A role for PKCε during C2C12 myogenic differentiation

Palmitic Acid Inhibits Myogenic Activity and Expression of Myosin Heavy Chain MHC IIb in Muscle Cells through Phosphorylation-Dependent MyoD Inactivation

Sarcopenia associated with aging and obesity is characterized by the atrophy of fast-twitch muscle fibers and an increase in intramuscular fat deposits. However, the mechanism of fast-twitch fiber-specific atrophy remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of palmitic acid (PA), the most common fatty acid component of human fat, on muscle fiber type, focusing on the expression of fiber-type-specific myosin heavy chain (MHC). Myotubes differentiated from C2C12 myoblasts were treated with PA. The PA treatment inhibited myotube formation and hypertrophy while reducing the gene expression of MHC IIb and IIx, specific isoforms of fast-twitch fibers. Consistent with this, a significant suppression of MHC IIb protein expression in PA-treated cells was observed. A reporter assay using plasmids containing the MHC IIb gene promoter revealed that the PA-induced reduction in MHC IIb gene expression was caused by the suppression of MyoD transcriptional activity through its phosphorylation. Treatment with a specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor recovered the reduction in MHC IIb gene expression levels in PA-treated cells, suggesting the involvement of the PA-induced activation of PKC. Thus, PA selectively suppresses the mRNA and protein expression of fast-twitch MHC by modulating MyoD activity. This finding provides a potential pathogenic mechanism for age-related sarcopenia.

C2C12 cell model: its role in understanding of insulin resistance at the molecular level and pharmaceutical development at the preclinical stage

OBJECTIVES

The myoblast cell line, C2C12, has been utilised extensively in vitro as an examination model in understanding metabolic disease progression. Although it is indispensable in both preclinical and pharmaceutical research, a comprehensive review of its use in the investigation of insulin resistance progression and pharmaceutical development is not available.

KEY FINDINGS

C2C12 is a well-documented model, which can facilitate our understanding in glucose metabolism, insulin signalling mechanism, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species and glucose transporters at cellular and molecular levels. With the aid of the C2C12 model, recent studies revealed that insulin resistance has close relationship with various metabolic diseases in terms of disease progression, pathogenesis and therapeutic management. A holistic, safe and effective disease management is highly of interest. Therefore, significant efforts have been paid to explore novel drug compounds and natural herbs that can elicit therapeutic effects in the targeted sites at both cellular (e.g. mitochondria, glucose transporter) and molecular level (e.g. genes, signalling pathway).

SUMMARY

The use of C2C12 myoblast cell line is meaningful in pharmaceutical and biomedical research due to their expression of GLUT-4 and other features that are representative to human skeletal muscle cells. With the use of the C2C12 cell model, the impact of drug delivery systems (nanoparticles and quantum dots) on skeletal muscle, as well as the relationship between exercise, pancreatic β-cells and endothelial cells, was discovered.

Distinctive requirement of PKCε in the control of Rho GTPases in epithelial and mesenchymally transformed lung cancer cells

Diacylglycerol (DAG)/phorbol ester-regulated protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes have been widely linked to tumor promotion and the development of a metastatic phenotype. PKCε, an oncogenic member of the PKC family, is abnormally overexpressed in lung cancer and other cancer types. This kinase plays significant roles in proliferation, survival and migration; however its role in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been scarcely studied. Silencing experiments in non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) cells revealed that PKCε or other DAG-regulated PKCs (PKCα and PKCδ) were dispensable for the acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype induced by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). Unexpectedly, we found a nearly complete down-regulation of PKCε expression in TGF-β-mesenchymally transformed NSCLC cells. PMA and AJH-836 (a DAG-mimetic that preferentially activates PKCε) promote ruffle formation in NSCLC cells via Rac1, however they fail to induce these morphological changes in TGF-β-mesenchymally transformed cells despite their elevated Rac1 activity. Several Rac Guanine nucleotide Exchange-Factors (Rac-GEFs) were also up-regulated in TGF-β-treated NSCLC cells, including Trio and Tiam2, which were required for cell motility. Lastly, we found that silencing or inhibiting PKCε enhances RhoA activity and stress fiber formation, a phenotype also observed in TGF-β-transformed cells. Our studies established a distinctive involvement of PKCε in epithelial and mesenchymal NSCLC cells, and identified a complex interplay between PKCε and small GTPases that contributes to regulation of NSCLC cell morphology and motile activity.

Analysis of gene co-expression networks and function modules at different developmental stages of chicken breast muscle

The development of poultry muscle fibers after hatching is closely related to meat quality and production efficiency. It is necessary to identify functional modules (groups of functionally related genes) related to muscle development at different developmental stages, and to investigate their relationships based on the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) methods. Accordingly, we investigated the co-expression associations between genes related to chicken breast muscle at four different developmental stages (between 2 and 14 weeks of age), and systematically analyzed the network topology in Jinmao Hua chicken. As a result, 2341 differentially expressed genes were identified and subjected to co-expression analysis. Four modules were identified to be related to a particular growth stage for the development of breast muscle. A series of genes with the highest connectivity were identified in the pink (2 weeks), yellow (6 weeks), green (10 weeks) and black modules (14 weeks), respectively, and visualized by Cytoscape. These hub genes (FGF, MAPKAPK5, NRG1, SCD, ACSL1, PPAR etc.) were mainly enriched in 15 pathways, such as MAPK signaling pathway, NRG/ErbB signaling pathway, and insulin signaling pathway. They shared biological functions related to development of breast muscle and adipogenesis. This is the first study of gene network with different stages of muscle development in Jinmao Hua chicken to observe co-expression patterns. It may contribute to the underlied molecular mechanisms of chicken breast muscle development.

Diacylglycerol kinase δ controls down-regulation of cyclin D1 for C2C12 myogenic differentiation

Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) is a lipid-metabolizing enzyme that phosphorylates diacylglycerol (DG) to produce phosphatidic acid (PA). DGKδ is highly expressed in the skeletal muscle, and a decrease in DGKδ expression increases the severity of type 2 diabetes. However, the role of DGKδ in myogenic differentiation is still unknown. The present study demonstrated that DGKδ expression was down-regulated in the early stage of C2C12 myogenic differentiation almost concurrently with a decrease in cyclin D1 expression. The knockdown of DGKδ by DGKδ-specific siRNAs significantly increased the levels of cyclin D1 expression at 48 h after C2C12 myogenic differentiation. In contrast, at the same time, the knockdown of DGKδ decreased the levels of myogenin expression and the number of myosin heavy chain (MHC)-positive cells. These results indicate that DGKδ regulates the early differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts via controlling the down-regulation of cyclin D1 expression. Moreover, the suppression of DGKδ expression increased the phosphorylation levels of conventional and novel protein kinase Cs (cnPKCs). Furthermore, DGKδ suppression increased the levels of cyclin D1 and phospho-cnPKCs even at the first 24 h of myogenic differentiation. These results suggest that DGKδ controls the down-regulation of cyclin D1 expression by attenuating the PKC signaling pathway for C2C12 myogenic differentiation.

Phospholipase Cγ1 Mediates Intima Formation Through Akt-Notch1 Signaling Independent of the Phospholipase Activity

Background

Vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and dedifferentiation are critical for vascular diseases. Recently, it was demonstrated that Notch receptors have opposing effects on intima formation after vessel injury. Therefore, it is important to investigate the specific regulatory pathways that activate the different Notch receptors.

Methods and Results

There was a time‐ and dose‐dependent activation of Notch1 by angiotensin II and platelet‐derived growth factor in vascular smooth muscle cells. When phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) expression was reduced by small interfering RNA, Notch1 activation and Hey2 expression (Notch target gene) induced by angiotensin II or platelet‐derived growth factor were remarkably inhibited, while Notch2 degradation was not affected. Mechanistically, we observed an association of PLCγ1 and Akt, which increased after angiotensin II or platelet‐derived growth factor stimulation. PLCγ1 knockdown significantly inhibited Akt activation. Importantly, PLCγ1 phospholipase site mutation (no phospholipase activity) did not affect Akt activation. Furthermore, PLCγ1 depletion inhibited platelet‐derived growth factor–induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and dedifferentiation, while it increased apoptosis. In vivo, PLCγ1 and control small interfering RNA were delivered periadventitially in pluronic gel and complete carotid artery ligation was performed. Morphometric analysis 21 days after ligation demonstrated that PLCγ1 small interfering RNA robustly attenuated intima area and intima/media ratio compared with the control group.

Conclusions

PLCγ1‐Akt–mediated Notch1 signaling is crucial for intima formation. This effect is attributable to PLCγ1‐Akt interaction but not PLCγ1 phospholipase activity. Specific inhibition of the PLCγ1 and Akt interaction will be a promising therapeutic strategy for preventing vascular remodeling.

Effect of PLCε gene silencing on inhibiting the cancerous transformation of ulcerative colitis

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase Cε (PLCε) gene silencing on the inhibition of cancer development in ulcerative colitis (UC) and to explore the pathogenesis and carcinogenic mechanism of UC, in order to facilitate the establishment of novel strategies for the treatment of UC, prevent the cancerous transformation of UC and discern the association between inflammation and cancer. A pGenesil-PLCε RNA interference vector was constructed and transfected into HEK293 cells (pGenesil-PLCε group). HEK293 cells transfected with pGenesil empty plasmid were set as the negative control (pGenesil-NC group). The expression of PLCε was observed, and molecules associated with the PLC signaling pathway were detected using a reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. ELISA was used to determine the expression of serum interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) of mice in which the PLCε gene had been silenced. Compared with the pGenesil-NC group, the mRNA and protein levels of PLCε were significantly decreased in the pGenesil-PLCε group. In addition, the mRNA levels of K-ras, NF-κB, Fas and Bcl-2 were markedly reduced, while P53 mRNA level was notably enhanced, in the pGenesil-PLCε group, and these changes were accompanied by similar changes in the corresponding protein levels. The serum IL-1 and TNF-α expression in the PLCε gene-silenced mice was significantly reduced compared with that in the control mice. In conclusion, PLCε RNA silencing can effectively inhibit the cancerous transformation of UC by regulating the colorectal cancer-related cell proliferation and cell cycle in vivo. In addition, PLCε RNA silencing can suppress the expression of inflammatory factors in vitro.

PKCε as a novel promoter of skeletal muscle differentiation and regeneration

INTRODUCTION

Satellite cells are muscle resident stem cells and are responsible for muscle regeneration. In this study we investigate the involvement of PKCε during muscle stem cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Here, we describe the identification of a previously unrecognized role for the PKCε-HMGA1 signaling axis in myoblast differentiation and regeneration processes.

METHODS

PKCε expression was modulated in the C2C12 cell line and primary murine satellite cells in vitro, as well as in an in vivo model of muscle regeneration. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and shRNA silencing techniques were used to determine the role of PKCε and HMGA1 in myogenic differentiation.

RESULTS

PKCε expression increases and subsequently re-localizes to the nucleus during skeletal muscle cell differentiation. In the nucleus, PKCε blocks Hmga1 expression to promote Myogenin and Mrf4 accumulation and myoblast formation. Following in vivo muscle injury, PKCε accumulates in regenerating, centrally-nucleated myofibers. Pharmacological inhibition of PKCε impairs the expression of two crucial markers of muscle differentiation, namely MyoD and Myogenin, during injury induced muscle regeneration.

CONCLUSION

This work identifies the PKCε-HMGA1 signaling axis as a positive regulator of skeletal muscle differentiation.

Protein kinase C involvement in cell cycle modulation

Protein kinases C (PKCs) are a family of serine/threonine kinases which act as key regulators in cell cycle progression and differentiation. Studies of the involvement of PKCs in cell proliferation showed that their role is dependent on cell models, cell cycle phases, timing of activation and localization. Indeed, PKCs can positively and negatively act on it, regulating entry, progression and exit from the cell cycle. In particular, the targets of PKCs resulted to be some of the key proteins involved in the cell cycle including cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks), Cip/Kip inhibitors and lamins. Several findings described roles for PKCs in the regulation of G1/S and G2/M checkpoints. As a matter of fact, data from independent laboratories demonstrated PKC-related modulations of cyclins D, leading to effects on the G1/S transition and differentiation of different cell lines. Moreover, interesting data were published on PKC-mediated phosphorylation of lamins. In addition, PKC isoenzymes can accumulate in the nuclei, attracted by different stimuli including diacylglycerol (DAG) fluctuations during cell cycle progression, and target lamins, leading to their disassembly at mitosis. In the present paper, we briefly review how PKCs could regulate cell proliferation and differentiation affecting different molecules related to cell cycle progression.

The influence of high glucose and high insulin on mechanisms controlling cell cycle progression and arrest in mouse C2C12 myoblasts: the comparison with IGF-I effect

BACKGROUND

Myogenesis is susceptible to the availability of nutrients and humoral factors and suboptimal fetal environments affect the number of myofibers and muscle mass.

AIM

We examined the mechanisms regulating cell cycle progression and arrest in skeletal myoblasts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mouse C2C12 myoblasts were subjected to proliferation or induction of differentiation in the presence of high glucose and high insulin (HGHI glucose 15 mmol/l, insulin 50 nmol/l), and these effects were compared with the influence of anabolic factor for skeletal muscle, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I 30 nmol/l).

RESULTS

High glucose and high insulin, similarly to IGF-I, increased the intracellular level of cyclin A, cyclin B1 and cyclin D1 during myoblast proliferation. In HGHI-treated myoblasts, these cyclins were localized mostly in the nuclei, and the level of cdk4-bound cyclin D1 was augmented. HGHI significantly stimulated the expression of cyclin D3, total level of p21 and cdk-bound fraction of p21 in differentiating cells. The cellular level of MyoD was augmented by HGHI both in proliferating and differentiating myogenic cells.

CONCLUSIONS

High glucose and insulin modify the mechanisms controlling cell cycle progression and the onset of myogenesis by: (1) increase of cyclin A, cyclin B1 and cyclin D1 in myoblast nuclei, and stimulation of cyclin D1-cdk4 binding; (2) increase in cyclin D3 and MyoD levels, and the p21-cdk4 complexes after induction of differentiation. Hyperglycemia/hyperinsulinemia during fetal or postnatal life could exert effects similar to IGF-I and can be, therefore, favourable for skeletal muscle growth and regeneration.

Protein kinase C signaling and cell cycle regulation

A link between T cell proliferation and the protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/threonine kinases has been recognized for about 30 years. However, despite the wealth of information on PKC-mediated control of, T cell activation, understanding of the effects of PKCs on the cell cycle machinery in this cell type remains limited. Studies in other systems have revealed important cell cycle-specific effects of PKC signaling that can either positively or negatively impact proliferation. The outcome of PKC activation is highly context-dependent, with the precise cell cycle target(s) and overall effects determined by the specific isozyme involved, the timing of PKC activation, the cell type, and the signaling environment. Although PKCs can regulate all stages of the cell cycle, they appear to predominantly affect G0/G1 and G2. PKCs can modulate multiple cell cycle regulatory molecules, including cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks), cdk inhibitors and cdc25 phosphatases; however, evidence points to Cip/Kip cdk inhibitors and D-type cyclins as key mediators of PKC-regulated cell cycle-specific effects. Several PKC isozymes can target Cip/Kip proteins to control G0/G1 → S and/or G2 → M transit, while effects on D-type cyclins regulate entry into and progression through G1. Analysis of PKC signaling in T cells has largely focused on its roles in T cell activation; thus, observed cell cycle effects are mainly positive. A prominent role is emerging for PKCθ, with non-redundant functions of other isozymes also described. Additional evidence points to PKCδ as a negative regulator of the cell cycle in these cells. As in other cell types, context-dependent effects of individual isozymes have been noted in T cells, and Cip/Kip cdk inhibitors and D-type cyclins appear to be major PKC targets. Future studies are anticipated to take advantage of the similarities between these various systems to enhance understanding of PKC-mediated cell cycle regulation in T cells.

Origins of metabolic complications in obesity: ectopic fat accumulation. The importance of the qualitative aspect of lipotoxicity

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This study highlights two aspects of the concept of lipotoxicity. First, the metabolic consequences following ectopic fat accumulation are not only determined by the amount of lipid accumulated, but also the quality of lipid species. Second, the existence of allostatic mechanisms operating at cellular and tissue levels, which counterbalance the negative effects of lipid overload.

RECENT FINDINGS

The development of lipidomics has allowed the isolation and identification of a wide range of lipid species. Some are highly reactive and capable of inducing undesirable toxic effects. Here we focus on recent information related to pathways involved in the production of these reactive lipid species, their sites of generation and tropism for specific organelles and the molecular mechanisms through which they exert toxic effects. We describe how cell membranes and the lipid species forming their bilayer constitute the main platform from which reactive lipid species are generated. We propose that strategies aimed at maintaining membrane lipid homeostasis are fundamental to preventing the initiation of metabolically relevant lipotoxicity.

SUMMARY

It is essential to understand the qualitative component of lipid species involved in cellular toxicity and the molecular mechanisms mediating these toxic effects to identify new therapeutic targets.

Protein kinase D2 is an essential regulator of murine myoblast differentiation

Muscle differentiation is a highly conserved process that occurs through the activation of quiescent satellite cells whose progeny proliferate, differentiate, and fuse to generate new myofibers. A defined pattern of myogenic transcription factors is orchestrated during this process and is regulated via distinct signaling cascades involving various intracellular signaling pathways, including members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family. The protein kinase D (PKD) isoenzymes PKD1, -2, and -3, are prominent downstream targets of PKCs and phospholipase D in various biological systems including mouse and could hence play a role in muscle differentiation. In the present study, we used a mouse myoblast cell line (C2C12) as an in vitro model to investigate the role of PKDs, in particular PKD2, in muscle stem cell differentiation. We show that C2C12 cells express all PKD isoforms with PKD2 being highly expressed. Furthermore, we demonstrate that PKD2 is specifically phosphorylated/activated during the initiation of mouse myoblast differentiation. Selective inhibition of PKCs or PKDs by pharmacological inhibitors blocked myotube formation. Depletion of PKD2 by shRNAs resulted in a marked inhibition of myoblast cell fusion. PKD2-depleted cells exhibit impaired regulation of muscle development-associated genes while the proliferative capacity remains unaltered. Vice versa forced expression of PKD2 increases myoblast differentiation. These findings were confirmed in primary mouse satellite cells where myotube fusion was also decreased upon inhibition of PKDs. Active PKD2 induced transcriptional activation of myocyte enhancer factor 2D and repression of Pax3 transcriptional activity. In conclusion, we identify PKDs, in particular PKD2, as a major mediator of muscle cell differentiation in vitro and thereby as a potential novel target for the modulation of muscle regeneration.

eEF1A phosphorylation in the nucleus of insulin-stimulated C2C12 myoblasts: Ser⁵³ is a novel substrate for protein kinase C βI

Recent data indicate that some PKC isoforms are translocated to the nucleus, in response to certain stimuli, where they play an important role in nuclear signaling events. To identify novel interacting proteins of conventional PKC (cPKC) at the nuclear level during myogenesis and to find new PKC isozyme-specific phosphosubstrates, we performed a proteomics analysis of immunoprecipitated nuclear samples from mouse myoblast C2C12 cells following insulin administration. Using a phospho(Ser)-PKC substrate antibody, specific interacting proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS spectrometry. A total of 16 proteins with the exact and complete motif recognized by the phospho-cPKC substrate antibody were identified; among these, particular interest was given to eukaryotic elongation factor 1α (eEF1A). Nuclear eEF1A was focalized in the nucleoli, and its expression was observed to increase following insulin treatment. Of the cPKC isoforms, only PKCβI was demonstrated to be expressed in the nucleus of C2C12 myocytes and to co-immunoprecipitate with eEF1A. In-depth analysis using site-directed mutagenesis revealed that PKCβI could phosphorylate Ser⁵³ of the eEF1A2 isoform and that the association between eEF1A2 and PKCβI was dependent on the phosphorylation status of eEF1A2.