Defective Acetylcholine Receptor Subunit Switch Precedes Atrophy of Slow-Twitch Skeletal Muscle Fibers Lacking ERK1/2 Kinases in Soleus Muscle

Validation of terminal Schwann cell gene marker expression by fluorescent in situ hybridization using RNAscope

Recent RNA-seq studies have generated a new crop of putative gene markers for terminal Schwann cells (tSCs), non-myelinating glia that cap axon terminals at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction (NMJ). While compelling, these studies did not validate the expression of the novel markers using in situ hybridization techniques. Here, we use RNAscope technology to study the expression of top candidates from recent tSC and non-myelinating Schwann cell marker RNA-seq studies. Our results validate the expression of these markers at tSCs but also demonstrate that they are present at other sites in the muscle tissue, specifically, at muscle spindles and along intramuscular nerves.

Importance of Dietary Phosphorus for Bone Metabolism and Healthy Aging

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) plays a critical function in many tissues of the body: for example, as part of the hydroxyapatite in the skeleton and as a substrate for ATP synthesis. Pi is the main source of dietary phosphorus. Reduced bioavailability of Pi or excessive losses in the urine causes rickets and osteomalacia. While critical for health in normal amounts, dietary phosphorus is plentiful in the Western diet and is often added to foods as a preservative. This abundance of phosphorus may reduce longevity due to metabolic changes and tissue calcifications. In this review, we examine how dietary phosphorus is absorbed in the gut, current knowledge about Pi sensing, and endocrine regulation of Pi levels. Moreover, we also examine the roles of Pi in different tissues, the consequences of low and high dietary phosphorus in these tissues, and the implications for healthy aging.

The Structure, Function, and Physiology of the Fetal and Adult Acetylcholine Receptor in Muscle

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a highly developed synapse linking motor neuron activity with muscle contraction. A complex of molecular cascades together with the specialized NMJ architecture ensures that each action potential arriving at the motor nerve terminal is translated into an action potential in the muscle fiber. The muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is a key molecular component located at the postsynaptic muscle membrane responsible for the generation of the endplate potential (EPP), which usually exceeds the threshold potential necessary to activate voltage-gated sodium channels and triggers a muscle action potential. Two AChR isoforms are found in mammalian muscle. The fetal isoform is present in prenatal stages and is involved in the development of the neuromuscular system whereas the adult isoform prevails thereafter, except after denervation when the fetal form is re-expressed throughout the muscle. This review will summarize the structural and functional differences between the two isoforms and outline congenital and autoimmune myasthenic syndromes that involve the isoform specific AChR subunits.

Slc20a1/Pit1 and Slc20a2/Pit2 are essential for normal skeletal myofiber function and survival

Low blood phosphate (Pi) reduces muscle function in hypophosphatemic disorders. Which Pi transporters are required and whether hormonal changes due to hypophosphatemia contribute to muscle function is unknown. To address these questions we generated a series of conditional knockout mice lacking one or both house-keeping Pi transporters Pit1 and Pit2 in skeletal muscle (sm), using the postnatally expressed human skeletal actin-cre. Simultaneous conditional deletion of both transporters caused skeletal muscle atrophy, resulting in death by postnatal day P13. smPit1-/-, smPit2-/- and three allele mutants are fertile and have normal body weights, suggesting a high degree of redundance for the two transporters in skeletal muscle. However, these mice show a gene-dose dependent reduction in running activity also seen in another hypophosphatemic model (Hyp mice). In contrast to Hyp mice, grip strength is preserved. Further evaluation of the mechanism shows reduced ERK1/2 activation and stimulation of AMP kinase in skeletal muscle from smPit1-/-; smPit2-/- mice consistent with energy-stress. Similarly, C2C12 myoblasts show a reduced oxygen consumption rate mediated by Pi transport-dependent and ERK1/2-dependent metabolic Pi sensing pathways. In conclusion, we here show that Pit1 and Pit2 are essential for normal myofiber function and survival, insights which may improve management of hypophosphatemic myopathy.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 regulate neuromuscular junction and myofiber phenotypes in mammalian skeletal muscle

The neuromuscular junction is the synapse between a motor neuron of the spinal cord and a skeletal muscle fiber in the periphery. Reciprocal interactions between these excitable cells, and between them and others cell types present within the muscle tissue, shape the development, homeostasis and plasticity of skeletal muscle. An important aim in the field is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying these cellular interactions, which include identifying the nature of the signals and receptors involved but also of the downstream intracellular signaling cascades elicited by them. This review focuses on work that shows that skeletal muscle fiber-derived extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), ubiquitous and prototypical intracellular mitogen-activated protein kinases, have modulatory roles in the maintenance of the neuromuscular synapse and in the acquisition and preservation of fiber type identity in skeletal muscle.

Phosphorylated ERK1/2 protein levels are closely associated with the fast fiber phenotypes in rat hindlimb skeletal muscles

The relationship between the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), one of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and mammalian skeletal muscle fiber phenotype is unclear. We looked at this relationship in three in vivo conditions in male Wistar rats. First, the levels of phosphorylated (active) ERK1/2 protein were closely associated with the fiber type composition of sedentary rat hindlimb muscles: highest in the superficial portion of the gastrocnemius (100% fast fibers), lower in the plantaris (~ 80% fast fibers), and lowest in the soleus (~ 15% fast fibers). Second, during growth, there was a gradual decrease in the percentage of fast fibers from 40% at 3 weeks to 1.5% at 65 weeks and a concomitant gradual decrease in the levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2 in the soleus muscle. Third, sciatic nerve denervation induced a significant decrease in the weight of both the soleus and plantaris, but a slow-to-fast fiber type shift and increase in phosphorylated ERK1/2 protein were observed only in the soleus. Although only a few fast and fast + slow hybrid fibers of the denervated soleus muscle reacted positively to the anti-phosphorylated ERK1/2 antibody by immuno-histochemical analysis, our results suggest that the phosphorylated form of ERK1/2 seems to be closely related to the fast fiber phenotype program. Further evidence for this relationship was provided by the observation that several slow fiber phenotype-specific proteins, i.e., Hsp72, Hsp60, and PGC-1, changed in the opposite direction of the levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2 protein.

Deletion of the microtubule-associated protein 6 (MAP6) results in skeletal muscle dysfunction

Background

The skeletal muscle fiber has a specific and precise intracellular organization which is at the basis of an efficient muscle contraction. Microtubules are long known to play a major role in the function and organization of many cells, but in skeletal muscle, the contribution of the microtubule cytoskeleton to the efficiency of contraction has only recently been studied. The microtubule network is dynamic and is regulated by many microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). In the present study, the role of the MAP6 protein in skeletal muscle organization and function has been studied using the MAP6 knockout mouse line.

Methods

The presence of MAP6 transcripts and proteins was shown in mouse muscle homogenates and primary culture using RT-PCR and western blot. The in vivo evaluation of muscle force of MAP6 knockout (KO) mice was performed on anesthetized animals using electrostimulation coupled to mechanical measurement and multimodal magnetic resonance. The impact of MAP6 deletion on microtubule organization and intracellular structures was studied using immunofluorescent labeling and electron microscopy, and on calcium release for muscle contraction using Fluo-4 calcium imaging on cultured myotubes. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t test or the Mann-Whitney test.

Results

We demonstrate the presence of MAP6 transcripts and proteins in skeletal muscle. Deletion of MAP6 results in a large number of muscle modifications: muscle weakness associated with slight muscle atrophy, alterations of microtubule network and sarcoplasmic reticulum organization, and reduction in calcium release.

Conclusion

Altogether, our results demonstrate that MAP6 is involved in skeletal muscle function. Its deletion results in alterations in skeletal muscle contraction which contribute to the global deleterious phenotype of the MAP6 KO mice. As MAP6 KO mouse line is a model for schizophrenia, our work points to a possible muscle weakness associated to some forms of schizophrenia.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13395-018-0176-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.