requires the proper orchestration of genetic programs by myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs). The actions of the MRF protein MyoD are enhanced by the transcriptional coactivators p300 and the p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF). We previously described C2 skeletal myoblasts lacking expression of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) that underwent progressive apoptotic death when incubated in differentiation-promoting medium. Viability of these cells was sustained by addition of IGF analogs or unrelated peptide growth factors. We now show that p300 or PCAF maintains myoblast viability as effectively as added growth factors through mechanisms requiring the acetyltransferase activity of PCAF but not of p300. The actions of p300 to promote cell survival were not secondary to increased expression of known MyoD targets, as evidenced by results of gene microarray experiments, but rather appeared to be mediated by induction of other genes, including fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1). Conditioned culture medium from cells expressing p300 increased myoblast viability, and this was blocked by pharmacological inhibition of FGF receptors. Our results define a role for p300 in promoting cell survival, which is independent of its acetyltransferase activity and acts at least in part through FGF-1.

Loss of FilaminC (FLNc) results in severe defects in myogenesis and myotube structure

FilaminC (FLNc) is the muscle-specific member of a family of actin binding proteins. Although it interacts with many proteins involved in muscular dystrophies, its unique role in muscle is poorly understood. To address this, two models were developed. First, FLNc expression was stably reduced in C2C12 myoblasts by RNA interference. While these cells start differentiation normally, they display defects in differentiation and fusion ability and ultimately form multinucleated "myoballs" rather than maintain elongated morphology. Second, a mouse model carrying a deletion of last 8 exons of Flnc was developed. FLNc-deficient mice die shortly after birth, due to respiratory failure, and have severely reduced birth weights, with fewer muscle fibers and primary myotubes, indicating defects in primary myogenesis. They exhibit variation in fiber size, fibers with centrally located nuclei, and some rounded fibers resembling the in vitro phenotype. The similarity of the phenotype of FLNc-deficient mice to the filamin-interacting TRIO null mice was further confirmed by comparing FLNc-deficient C2C12 cells to TRIO-deficient cells. These data provide the first evidence that FLNc has a crucial role in muscle development and maintenance of muscle structural integrity and suggest the presence of a TRIO-FLNc-dependent pathway in maintaining proper myotube structure.

The hedgehog regulated oncogenes Gli1 and Gli2 block myoblast differentiation by inhibiting MyoD-mediated transcriptional activation

The mechanism by which activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway modulates differentiation and promotes oncogenesis in specific tissues is poorly understood. We therefore, analysed rhabdomyosarcomas from mice that were haploinsufficient for the Hh-binding protein, Hip1, or for the Hh receptor, Patched 1 (Ptch1). Transfection of the Hh-regulated transcription factor Gli1, which is expressed in a subset of mouse and human rhabdomyosarcomas, suppressed differentiation of myogenic rhabdomyosarcoma lines generated from Hip1+/- and Ptch1+/- mice. The closely related factor, Gli2, had similar effects. Gli1 and Gli2 inhibited myogenesis by repressing the capacity of MyoD to activate transcription. Deletion analysis of Gli1 indicated that multiple domains of Gli1 are required for efficient inhibition of MyoD. Gli1 reduced the ability of MyoD to heterodimerize with E12 and bind DNA, providing one mechanism whereby the Gli proteins modulate the activity of MyoD. This novel activity of Gli proteins provides new insights into how Hh signaling modulates terminal differentiation through inhibition of tissue-specific factors such as MyoD. This mechanism may contribute to the broad role of Hh signaling and the Gli proteins in differentiation decisions and cancer formation.

The molecular setup of the avian head mesoderm and its implication for craniofacial myogenesis

The head mesoderm is the mesodermal tissue on either side of the brain, from forebrain to hindbrain levels, and gives rise to the genuine head muscles. Its relatedness to the more posterior paraxial mesoderm, the somites, which generate the muscles of the trunk, is conversely debated. To gain insight into the molecular setup of the head mesoderm, its similarity or dissimilarity to the somitic mesoderm, and the implications of its setup for the progress of muscle formation, we investigated the expression of markers (1) for mesoderm segmentation and boundary formation, (2) for regional specification and somitogenesis and (3) for the positive and negative control of myogenic differentiation. We show that the head mesoderm is molecularly distinct from somites. It is not segmented; even the boundary to the first somite is ill-defined. Importantly, the head mesoderm lacks the transcription factors driving muscle differentiation while genes suppressing differentiation and promoting cell proliferation are expressed. These factors show anteroposteriorly and dorsoventrally regionalised but overlapping expression. Notably, expression extends into the areas that actively contribute to the heart, overlapping with the expression of cardiac markers.

Characterization of the human SLC2A11 (GLUT11) gene: alternative promoter usage, function, expression, and subcellular distribution of three isoforms, and lack of mouse orthologue

GLUT11 (SLC2A11) is a class II sugar transport facilitator which exhibits highest similarity with the fructose transporter GLUT5 (about 42%). Here we demonstrate that separate exons 1 (exon 1A, exon 1B, and exon 1C) of the SLC2A11 gene generate mRNAs of three GLUT11 variants (GLUT11-A, GLUT11-B, and GLUT11-C) that differ in the amino acid sequence of their N-termini. All three 5'-flanking regions of exon 1A, exon 1B and exon 1C exhibited promoter activity when expressed as luciferase fusion constructs in COS-7 cells. 5'-RACE-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR, and Northern blot analysis performed with specific probes for exon 1A, 1B and 1C demonstrated that GLUT11-A is expressed in heart, skeletal muscle, and kidney, GLUT11-B in kidney, adipose tissue, and placenta, and GLUT11-C in adipose tissue, heart, skeletal muscle, and pancreas. Surprisingly, mice and rats lack the SLC2A11 gene. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, all three GLUT11 isoforms transport glucose and fructose but not galactose. There was no apparent difference in the subcellular distribution of the three isoforms expressed in COS-7 cells. Our data indicate that different promoters and splicing of the human SLC2A11 gene generate three GLUT11 isoforms which are expressed in a tissue specific manner but do not appear to differ in their functional characteristics.

Development of the neuromuscular junction

The differentiation of the neuromuscular junction is a multistep process requiring coordinated interactions between nerve terminals and muscle. Although innervation is not needed for muscle production, the formation of nerve-muscle contacts, intramuscular nerve branching, and neuronal survival require reciprocal signals from nerve and muscle to regulate the formation of synapses. Following the production of muscle fibers, clusters of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) are concentrated in the central regions of the myofibers via a process termed "prepatterning". The postsynaptic protein MuSK is essential for this process activating possibly its own expression, in addition to the expression of AChR. AChR complexes (aggregated and stabilized by rapsyn) are thus prepatterned independently of neuronal signals in developing myofibers. ACh released by branching motor nerves causes AChR-induced postsynaptic potentials and positively regulates the localization and stabilization of developing synaptic contacts. These "active" contact sites may prevent AChRs clustering in non-contacted regions and counteract the establishment of additional contacts. ACh-induced signals also cause the dispersion of non-synaptic AChR clusters and possibly the removal of excess AChR. A further neuronal factor, agrin, stabilizes the accumulation of AChR at synaptic sites. Agrin released from the branching motor nerve may form a structural link specifically to the ACh-activated endplates, thereby enhancing MuSK kinase activity and AChR accumulation and preventing dispersion of postsynaptic specializations. The successful stabilization of prepatterned AChR clusters by agrin and the generation of singly innervated myofibers appear to require AChR-mediated postsynaptic potentials indicating that the differentiation of the nerve terminal proceeds only after postsynaptic specializations have formed.

Muscle stem cells in development, regeneration, and disease

Somatic stem cell populations participate in the development and regeneration of their host tissues. Skeletal muscle is capable of complete regeneration due to stem cells that reside in skeletal muscle and nonmuscle stem cell populations. However, in severe myopathic diseases such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, this regenerative capacity is exhausted. In the present review, studies will be examined that focus on the origin, gene expression, and coordinated regulation of stem cell populations to highlight the regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle and emphasize the challenges for this field. Intense interest has focused on cell-based therapies for chronic, debilitating myopathic diseases. Future studies that enhance our understanding of stem cell biology and repair mechanisms will provide a platform for therapeutic applications directed toward these chronic, life-threatening diseases.

Subcellular localization, expression patterns, SNPs and association analyses of the porcine HUMMLC2B gene

Myosin regulatory light chain (MLC) regulates myofilament activation via phosphorylation by Ca(2+) dependant myosin light chain kinase. In order to further understand the functions of the porcine fast myosin regulatory light chain gene (HUMMLC2B) in muscle, the subcellular localization, the temporal and spatial distributions of its gene product were analyzed, and the association between the presence of specific polymorphisms and commercial meat traits in pig was also examined. HUMMLC2B was demonstrated to localize both in the cytoplasm and the nucleus by confocal fluorescence microscopy. Real-time PCR further revealed HUMMLC2B expression variation in a waveform manner in the skeletal muscle of both Chinese Tongcheng and Western Landrace pig breeds at days 33, 65 and 90 post coitum (pc). After birth, the expression levels of HUMMLC2B were also found to decrease gradually with age. Our spatial expression analysis showed that HUMMLC2B was highly expressed in the semitendinosus, gastrocnemius, biceps femoris and longissimus dorsi muscles. In contrast, only low levels of expression of this gene were evident in fat, and no expression was detectable in brain, heart, kidney, lung, liver, lymph node, spleen, stomach, or in either large or small intestine. A total of 23 potential polymorphisms, comprising 3 exonic and 20 intronic, were detectable in the porcine HUMMLC2B gene and the G1094A, T1513C, G1876A and T2005G polymorphisms were further analyzed. The significant associations between the T1513C, G1876A and T2005G polymorphisms with marbling score, dressing percent and meat color, respectively, were identified (P < 0.05). Associations with the percentage of leaf fat could also be demonstrated by analysis of haplotypes harboring these three polymorphisms. Our current results thus shed further light on the roles and functions of the HUMMLC2B gene in muscle.

The epigenetic network regulating muscle development and regeneration

This review focuses on our current knowledge of the epigenetic changes regulating gene expression at the chromatin and DNA level, independently on the primary DNA sequence, to reprogram the nuclei of muscle precursors during developmental myogenesis and muscle regeneration. These epigenetic marks provide the blueprint by which the extra-cellular cues are interpreted at the nuclear level by the transcription machinery to select the repertoire of tissue-specific genes to be expressed. The reversibility of some of these changes necessarily reflects the dynamic nature of skeletal myogenesis, which entails the progression through two antagonistic processes--proliferation and differentiation. Other epigenetic modifications are instead associated to events conventionally considered as irreversible--e.g. maintenance of lineage commitment and terminal differentiation. However, recent results support the possibility that these events can be reversed, at least upon certain experimental conditions, thereby revealing a dynamic nature of many of the epigenetic modifications underlying skeletal myogenesis. The elucidation of the epigenetic network that regulates transcription during developmental myogenesis and muscle regeneration might provide the information instrumental to devise pharmacological interventions toward selective manipulation of gene expression to promote regeneration of skeletal muscles and possibly other tissue.

Signaling Pathways in Skeletal Muscle Remodeling

Skeletal muscle is comprised of heterogeneous muscle fibers that differ in their physiological and metabolic parameters. It is this diversity that enables different muscle groups to provide a variety of functional properties. In response to environmental demands, skeletal muscle remodels by activating signaling pathways to reprogram gene expression to sustain muscle performance. Studies have been performed using exercise, electrical stimulation, transgenic animal models, disease states, and microgravity to show genetic alterations and transitions of muscle fibers in response to functional demands. Various components of calcium-dependent signaling pathways and multiple transcription factors, coactivators and corepressors have been shown to be involved in skeletal muscle remodeling. Understanding the mechanisms involved in modulating skeletal muscle phenotypes can potentiate the development of new therapeutic measures to ameliorate muscular diseases.

Myogenic basic helix-loop-helix proteins regulate the expression of peroxisomal proliferator activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha

Peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha), a transcriptional coactivator, is selectively expressed in slow-twitch fibers in skeletal muscle. Ectopic expression of the PGC-1alpha gene in either a cell or an animal has been shown to promote fast to slow fiber-type switch. The expression of PGC-1alpha in muscle is regulated by myocyte enhancer factor 2 and Forkhead in rhabdomyosarcoma, two transcription factors implicated in terminal muscle differentiation. In this study we found that PGC-1alpha expression was activated during terminal muscle differentiation in both C2C12 and Sol8 myoblasts. Using retrovirus-mediated MyoD overexpression in C3H10T1/2 cells, we also demonstrated that MyoD, the master regulator of terminal differentiation, could activate PGC-1alpha expression in vivo. Our transient transfection results also show that myogenic basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins, especially MyoD, can activate PGC-1alpha expression by targeting its promoter. Myogenic bHLH protein target sites on PGC-1alpha promoter were localized to a short region (-49 to approximately +2) adjacent to the transcription start site, which contains two putative E boxes. Mutation of either site significantly reduced MyoD-mediated transactivation in the cells, suggesting that both sites are required for myogenic bHLH protein-mediated activation. However, only one site, the E2 box, was directly bound by glutathione-S-transferase-MyoD protein in EMSAs. Our results indicate that myogenic bHLH proteins not only are involved in lineage determination and terminal differentiation, but also are directly implicated in activation of the key fiber-type and metabolic switch gene, PGC-1alpha.

The transcription factor ATF-3 promotes neurite outgrowth

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons regenerate after a peripheral nerve injury but not after injury to their axons in the spinal cord. A key question is which transcription factors drive the changes in gene expression that increase the intrinsic growth state of peripherally injured sensory neurons? A prime candidate is activating transcription factor-3 (ATF-3), a transcription factor that we find is induced in all DRG neurons after peripheral, but not central axonal injury. Moreover, we show in adult DRG neurons that a preconditioning peripheral, but not central axonal injury, increases their growth, correlating closely with the pattern of ATF-3 induction. Using viral vectors, we delivered ATF-3 to cultured adult DRG neurons and find that ATF-3 enhances neurite outgrowth. Furthermore, ATF-3 promotes long sparsely branched neurites. ATF-3 overexpression did not increase c-Jun expression. ATF-3 may contribute, therefore, to neurite outgrowth by orchestrating the gene expression responses in injured neurons.

Validation of met as a therapeutic target in alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a highly malignant soft-tissue tumor of childhood deriving from skeletal muscle cells. RMS can be classified in two major histologic subtypes: embryonal (ERMS) and alveolar (ARMS), the latter being characterized by the PAX3/7-FKHR translocation. Here we first investigated whether the Met receptor, a transcriptional target of PAX3 and PAX7, has a role in PAX3-FKHR-mediated transformation. Following PAX3-FKHR transduction, Met was up-regulated in mouse embryonal fibroblasts (MEF), NIH 3T3 and C2C12 cells, and they all acquired anchorage independence. This property was lost in low serum but addition of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) rescued soft-agar growth. Genetic proof that Met is necessary for this PAX3-FKHR-mediated effect was obtained by transducing with PAX3-FKHR MEFs derived from Met mutant (Met(D/D)) and wild-type (Met(+/+)) embryos. Only Met(+/+) MEFs acquired anchorage-independent growth whereas PAX3-FKHR-transduced Met(D/D) cells were unable to form colonies in soft agar. To verify if Met had a role in RMS maintenance, we silenced the receptor by transducing ERMS and ARMS cell lines with an inducible lentivirus expressing an anti-Met short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Met down-regulation significantly affected RMS cells proliferation, survival, invasiveness, and anchorage-independent growth. Finally, induction of the Met-directed shRNA promoted a dramatic reduction of tumor mass in a xenograft model of RMS. Our data show that both ARMS- and ERMS-derived cell lines, in spite of the genetic drift which may have occurred in years of culture, seem to have retained an "addiction" to the Met oncogene and suggest that Met may represent a target of choice to develop novel therapeutic strategies for ARMS.

Transforming growth factor betas are upregulated in the rat masseter muscle hypertrophied by clenbuterol, a beta2 adrenergic agonist

1. The regulatory mechanism for the hypertrophy of skeletal muscles induced by clenbuterol is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to determine the extent to which transforming growth factor betas (TGFbetas), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are involved in the hypertrophy of rat masseter muscle induced by clenbuterol. 2. We measured the mRNA expression levels for TGFbetas, FGFs, HGF, and PDGFs in rat masseter muscle hypertrophied by oral administration of clenbuterol for 3 weeks and determined correlations between the weight of masseter muscle and mRNA expression levels by regression analysis. We determined immunolocalizations of TGFbetas and their receptors (TGFbetaRs). 3. The mRNA expression levels for TGFbeta1, 2, and 3, and for PDGF-B demonstrated clenbuterol-induced elevations and positive correlations with the weight of masseter muscle. In particular, TGFbeta1, 2, and 3 showed strong positive correlations (correlation coefficients >0.6). The mRNA expression levels for PDGF-A, FGF-1 and 2, and HGF showed no significant differences between the control and clenbuterol groups, and no significant correlations. TGFbeta1, 2, and 3 were principally localized in the connective tissues interspaced among myofibers, and TGFbetaRI and II were localized in the periphery and sarcoplasm of the myofibers. 4. These results suggest that paracrine actions of TGFbeta1, 2, and 3 via TGFbetaRI and II could be involved in the hypertrophy of rat masseter muscle induced by clenbuterol. This is the first study to document the involvement of TGFbetas in the hypertrophy of skeletal muscles induced by clenbuterol.

Distinct roles for Pax7 and Pax3 in adult regenerative myogenesis

We assessed viable Pax7^−/− mice in 129Sv/J background and observed reduced growth and marked muscle wasting together with a complete absence of functional satellite cells. Acute injury resulted in an extreme deficit in muscle regeneration. However, a small number of regenerated myofibers were detected, suggesting the presence of residual myogenic cells in Pax7-deficient muscle. Rare Pax3⁺/MyoD⁺ myoblasts were recovered from Pax7^−/− muscle homogenates and cultures of myofiber bundles but not from single myofibers free of interstitial tissues. Finally, we identified Pax3⁺ cells in the muscle interstitial environment and demonstrated that they coexpressed MyoD during regeneration. Sublaminar satellite cells in hind limb muscle did not express detectable levels of Pax3 protein or messenger RNA. Therefore, we conclude that interstitial Pax3⁺ cells represent a novel myogenic population that is distinct from the sublaminar satellite cell lineage and that Pax7 is essential for the formation of functional myogenic progenitors from sublaminar satellite cells.

Generality of vertebrate developmental patterns: evidence for a dermomyotome in fish

The somitic compartment that gives rise to trunk muscle and dermis in amniotes is an epithelial sheet on the external surface of the somite, and is known as the dermomyotome. However, despite its central role in the development of the trunk and limbs, the evolutionary history of the dermomyotome and its role in nonamniotes is poorly understood. We have tested whether a tissue with the morphological and molecular characteristics of a dermomyotome exists in nonamniotes. We show that representatives of the agnathans and of all major clades of gnathostomes each have a layer of cells on the surface of the somite, external to the embryonic myotome. These external cells do not show any signs of terminal myogenic or dermogenic differentiation. Moreover, in the embryos of bony fishes as diverse as sturgeons (Chondrostei) and zebrafish (Teleostei) this layer of cells expresses the pax3 and pax7 genes that mark myogenic precursors. Some of the pax7-expressing cells also express the differentiation-promoting myogenic regulatory factor Myogenin and appear to enter into the myotome. We therefore suggest that the dermomyotome is an ancient and conserved structure that evolved prior to the last common ancestor of all vertebrates. The identification of a dermomyotome in fish makes it possible to apply the powerful cellular and genetic approaches available in zebrafish to the understanding of this key developmental structure.

Harnessing the potential of myogenic satellite cells

Adult skeletal muscle has remarkable regenerative potential, which is mainly attributable to a small population of undifferentiated skeletal muscle precursors called satellite cells. These cells reside underneath the basal lamina of skeletal myofibers and can be activated to proliferate, differentiate and fuse to form new muscle tissue. Satellite cells have long been considered promising mediators of therapeutic muscle regeneration. However, in practice, the regenerative function of such cells, which in many cases have been derived or expanded by ex vivo cultures, can be surprisingly low. A recent study from Montarras and colleagues has provided new insights into the requirements for efficient muscle engraftment from purified muscle satellite cells, suggesting possible strategies to enhance their therapeutic potential.

Identification of an unexpected link between the Shh pathway and a G2/M regulator, the phosphatase CDC25B

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling controls numerous aspects of vertebrate development, including proliferation of precursors in different organs. Identification of molecules that link the Shh pathway to cell cycle machinery is therefore of major importance for an understanding of the mechanisms underlying Shh-dependent proliferation. Here, we show that an actor in the control of entry into mitosis, the phosphatase CDC25B, is transcriptionally upregulated by the Shh/Gli pathway. Unlike other G2/M regulators, CDC25B is highly expressed in domains of Shh activity, including the ventral neural tube and the posterior limb bud. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments reveal that Shh contributes to CDC25B transcriptional activation in the neural tube both of chick and mouse embryos. Moreover, CDC25B transcripts are absent from the posterior limb bud of Shh-/- mice, while anterior grafts of Shh-expressing cells in the chicken limb bud induce ectopic CDC25B expression. Arresting the cell cycle does not reduce the level of CDC25B expression in the neural tube strongly suggesting that the upregulation of CDC25B is not an indirect consequence of the Shh-dependent proliferation. These data reveal an unexpected developmental link between the Shh pathway and a participant in G2/M control.

Rhabdomyosarcomas utilize developmental, myogenic growth factors for disease advantage: a report from the Children's Oncology Group

BACKGROUND

Unresectable or metastatic disease represents the greatest obstacle to cure for children with rhabdomyosarcoma. In this study we sought to identify gene expression signatures of advanced stage and progressive disease.

PROCEDURE

Using oligonucleotide gene expression analysis for a focused set of 60 genes, we analyzed the myogenic expression profiles of 89 rhabdomyosarcomas from the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study-IV.

RESULTS

While the expression profile of rhabdomyosarcomas closely paralleled gene expression profiles of normal embryonic myogenic progenitors, growth factors were most closely associated with disease progression. Specifically, we identified platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors and insulin-like growth factor as strongly correlated with decreased failure-free survival. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of an independent data set suggested that autocrine growth signaling, if present, is not regulated in a simple manner at the transcriptional level.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased transcriptional levels of PDGF receptors and insulin-like growth factor are associated with decreased survival in rhabdomyosarcomas. Dual blockade of these growth-factor-signaling pathways may be a valuable strategy in preclinical therapeutic studies.

Myostatin imposes reversible quiescence on embryonic muscle precursors

We have previously shown that Myostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TFG-beta) family of signalling molecules, is expressed in developing muscle, and that treatment with recombinant Myostatin inhibited the expression of key myogenic transcription factors during chick embryogenesis. In this study, we followed the fate of muscle precursors after exposure to Myostatin. We report that in contrast to the down-regulation in expression of Pax-3, Myf-5, MyoD, and Myogenin, expression of Pax-7 was maintained. However, Myostatin completely inhibited cell division in the Pax-7-expressing cells. The inhibitory effect of Myostatin was reversible, as upon withdrawal myogenic cells re-initiated cell proliferation as well as expression of Pax-3 and MyoD. These results led us to investigate the temporal and spatial distribution of quiescent muscle precursors during development. To this end, we analysed distribution and mitotic behaviour of Pax-7-expressing cells during muscle development. Our studies revealed two populations of Pax-7-expressing cells, one that proliferated and incorporated BrdU, whilst the other did not. At early developmental stages, a high proportion of Pax-7-expressing cells proliferated, but there was a significant number of non-dividing Pax-7-expressing cells intermingled with differentiated muscle. Proliferating precursors became less frequent as development proceeded and at late fetal stages all Pax-7-expressing cells were mitotically quiescent. We suggest that Myostatin is an important signalling molecule responsible for imposing quiescence upon myogenic precursors during embryonic and foetal development.

Pax3 and Pax7 expression and regulation in the avian embryo

Satellite cells are essential for postnatal growth and repair of skeletal muscle. The paired-box transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7 are expressed in emerging muscle precursors. Recent studies have traced the origin of satellite cells to the embryonic dermomyotome, however, their developmental regulation throughout embryogenesis remains unclear. We show the overlying surface ectoderm and lateral plate are essential for Pax3 expression, and that the overlying surface ectoderm and neural tube are necessary for Pax7 expression within the dorsal somite. Furthermore we show that the notochord acts to down regulate the expression of both genes. Moreover, we identify diffusible factors within these tissues that act to maintain expression of Pax3 ( + ) and Pax7 (+) muscle precursors. We show that Wnt1, 3a, 4 and 6 proteins are able to up regulate and expand the expression of Pax3 and Pax7 within the dorsal somite. Finally, we show that Wnt6 can mimic the effect of the dorsal ectoderm to maintain Pax3 and Pax7 expression.

Relations and interactions between cranial mesoderm and neural crest populations

The embryonic head is populated by two robust mesenchymal populations, paraxial mesoderm and neural crest cells. Although the developmental histories of each are distinct and separate, they quickly establish intimate relations that are variably important for the histogenesis and morphogenesis of musculoskeletal components of the calvaria, midface and branchial regions. This review will focus first on the genesis and organization within nascent mesodermal and crest populations, emphasizing interactions that probably initiate or augment the establishment of lineages within each. The principal goal is an analysis of the interactions between crest and mesoderm populations, from their first contacts through their concerted movements into peripheral domains, particularly the branchial arches, and continuing to stages at which both the differentiation and the integrated three-dimensional assembly of vascular, connective and muscular tissues is evident. Current views on unresolved or contentious issues, including the relevance of head somitomeres, the processes by which crest cells change locations and constancy of cell-cell relations at the crest-mesoderm interface, are addressed.

Global and gene-specific analyses show distinct roles for Myod and Myog at a common set of promoters

We used a combination of genome-wide and promoter-specific DNA binding and expression analyses to assess the functional roles of Myod and Myog in regulating the program of skeletal muscle gene expression. Our findings indicate that Myod and Myog have distinct regulatory roles at a similar set of target genes. At genes expressed throughout the program of myogenic differentiation, Myod can bind and recruit histone acetyltransferases. At early targets, Myod is sufficient for near full expression, whereas, at late expressed genes, Myod initiates regional histone modification but is not sufficient for gene expression. At these late genes, Myog does not bind efficiently without Myod; however, transcriptional activation requires the combined activity of Myod and Myog. Therefore, the role of Myog in mediating terminal differentiation is, in part, to enhance expression of a subset of genes previously initiated by Myod.

Modulation of muscle regeneration, myogenesis, and adipogenesis by the Rho family guanine nucleotide exchange factor GEFT

Rho family guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) regulate diverse cellular processes including cytoskeletal reorganization, cell adhesion, and differentiation via activation of the Rho GTPases. However, no studies have yet implicated Rho-GEFs as molecular regulators of the mesenchymal cell fate decisions which occur during development and repair of tissue damage. In this study, we demonstrate that the steady-state protein level of the Rho-specific GEF GEFT is modulated during skeletal muscle regeneration and that gene transfer of GEFT into cardiotoxin-injured mouse tibialis anterior muscle exerts a powerful promotion of skeletal muscle regeneration in vivo. In order to molecularly characterize this regenerative effect, we extrapolate the mechanism of action by examining the consequence of GEFT expression in multipotent cell lines capable of differentiating into a number of cell types, including muscle and adipocyte lineages. Our data demonstrate that endogenous GEFT is transcriptionally upregulated during myogenic differentiation and downregulated during adipogenic differentiation. Exogenous expression of GEFT promotes myogenesis of C2C12 cells via activation of RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 and their downstream effector proteins, while a dominant-negative mutant of GEFT inhibits this process. Moreover, we show that GEFT inhibits insulin-induced adipogenesis in 3T3L1 preadipocytes. In summary, we provide the first evidence that the Rho family signaling pathways act as potential regulators of skeletal muscle regeneration and provide the first reported molecular mechanism illustrating how a mammalian Rho family GEF controls this process by modulating mesenchymal cell fate decisions.

Dividing to keep muscle together: the role of satellite cells in aging skeletal muscle

The factors responsible for the atrophy of skeletal muscle with aging remain to be elucidated. Recent evidence points toward an important role for a population of cells located on the surface of skeletal muscle fibers, known as satellite cells, in maintaining the integrity of skeletal myocytes throughout the life span. This Perspective examines the role that these cells are thought to play in aging muscle atrophy, and highlights a recent study by Brack and colleagues that attempts to understand the role of satellite cells in maintaining the ratio of myonuclear number to cytoplasmic volume within myocytes as we age.

Protein and genomic organisation of vertebrate MyoR and Capsulin genes and their expression during avian development

The related bHLH transcription factors MyoR and Capsulin control craniofacial myogenesis and the development of a number of mesoderm-derived organs in the mouse. However, their molecular function as regulators of differentiation processes is conversely debated. One approach to clarify the roles of these genes is to comparatively analyse their biological and molecular function in various vertebrate models. For this, a prerequisite is the determination of their similarity and their expression patterns. Here we show that vertebrate MyoR and Capsulin are paralogous genes with a high level of conservation regarding their protein sequence, their cDNA sequence and their chromosomal organisation. In the chick, both genes are co-expressed in the developing branchiomeric muscles, the anterior heart field and the splanchnopleura lining the foregut. However, both genes show unique expression domains in trunk skeletal muscle precursors, in the lateral and intermediate mesoderm.

Somitic origin of limb muscle satellite and side population cells

Repair of mature skeletal muscle is mediated by adult muscle progenitors. Satellite cells have long been recognized as playing a major role in muscle repair, whereas side population (SP) cells have more recently been identified as contributing to this process. The developmental source of these two progenitor populations has been considerably debated. We explicitly tested and quantified the contribution of embryonic somitic cells to these progenitor populations. Chick somitic cells were labeled by using replication-defective retroviruses or quail/chick chimeras, and mouse cells were labeled by crossing somite-specific, Pax3-derived Cre driver lines with a Cre-dependent reporter line. We show that the majority of, if not all, limb muscle satellite cells arise from cells expressing Pax3 specifically in the hypaxial somite and their migratory derivatives. We also find that a significant number of, but not all, limb muscle SP cells are derived from the hypaxial somite. Notably, the heterogeneity in the developmental origin of SP cells is reflected in their functional heterogeneity; somitically derived SP cells are intrinsically more myogenic than nonsomitically derived ones. Thus, we show that the somites, which supply embryonic and fetal myoblasts, are also an important source of highly myogenic adult muscle progenitors.

Follistatin induction by nitric oxide through cyclic GMP: a tightly regulated signaling pathway that controls myoblast fusion

The mechanism of skeletal myoblast fusion is not well understood. We show that endogenous nitric oxide (NO) generation is required for myoblast fusion both in embryonic myoblasts and in satellite cells. The effect of NO is concentration and time dependent, being evident only at the onset of differentiation, and direct on the fusion process itself. The action of NO is mediated through a tightly regulated activation of guanylate cyclase and generation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), so much so that deregulation of cGMP signaling leads to a fusion-induced hypertrophy of satellite-derived myotubes and embryonic muscles, and to the acquisition of fusion competence by myogenic precursors in the presomitic mesoderm. NO and cGMP induce expression of follistatin, and this secreted protein mediates their action in myogenesis. These results establish a hitherto unappreciated role of NO and cGMP in regulating myoblast fusion and elucidate their mechanism of action, providing a direct link with follistatin, which is a key player in myogenesis.

Hepatocyte growth factor-regulated genes in differentiated RAW 264.7 osteoclast and undifferentiated cells

Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) and its protooncogene receptor c-Met regulate osteoclast function by activating pp60(c-Src) kinase and alpha(v)beta3 integrin. HGF causes transcription yet in osteoclast cells, this gene regulation is currently unknown. To begin characterization of HGF-regulated gene expression in osteoclast cells, we used a well characterized model of osteoclast cells. Using microarray, relative RT-PCR, and Western blot analyses, we have identified and confirmed differentially expressed genes in RAW 264.7 osteoclast cells in response to HGF. HGF regulation of transcription of these genes was concordant with microarray results. We report that HGF downregulates transcription factors, Distal-less 5 (Dlx-5), Distal-less 6 (Dlx-6) and Aristaless 4 (Alx-4), in RAW 264.7 osteoclast cells but has an inverse effect in undifferentiated RAW 264.7 cells.

Genotypic and nutritional regulation of gene expression in two sheep hindlimb muscles with distinct myofibre and metabolic characteristics

This study investigated whether the expression profile of GDF8 (myostatin), myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs: MYF5, MYOD1, MYOG (myogenin), and MYF6), and IGF-system (IGF1, IGF2, IGF1R) genes are correlated with anatomical muscle, nutrition level, and estimated breeding values (EBVs) for muscling, growth, and/or fatness. Real-time PCR was employed to quantitatively measure the mRNA levels of these genes in the semimembranosus (SM) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles of growing lambs. The lambs were sired by Poll Dorset rams with differing EBVs for growth, muscling, and fatness, and were fed either high or low quality and availability pasture from birth to ~8 months of age. With the exception of MYOD1, the mRNA levels of all genes examined in this study showed varying degrees of nutritional regulation. All the MRF mRNA levels were higher in the SM muscle than the ST muscle, whereas myostatin mRNA was higher in the ST muscle than the SM muscle. Interactions between muscle type and nutrition were detected for IGF2, MYF6, and myogenin, while positive correlations between IGF2 and IGF1R and between MYOD1 and myogenin mRNA levels were apparent in both muscles. At the genotypic level, subtle differences in mRNA levels suggested interactions between nutrition and sire EBV. The findings of this study confirm that the MRFs, IGFs, and myostatin genes are differentially affected by a variety of factors that include nutrition, muscle type, and sire EBVs. Together, these data suggest that this suite of genes has important roles during postnatal muscle growth, even at quite late stages of growth and development.

Retinoic acid activates myogenesis in vivo through Fgf8 signalling

Retinoic acid (RA) has been shown to regulate muscle differentiation in vitro. Here, we have investigated the role of RA signalling during embryonic myogenesis in zebrafish. We have altered RA signalling from gastrulation stages onwards by either inhibiting endogenous RA synthesis using an inhibitor of retinaldehyde dehydrogenases (DEAB) or by addition of exogenous RA. DEAB reduces expression of the myogenic markers myoD and myogenin in somites, whereas RA induces increased expression of these genes and strongly induces premature myoD expression in the presomitic mesoderm (psm). The expression dynamics of myf5 in presomitic and somitic mesoderm suggest that RA promotes muscle differentiation, a role supported by the fact that RA activates expression of fast myosin, while DEAB represses it. We identify Fgf8 as a major relay factor in RA-mediated activation of myogenesis. We show that fgf8 expression in somites and anterior psm is regulated by RA, and find that in the absence of Fgf8 signalling in the acerebellar mutant RA fails to promote myoD expression. We propose that, in the developing embryo, localised synthesis of RA by Raldh2 in the anterior psm and in somites activates fgf8 expression which in turn induces the expression of myogenic genes and fast muscle differentiation.

Cultured interstitial cells from human heart valves express both specific skeletal muscle and non-muscle markers

Cardiac valve interstitial cells are a phenotypically diverse and dynamic population, comprising myofibroblasts, fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. To understand how these contribute to valve function and to optimize the choice of cells for seeding tissue-engineered valves, we are fingerprinting interstitial cells from all four human heart valves for useful phenotypic markers. We have begun by selecting markers indicated as of interest from previous work on myofibroblast-like cell lines. We show that interstitial cells express a variety of skeletal muscle contractile proteins and the skeletal muscle transcription factor myogenin, but not the related factors MyoD, myf-5 and MRF4, suggesting partial activation of the muscle programme in these cells. Expression of non-muscle isoforms of creatine kinase (CK-B) and AMP deaminase (AMPD2 and AMPD3) was found in contrast to muscle-restricted isoforms. Non-muscle isoforms of alpha- and beta-tropomyosins were detected specifically in contrast to skeletal muscle-specific isoforms. Several members of the Frizzled (FZD) family of Wnt receptors were also detected. In addition, intact cusps of all four valves from pig were capable of contacting to non-receptor and receptor-mediated stimulation in vitro. We conclude that interstitial cells from human heart valves express various sarcomeric proteins, and suggest that these cells have contractile potential due to a unique pattern of expression of both muscle-specific and non-muscle isoforms of metabolic and structural proteins. This may be under the control of myogenin, activated through specific Wnt/FZD signaling. Identifying such molecular markers could prove useful for engineering allogenic non-valve cell sources for seeding the synthetic valve.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a dominantly inherited disorder with an initially restricted pattern of weakness. Early involvement of the facial and scapular stabilizer muscles results in a distinctive clinical presentation. Progression is descending, with subsequent involvement of either the distal anterior leg or hip-girdle muscles. There is wide variability in age at onset, disease severity, and side-to-side symmetry, which is evident even within affected members of the same family. Although FSHD is considered a relatively benign dystrophy by some, as many as 20% of patients eventually become wheelchair-bound. Associated nonskeletal muscle manifestations include high-frequency hearing loss as well as retinal telangiectasias, both of which are rarely symptomatic. The causal genetic lesion in FSHD was described over a decade ago, raising hope that knowledge about its molecular and cellular pathophysiology was soon to follow. In the vast majority of cases, FSHD results from a heterozygous partial deletion of a critical number of repetitive elements (D4Z4) on chromosome 4q35; yet, to date, no causal gene has been identified. The accumulating evidence points to a complex, perhaps unique, molecular genetic mechanism. The absence of detectable expressed sequences from D4Z4, the association of FSHD-causing 4q35 deletions with a specific distal genomic sequence (4qA allele), altered DNA methylation patterns on 4q35, as well as other direct and indirect evidence point to epigenetic mechanisms. As a consequence, partial deletion of D4Z4 results in a (local) chromatin change and ultimately results in the loss of appropriate control of gene expression. There is at present no effective treatment for FSHD. A better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology is needed to design targeted interventions. Despite these limitations, however, two randomized controlled clinical trials have been conducted on FSHD. These trials, along with a previous natural history study, have helped to better define outcome measures for future trials in FSHD as well as other dystrophies.

The differentiation and morphogenesis of craniofacial muscles

Unraveling the complex tissue interactions necessary to generate the structural and functional diversity present among craniofacial muscles is challenging. These muscles initiate their development within a mesenchymal population bounded by the brain, pharyngeal endoderm, surface ectoderm, and neural crest cells. This set of spatial relations, and in particular the segmental properties of these adjacent tissues, are unique to the head. Additionally, the lack of early epithelialization in head mesoderm necessitates strategies for generating discrete myogenic foci that may differ from those operating in the trunk. Molecular data indeed indicate dissimilar methods of regulation, yet transplantation studies suggest that some head and trunk myogenic populations are interchangeable. The first goal of this review is to present key features of these diversities, identifying and comparing tissue and molecular interactions regulating myogenesis in the head and trunk. Our second focus is on the diverse morphogenetic movements exhibited by craniofacial muscles. Precursors of tongue muscles partly mimic migrations of appendicular myoblasts, whereas myoblasts destined to form extraocular muscles condense within paraxial mesoderm, then as large cohorts they cross the mesoderm:neural crest interface en route to periocular regions. Branchial muscle precursors exhibit yet another strategy, establishing contacts with neural crest populations before branchial arch formation and maintaining these relations through subsequent stages of morphogenesis. With many of the prerequisite stepping-stones in our knowledge of craniofacial myogenesis now in place, discovering the cellular and molecular interactions necessary to initiate and sustain the differentiation and morphogenesis of these neglected craniofacial muscles is now an attainable goal.

Myogenic differentiation of dermal papilla cells from bovine skin

Cells from the dermal papilla and dermal sheath of hair follicles exhibit pronounced plasticity in vitro, being capable of adopting fat, bone, hematopoietic, and nerve cell phenotypes. In this study, we show that bovine dermal papilla cells (DPC) are also capable of undergoing skeletal muscle differentiation. DiI labeled DPC incorporated into myotubes when co-cultured with differentiating C(2)C(12) myoblasts. Bovine-specific PCR assays showed that the muscle markers MyoD and myogenin were up-regulated, confirming that the DPC had adopted a myogenic gene expression program. Nine clonal lines of DPC underwent both adipogenic and myogenic differentiation, demonstrating the multipotency of individual cells. Primary populations of both DPC and extra-follicular dermal fibroblasts were also capable of both adipogenic and myogenic differentiation. However, on myogenic differentiation, cells derived from dermal papillae expressed higher levels of myogenin than primary fibroblasts derived from extra-follicular dermis, suggesting that papilla cells undergo myogenesis more efficiently. This result shows that populations of fibroblastic cells derived from different anatomical sites within the skin are not equivalent with respect to their plasticity. Cultured DPC and dermal fibroblasts both expressed Pax3, a marker for the dermomyotome which represents a common embryological origin of muscle and dermis. Quantitative PCR showed that Pax3 expression levels before myogenic induction correlated with myogenin expression levels after myogenesis. These results suggest that a degree of dedifferentiation may underlie the plasticity of dermal cells in vitro, and that this plasticity may be predicted, at least in part, by levels of Pax3 expression.

Myogenin in model pufferfish species: Comparative genomic analysis and thermal plasticity of expression during early development

Myogenin (Myog) is a muscle-specific basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that plays an essential role in the specification and differentiation of myoblasts. The myogenin genes from the tiger pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes, and green-spotted pufferfish, Tetraodon nigroviridis, were cloned and a comparative genomic analysis performed. The gene encoding myogenin is composed of three exons and has a relatively similar genomic structure in T. rubripes, T. nigroviridis and human. Introns 1 and 2 were approximately 2-fold and 8-fold longer respectively in human than pufferfish. Myogenin is located in a 100 kb region of conserved synteny between these organisms, corresponding to chromosome 1 in human, chromosome 11 in T. nigroviridis and scaffold 208 in T. rubripes. Pufferfish myogenin contained a serine-rich region at the carboxyl terminus that is highly conserved amongst teleosts. During embryonic development of T. rubripes, myogenin was expressed in a rostral-caudal gradient in the developing somites and subsequently during the pharyngula period in the pectoral fin bud primordia, jaw muscles and extraocular muscle precursors. In T. rubripes, the time required to form a somite pair during the linear phase of somitogenesis ( identical withsomite-interval) was 122 min, 97 min and 50 min in embryos incubated at 15, 18 and 21 degrees C, respectively. Myogenin mRNA transcripts were quantified using qPCR and normalised to the highest level of expression. Peak myogenin expression occurred later with respect to developmental stage (standardised using somite-intervals) and was over 2-fold higher at 21 degrees C than at either 18 or 15 degrees C. Changes in the relative timing and intensity of myogenin expression are a potential mechanism for explaining thermal plasticity of muscle phenotype in larvae via effects on the differentiation programme.

Pax3 and Pax7 have distinct and overlapping functions in adult muscle progenitor cells

The growth and repair of skeletal muscle after birth depends on satellite cells that are characterized by the expression of Pax7. We show that Pax3, the paralogue of Pax7, is also present in both quiescent and activated satellite cells in many skeletal muscles. Dominant-negative forms of both Pax3 and -7 repress MyoD, but do not interfere with the expression of the other myogenic determination factor, Myf5, which, together with Pax3/7, regulates the myogenic differentiation of these cells. In Pax7 mutants, satellite cells are progressively lost in both Pax3-expressing and -nonexpressing muscles. We show that this is caused by satellite cell death, with effects on the cell cycle. Manipulation of the dominant-negative forms of these factors in satellite cell cultures demonstrates that Pax3 cannot replace the antiapoptotic function of Pax7. These findings underline the importance of cell survival in controlling the stem cell populations of adult tissues and demonstrate a role for upstream factors in this context.

Muscle function and dysfunction in health and disease

Skeletal muscles of the trunk and limbs developmentally originate from the cells of the dermomyotomal compartment of the somite. A wealth of knowledge has been accumulated with regard to understanding the molecular regulation of embryonic skeletal myogenesis. Myogenic induction is controlled through a complex series of spatiotemporal dependent signaling cascades. Secreted signaling molecules from surrounding structures not only initiate the myogenic program, but also influence proliferation and differentiation decisions. The proper coordination of these molecular events is thus critical for the formation of physiologically functional skeletal muscles. Hereditary congenital skeletal muscle defects arise due to genetics lesions in myogenic specific components. Understanding the mechanistic routes of congenital skeletal muscle disease therefore requires a comprehensive knowledge of the developmental system. Ultimately, the application of this knowledge will improve the diagnostic and therapeutic methodologies for such diseases. The aim of this review is to overview our current understanding of skeletal muscle development and associated human congenital diseases.

Embryonic and postnatal development of masticatory and tongue muscles

This review summarizes findings concerning the unique developmental characteristics of mouse head muscles (mainly the masticatory and tongue muscles) and compares their characteristics with those of other muscles. The developmental origin of the masticatory muscles is the somitomeres, whereas the tongue and other muscles, such as the trunk (deep muscles of the back, body wall muscles) and limb muscles, originate from the somites. The program controlling the early stages of masticatory myogenesis, such as the specification and migration of muscle progenitor cells, is distinctly different from those in trunk and limb myogenesis. Tongue myogenesis follows a similar regulatory program to that for limb myogenesis. Myogenesis and synaptogenesis in the masticatory muscles are delayed in comparison with other muscles and are not complete even at birth, whereas the development of tongue muscles proceeds faster than those of other muscles and ends at around birth. The regulatory programs for masticatory and tongue myogenesis seem to depend on the developmental origins of the muscles, i.e., the origin being either a somite or somitomere, whereas myogenesis and synaptogenesis seem to progress to serve the functional requirements of the masticatory and tongue muscles.