Molecular mechanisms and treatment options for muscle wasting diseases

Effect of Zinc Amino Acid Complexes on Growth Performance, Tissue Zinc Concentration, and Muscle Development of Broilers

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of zinc amino acid complexes on growth performance, tissue zinc concentration, and muscle development in broilers. A total of 504 day-old male arbor acres broilers were randomly divided into seven treatments (fed with a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 120 mg kg-1 Zn as ZnSO4, 30, 60, 90 or 120 mg kg-1 Zn as ZnN, or 30 mg kg-1 Zn as ZnA separately). Each group had six replicates, with 12 birds per replicate. The results showed that the addition of 60 mg kg-1 ZnN significantly increased (P < 0.05) the average daily gain (ADG) and breast muscle percentage of broilers. Zinc concentration of ZnN and ZnA added groups were higher than (P < 0.05) that in the Zn sulfate group under the same addition dose. Except for the 30 mg kg-1 ZnN group, the muscle fiber diameter and cross-sectional area (CSA) were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the ZnN addition groups. Compared with the basal diet group, adding ZnN significantly increased (P < 0.05) the expression of MTOR, MYOD, and MYOG at day 21 and decreased (P < 0.05) the expression of Atrogin-1. The expression levels of AKT, MTOR, P70S6K, and MYOD were increased at day 42, while the expression levels of MuRF1 and Atrogin-1 were decreased. Adhesion, backbone regulation of actin, MAPK, mTOR, and AMPK were significantly enriched as indicated by KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. In conclusion, zinc amino acid complexes could improve growth performance, tissue zinc concentration, and regulate breast muscle development.

Metabolic Pathways and Ion Channels Involved in Skeletal Muscle Atrophy: A Starting Point for Potential Therapeutic Strategies

Skeletal muscle tissue has the important function of supporting and defending the organism. It is the largest apparatus in the human body, and its function is important for contraction and movements. In addition, it is involved in the regulation of protein synthesis and degradation. In fact, inhibition of protein synthesis and/or activation of catabolism determines a pathological condition called muscle atrophy. Muscle atrophy is a reduction in muscle mass resulting in a partial or complete loss of function. It has been established that many physiopathological conditions can cause a reduction in muscle mass. Nevertheless, it is not well known that the molecular mechanisms and signaling processes caused this dramatic event. There are multiple concomitant processes involved in muscle atrophy. In fact, the gene transcription of some factors, oxidative stress mechanisms, and the alteration of ion transport through specific ion channels may contribute to muscle function impairment. In this review, we focused on the molecular mechanisms responsible for muscle damage and potential drugs to be used to alleviate this disabling condition.

High concentration of sodium fluoride in drinking water induce hypertrophy versus atrophy in mouse skeletal muscle via modulation of sarcomeric proteins

Fluoride at high doses is a well-known toxic agent for the musculoskeletal system, primarily in bone and cartilage cells. Research on fluoride toxicity concerning particularly on the skeletal muscle is scanty. We hypothesized that during skeletal fluorosis, along with bone, muscle is also affected, so we have evaluated the effects of Sodium fluoride (NaF) on mouse skeletal muscles. Sodium fluoride (80 ppm) was administered to 5-week-old C57BL6 mice drinking water for 15 and 60 days, respectively. We carried out histology, primary culture, molecular and proteomic analysis of fluoride administered mouse skeletal muscles. Results indicated an increase in the muscle mass (hypertrophy) in vivo and myotubes ex vivo by activating the IGF1/PI3/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway due to short term NaF exposure. The long-term exposure of mice to NaF caused loss of muscle proteins leading to muscle atrophy due to activation of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Differentially expressed proteins were characterized and mapped using a proteomic approach. Moreover, the factors responsible for protein synthesis and PI3/Akt/mTOR pathway were upregulated, leading to muscle hypertrophy during the short term NaF exposure. Long term exposure to NaF resulted in down-regulation of metabolic pathways. Elevated myostatin resulted in the up-regulation of the muscle-specific E3 ligases-MuRF1, promoting the ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation of critical sarcomeric proteins.

The beneficial effect of chronic muscular exercise on muscle fragility is increased by Prox1 gene transfer in dystrophic mdx muscle

Purpose

Greater muscle fragility is thought to cause the exhaustion of the muscle stem cells during successive degeneration/repair cycles, leading to muscle wasting and weakness in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Chronic voluntary exercise can partially reduce the susceptibility to contraction induced-muscle damage, i.e., muscle fragility, as shown by a reduced immediate maximal force drop following lengthening contractions, in the dystrophic mdx mice. Here, we studied the effect of Prospero-related homeobox factor 1 gene (Prox1) transfer (overexpression) using an AAV on fragility in chronically exercised mdx mice, because Prox1 promotes slower type fibres in healthy mice and slower fibres are less fragile in mdx muscle.

Methods

Both tibialis anterior muscles of the same mdx mouse received the transfer of Prox1 and PBS and the mice performed voluntary running into a wheel during 1 month. We also performed Prox1 transfer in sedentary mdx mice. In situ maximal force production of the muscle in response to nerve stimulation was assessed before, during and after 10 lengthening contractions. Molecular muscle parameters were also evaluated.

Results

Interestingly, Prox1 transfer reduced the isometric force drop following lengthening contractions in exercised mdx mice (p < 0.05 to 0.01), but not in sedentary mdx mice. It also increased the muscle expression of Myh7 (p < 0.001), MHC-2x (p < 0.01) and Trpc1 (p < 0.01), whereas it reduced that one of Myh4 (p < 0.001) and MHC-2b (p < 0.01) in exercised mdx mice. Moreover, Prox1 transfer decreased the absolute maximal isometric force (p < 0.01), but not the specific maximal isometric force, before lengthening contraction in exercised (p < 0.01) and sedentary mdx mice.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that Prox1 transfer increased the beneficial effect of chronic exercise on muscle fragility in mdx mice, but reduced absolute maximal force. Thus, the potential clinical benefit of the transfer of Prox1 into exercised dystrophic muscle can merit further investigation.

A Piezo1/KLF15/IL-6 axis mediates immobilization-induced muscle atrophy

Although immobility is a common cause of muscle atrophy, the mechanism underlying this causality is unclear. We here show that Krüppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) and IL-6 are upregulated in skeletal muscle of limb-immobilized mice and that mice with KLF15 deficiency in skeletal muscle or with systemic IL-6 deficiency are protected from immobility-induced muscle atrophy. A newly developed Ca²⁺ bioimaging revealed that the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) of skeletal muscle is reduced to below the basal level by immobilization, which is associated with the downregulation of Piezo1. Acute disruption of Piezo1 in skeletal muscle induced Klf15 and Il6 expression as well as muscle atrophy, which was prevented by antibodies against IL-6. A role for the Piezo1/KLF15/IL-6 axis in immobility-induced muscle atrophy was validated in human samples. Our results thus uncover a paradigm for Ca²⁺ signaling in that a decrease in [Ca²⁺]_i from the basal level triggers a defined biological event.

Disuse-associated loss of the protease LONP1 in muscle impairs mitochondrial function and causes reduced skeletal muscle mass and strength

Mitochondrial proteolysis is an evolutionarily conserved quality-control mechanism to maintain proper mitochondrial integrity and function. However, the physiological relevance of stress-induced impaired mitochondrial protein quality remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that LONP1, a major mitochondrial protease resides in the matrix, plays a role in controlling mitochondrial function as well as skeletal muscle mass and strength in response to muscle disuse. In humans and mice, disuse-related muscle loss is associated with decreased mitochondrial LONP1 protein. Skeletal muscle-specific ablation of LONP1 in mice resulted in impaired mitochondrial protein turnover, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. This caused reduced muscle fiber size and strength. Mechanistically, aberrant accumulation of mitochondrial-retained protein in muscle upon loss of LONP1 induces the activation of autophagy-lysosome degradation program of muscle loss. Overexpressing a mitochondrial-retained mutant ornithine transcarbamylase (ΔOTC), a known protein degraded by LONP1, in skeletal muscle induces mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagy activation, and cause muscle loss and weakness. Thus, these findings reveal a role of LONP1-dependent mitochondrial protein quality-control in safeguarding mitochondrial function and preserving skeletal muscle mass and strength, and unravel a link between mitochondrial protein quality and muscle mass maintenance during muscle disuse.

Mitochondrial function is important for muscle maintenance and function, and mitochondrial proteolysis maintains mitochondrial integrity and function. Here the authors report that that loss of LONP1-dependent mitochondrial proteolysis in muscle causes reduced muscle mass and strength via activation of autophagy.

Drosophila melanogaster: A Model System to Study Distinct Genetic Programs in Myoblast Fusion

Muscle fibers are multinucleated cells that arise during embryogenesis through the fusion of mononucleated myoblasts. Myoblast fusion is a lifelong process that is crucial for the growth and regeneration of muscles. Understanding the molecular mechanism of myoblast fusion may open the way for novel therapies in muscle wasting and weakness. Recent reports in Drosophila and mammals have provided new mechanistic insights into myoblast fusion. In Drosophila, muscle formation occurs twice: during embryogenesis and metamorphosis. A fundamental feature is the formation of a cell–cell communication structure that brings the apposing membranes into close proximity and recruits possible fusogenic proteins. However, genetic studies suggest that myoblast fusion in Drosophila is not a uniform process. The complexity of the players involved in myoblast fusion can be modulated depending on the type of muscle that is formed. In this review, we introduce the different types of multinucleated muscles that form during Drosophila development and provide an overview in advances that have been made to understand the mechanism of myoblast fusion. Finally, we will discuss conceptual frameworks in cell–cell fusion in Drosophila and mammals.

An Overview of Alkylresorcinols Biological Properties and Effects

The investigation of alkylresorcinols has drawn an increasing interest recently. Alkylresorcinols (ARs) are natural chemical compounds synthesized by bacteria, fungi, sponges, and higher plants, possessing a lipophilic polyphenol structures and a myriad of biological properties. Human takes ARs as a component of a whole grain diet (from whole grain rye, wheat, and barley products), and thus, alkylresorcinols are frequently used as whole grain intake markers. Besides, ARs are considered as promising bioregulators of metabolic and immune processes, as well as adjuvant therapeutic agents for antimicrobial and anticancer treatment. In this review, we attempted to systematize the accumulated information concerning ARs origin, metabolism, biological properties, and their effect on human health.

Diet and redox state in maintaining skeletal muscle health and performance at high altitude

High altitude exposure leads to compromised physical performance with considerable weight loss. The major stressor at high altitude is hypobaric hypoxia which leads to disturbance in redox homeostasis. Oxidative stress is a well-known trigger for many high altitude illnesses and regulates several key signaling pathways under stressful conditions. Altered redox homeostasis is considered the prime culprit of high altitude linked skeletal muscle atrophy. Hypobaric hypoxia disturbs redox homeostasis through increased RONS production and compromised antioxidant system. Increased RONS disturbs the cellular homeostasis via multiple ways such as inflammation generation, altered protein anabolic pathways, redox remodeling of RyR1 that contributed to dysregulated calcium homeostasis, enhanced protein degradation pathways via activation calcium-regulated protein, calpain, and apoptosis. Ultimately, all the cellular signaling pathways aggregately result in skeletal muscle atrophy. Dietary supplementation of phytochemicals could become a safe and effective intervention to ameliorate skeletal muscle atrophy and enhance the physical performance of the personnel who are staying at high altitude regions. The present evidence-based review explores few dietary supplementations which regulate several signaling mechanisms and ameliorate hypobaric hypoxia induced muscle atrophy and enhances physical performance. However, a clinical research trial is required to establish proof-of-concept.

Maslinic Acid Attenuates Denervation-Induced Loss of Skeletal Muscle Mass and Strength

Maslinic acid (MA) is a pentacyclic triterpene abundant in olive peels. MA reportedly increases skeletal muscle mass and strength in older adults; however, the underlying mechanism is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of MA on denervated muscle atrophy and strength and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism. Mice were fed either a control diet or a 0.27% MA diet. One week after intervention, the sciatic nerves of both legs were cut to induce muscle atrophy. Mice were examined 14 days after denervation. MA prevented the denervation-induced reduction in gastrocnemius muscle mass and skeletal muscle strength. Microarray gene expression profiling in gastrocnemius muscle demonstrated several potential mechanisms for muscle maintenance. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed different enriched biological processes, such as myogenesis, PI3/AKT/mTOR signaling, TNFα signaling via NF-κB, and TGF-β signaling in MA-treated mice. In addition, qPCR data showed that MA induced Igf1 expression and suppressed the expressions of Atrogin-1, Murf1 and Tgfb. Altogether, our results suggest the potential of MA as a new therapeutic and preventive dietary ingredient for muscular atrophy and strength.

Fatty acids impact sarcomere integrity through myristoylation and ER homeostasis

Decreased ability to maintain tissue integrity is critically involved in aging and degenerative diseases. Fatty acid (FA) metabolism has a profound impact on animal development and tissue maintenance, but our understanding of the underlying mechanisms is limited. We investigated whether and how FA abundance affects muscle integrity using Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that reducing the overall FA level by blocking FA biosynthesis or inhibiting protein myristoylation leads to disorganization of sarcomere structure and adult-onset paralysis. Further analysis indicates that myristoylation of two ARF guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) critically mediates the effect of FA deficiency on sarcomere integrity through inducing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and ER unfolded protein response (UPR^ER), which in turn leads to reduction of the level of sarcomere component PINCH and myosin disorganization. We thus present a mechanism that links FA signal, protein myristoylation, and ER homeostasis with muscle integrity, which provides valuable insights into the regulatory role of nutrients and ER homeostasis in muscle maintenance.

Tang et al. show that fatty acid deficiency causes defects in muscle integrity in the nematode C. elegans and such an impact is mediated by deficiency of lipid modification of specific proteins in the muscle that in turn triggers ER stress and muscle disorganization. The results reveal the regulatory roles of fatty acids and ER homeostasis in muscle maintenance.

IRE1α regulates skeletal muscle regeneration through Myostatin mRNA decay

Skeletal muscle can undergo a regenerative process from injury or disease to preserve muscle mass and function, which is critically influenced by cellular stress responses. Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) is an ancient endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor and mediates a key branch of the unfolded protein response (UPR). In mammals, IRE1α is implicated in the homeostatic control of stress responses during tissue injury and regeneration. Here, we show that IRE1α serves as a myogenic regulator in skeletal muscle regeneration in response to injury and muscular dystrophy. We found in mice that IRE1α was activated during injury-induced muscle regeneration, and muscle-specific IRE1α ablation resulted in impaired regeneration upon cardiotoxin-induced injury. Gain- and loss-of-function studies in myocytes demonstrated that IRE1αacts to sustain both differentiation in myoblasts and hypertrophy in myotubes through regulated IRE1-dependent decay (RIDD) of mRNA encoding Myostatin, a key negative regulator of muscle repair and growth. Furthermore, in the mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), loss of muscle IRE1α resulted in augmented Myostatin signaling and exacerbated the dystrophic phenotypes. Thus, these results reveal a pivotal role for the RIDD output of IRE1α in muscle regeneration, offering new insight into potential therapeutic strategies for muscle loss diseases.

A 50 kdyne contusion spinal cord injury with or without the drug SS-31 was not associated with major changes in muscle mass or gene expression 14 d after injury in young male mice

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to rapid muscle atrophy due to paralysis/paresis and subsequent disuse. SS-31 is a mitochondrial-targeting peptide that has shown efficacy in protecting skeletal muscle mass and function in non-SCI models of muscle wasting. We aimed to determine if SS-31 could prevent muscle loss after SCI. Male C57BL/6 mice aged 9 weeks underwent sham surgery or 50 kdyne contusion SCI and were administered daily injections of vehicle or 5 mg/kg SS-31 for 14 d. Both SCI groups had sustained losses in body mass compared to Sham animals and ~10% reductions in gastrocnemius, plantaris and tibialis anterior muscle mass after SCI with no clear effect of SS-31. Measurements of protein synthesis in the soleus and plantaris were similar among all groups. mRNA expression of atrophy-associated proinflammatory cytokines was also similar among all groups. There was elevation in MYH7 mRNA and a statistical reduction in MYH2 mRNA expression in the SCI+SS-31 animals compared to Sham animals. There was an SCI-induced reduction in mRNA expression of the E3 ligase FBXO32 (MAFbx), but no effect of SS-31. In summary, a 50 kdyne contusion SCI was able to reduce body mass but was not associated with substantial muscle atrophy or alterations in gene expression profiles associated with muscle health and function 14 d post-injury. SS-31 was not associated with protection against SCI-related changes in body or muscle mass, protein synthesis or gene expression in hindlimb muscles.

Pro-myogenic small molecules revealed by a chemical screen on primary muscle stem cells

Satellite cells are the canonical muscle stem cells that regenerate damaged skeletal muscle. Loss of function of these cells has been linked to reduced muscle repair capacity and compromised muscle health in acute muscle injury and congenital neuromuscular diseases. To identify new pathways that can prevent loss of skeletal muscle function or enhance regenerative potential, we established an imaging-based screen capable of identifying small molecules that promote the expansion of freshly isolated satellite cells. We found several classes of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitors that increased freshly isolated satellite cell numbers in vitro. Further exploration of one of these compounds, the RTK inhibitor CEP-701 (also known as lestaurtinib), revealed potent activity on mouse satellite cells both in vitro and in vivo. This expansion potential was not seen upon exposure of proliferating committed myoblasts or non-myogenic fibroblasts to CEP-701. When delivered subcutaneously to acutely injured animals, CEP-701 increased both the total number of satellite cells and the rate of muscle repair, as revealed by an increased cross-sectional area of regenerating fibers. Moreover, freshly isolated satellite cells expanded ex vivo in the presence of CEP-701 displayed enhanced muscle engraftment potential upon in vivo transplantation. We provide compelling evidence that certain RTKs, and in particular RET, regulate satellite cell expansion during muscle regeneration. This study demonstrates the power of small molecule screens of even rare adult stem cell populations for identifying stem cell-targeting compounds with therapeutic potential.

Differentiation of Bioengineered Skeletal Muscle within a 3D Printed Perfusion Bioreactor Reduces Atrophic and Inflammatory Gene Expression

Bioengineered skeletal muscle tissues benefit from dynamic culture environments which facilitate the appropriate provision of nutrients and removal of cellular waste products. Biologically compatible perfusion systems hold the potential to enhance the physiological biomimicry of in vitro tissues via dynamic culture, in addition to providing technological advances in analytical testing and live cellular imaging for analysis of cellular development. To meet such diverse requirements, perfusion systems require the capacity and adaptability to incorporate multiple cell laden constructs of both monolayer and bioengineered tissues. This work reports perfusion systems produced using additive manufacturing technology for the in situ phenotypic development of myogenic precursor cells in monolayer and bioengineered tissue. Biocompatibility of systems 3D printed using stereolithography (SL), laser sintering (LS), and PolyJet outlined preferential morphological development within both SL and LS devices. When exposed to intermittent perfusion in the monolayer, delayed yet physiologically representative cellular proliferation, MyoD and myogenin transcription of C₂C₁₂ cells was evident. Long-term (8 days) intermittent perfusion of monolayer cultures outlined viable morphological and genetic in situ differentiation for the live cellular imaging of myogenic development. Continuous perfusion cultures (13 days) of bioengineered skeletal muscle tissues outlined in situ myogenic differentiation, forming mature multinucleated myotubes. Here, reductions in IL-1β and TNF-α inflammatory cytokines, myostatin, and MuRF-1 atrophic mRNA expression were observed. Comparable myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform transcription profiles were evident between conditions; however, total mRNA expression was reduced in perfusion conditions. Decreased transcription of MuRF1 and subsequent reduced ubiquitination of the MyHC protein allude to a decreased requirement for transcription of MyHC isoform transcripts. Together, these data appear to indicate that 3D printed perfusion systems elicit enhanced stability of the culture environment, resulting in a reduced basal requirement for MyHC gene expression within bioengineered skeletal muscle tissue.

Partial Inhibition of mTORC1 in Aged Rats Counteracts the Decline in Muscle Mass and Reverses Molecular Signaling Associated with Sarcopenia

There is a lack of pharmacological interventions available for sarcopenia, a progressive age-associated loss of muscle mass, leading to a decline in mobility and quality of life. We found mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1), a well-established positive modulator of muscle mass, to be surprisingly hyperactivated in sarcopenic muscle.

There is a lack of pharmacological interventions available for sarcopenia, a progressive age-associated loss of muscle mass, leading to a decline in mobility and quality of life. We found mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1), a well-established positive modulator of muscle mass, to be surprisingly hyperactivated in sarcopenic muscle. Furthermore, partial inhibition of the mTORC1 pathway counteracted sarcopenia, as determined by observing an increase in muscle mass and fiber type cross-sectional area in select muscle groups, again surprising because mTORC1 signaling has been shown to be required for skeletal muscle mass gains in some models of hypertrophy. Additionally, several genes related to senescence were downregulated and gene expression indicators of neuromuscular junction denervation were diminished using a low dose of a “rapalog” (a pharmacological agent related to rapamycin). Therefore, partial mTORC1 inhibition may delay the progression of sarcopenia by directly and indirectly modulating multiple age-associated pathways, implicating mTORC1 as a therapeutic target to treat sarcopenia.

Hsp70 Interacts with Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK)-Activated Protein Kinase 2 To Regulate p38MAPK Stability and Myoblast Differentiation during Skeletal Muscle Regeneration

The regenerative process of injured muscle is dependent on the fusion and differentiation of myoblasts derived from muscle stem cells. Hsp70 is important for maintaining skeletal muscle homeostasis and regeneration, but the precise cellular mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we found that Hsp70 was upregulated during myoblast differentiation. Depletion or inhibition of Hsp70/Hsc70 impaired myoblast differentiation. Importantly, overexpression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase α (p38MAPKα) but not AKT1 rescued the impairment of myogenic differentiation in Hsp70- or Hsc70-depleted myoblasts. Moreover, Hsp70 interacted with MK2, a substrate of p38MAPK, to regulate the stability of p38MAPK. Knockdown of Hsp70 also led to downregulation of both MK2 and p38MAPK in intact muscles and during cardiotoxin-induced muscle regeneration. Hsp70 bound MK2 to regulate MK2-p38MAPK interaction in myoblasts. We subsequently identified the essential regions required for Hsp70-MK2 interaction. Functional analyses showed that MK2 is essential for both myoblast differentiation and skeletal muscle regeneration. Taken together, our findings reveal a novel role of Hsp70 in regulating myoblast differentiation by interacting with MK2 to stabilize p38MAPK.

Dietary supplementation with alkylresorcinols prevents muscle atrophy through a shift of energy supply

It has been reported that phytoextracts that contain alkylresorcinols (ARs) protect against severe myofibrillar degeneration found in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. In this study, we examined the effect of dietary ARs derived from wheat bran extracts on muscle atrophy in denervated mice. The mice were divided into the following four groups: (1) sham-operated (control) mice fed with normal diet (S-ND), (2) denervated mice fed with normal diet (D-ND), (3) control mice fed with ARs-supplemented diet (S-AR) and (4) denervated mice fed with ARs-supplemented diet (D-AR). The intake of ARs prevented the denervation-induced reduction of the weight of the hind limb muscles and the myofiber size. However, the expression of ubiquitin ligases and autophagy-related genes, which is associated with muscle proteolysis, was slightly higher in D-AR than in D-ND. Moreover, the abundance of the autophagy marker p62 was significantly higher in D-AR than in D-ND. Muscle atrophy has been known to be associated with a disturbed energy metabolism. The expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), which is related to fatty acid metabolism, was decreased in D-ND as compared with that in S-ND. In contrast, dietary supplementation with ARs inhibited the decrease of PDK4 expression caused by denervation. Furthermore, the abnormal expression pattern of genes related to the abundance of lipid droplets-coated proteins that was induced by denervation was improved by ARs. These results raise the possibility that dietary supplementation with ARs modifies the disruption of fatty acid metabolism induced by lipid autophagy, resulting in the prevention of muscle atrophy.

Muscle Wasting Diseases: Novel Targets and Treatments

Adequate skeletal muscle plasticity is an essential element for our well-being, and compromised muscle function can drastically affect quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. Surprisingly, however, skeletal muscle remains one of the most under-medicated organs. Interventions in muscle diseases are scarce, not only in neuromuscular dystrophies, but also in highly prevalent secondary wasting pathologies such as sarcopenia and cachexia. Even in other diseases that exhibit a well-established risk correlation of muscle dysfunction due to a sedentary lifestyle, such as type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular pathologies, current treatments are mostly targeted on non-muscle tissues. In recent years, a renewed focus on skeletal muscle has led to the discovery of various novel drug targets and the design of new pharmacological approaches. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge of the key mechanisms involved in muscle wasting conditions and novel pharmacological avenues that could ameliorate muscle diseases.

Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA interacting 1 regulates skeletal muscle fusion through structural modification of Smad3 in the linker region

Myoblast fusion is critical for muscle growth, regeneration, and repair. We previously reported that the enzyme peptidyl‐prolyl cis–trans isomerase NIMA interacting 1 (Pin1) is involved in osteoclast fusion. The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility that Pin1 also inhibits myoblast fusion. Here, we show the increased number of nuclei in the Pin1^+/− mice muscle fiber compared to that in wild‐type mice. Moreover, we show that low dose of the Pin1 inhibitor dipentamethylene thiuram monosulfide treatment caused enhanced fusion in C2C12 cells. The R‐Smads are well‐known mediators of muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia as well as being substrates of Pin1. We found that Pin1 is crucial for maintaining the stability of Smad3 (homologues of the Drosophila protein, mothers against decapentaplegic (Mad) and the Caenorhabditis elegans protein Sma). Our results show that serine 204 within Smad3 is the key Pin1‐binding site during inhibition of myoblast fusion and that both the transforming growth factor‐β receptor and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK)‐mediated phosphorylation are required for the interaction of Pin1 with Smad3. These findings suggest that a precise level of Pin1 activity is essential for regulating myoblast fusion during myogenesis and muscle regeneration.

Aberrant Protein Turn-Over Associated With Myofibrillar Disorganization in FHL1 Knockout Mice

Mutations in the FHL1 gene, and FHL1 protein deletion, are associated with rare hereditary myopathies and cardiomyopathies. FHL1-null mice develop age-dependent myopathy and increased autophagic activity. However, the molecular pathway involved in contractile function and increased autophagic activity in the FHL1-null mouse has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, FHL1 protein was knocked out in mice using Transcription Activator-like Effector Nucleases (TALENs) and the IRS1-FOXO1/mTOR signaling pathway was investigated in skeletal muscles and heart. TALEN constructs caused targeted mutations in 30% of newborn mice; these mutations caused a deletion of 1–13 base pairs which blocked synthesis of the full-length FHL1 protein. Furthermore, 2.5-month old FHL1-null male mice were not prone to global muscular fatigue when compared with WT littermates, but histological analysis and ultrastructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of myofibrillar disorganization and the accumulation of autophagosome or autolysosome-like structures in FHL1-null mice. Moreover, autophagy and mitophagy were both activated in FHL1 KO mice and the degradation of autophagic lysosomes was impeded. Enhanced autophagic activity in FHL1 KO mice was induced by FOXO1 up-regulation and protein synthesis was increased via mTOR. The cytoskeletal proteins, MYBPC2 and LDB3, were involved in the formation of pathological changes in FHL1 KO mice. Markers of early differentiation (MEF2C and MYOD1) and terminal differentiation (total MYH) were both up-regulated in tibialis anterior (TA) muscles in FHL1 KO mice. The number of type I and type II fibers increased in FHL1-null TA muscles, but the number of type| | b, and type | | d fibers were both reduced in FHL1-null TA muscles. The results obtained from the heart were consistent with those from the skeletal muscle and indicated autophagic activation by FOXO1 and an increase in protein synthesis via mTOR also occurred in the heart tissue of FHL1 knockout mice. In conclusion, aberrant protein turn-over associated with myofibrillar disorganization in FHL1 knockout mice. the up-regulation of FOXO1 was associated with enhanced autophagic activity and pathological changes in the muscle fibers of FHL1 KO mice. These results indicated that autophagy activated by FOXO1 is a promising therapeutic target for hereditary myopathies and cardiomyopathies induced by FHL1.

Climatic modulation of neurotransmitter release in amphibian neuromuscular junctions: role of dynorphin-A

Amphibian neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) become relatively more silent during the dry winter season in Australia. During the dry, calcium sensitivity is reduced, whereas calcium dependence remains unchanged. Endogenous opioid peptides play an important role in the regulation of the physiological functions of active and dormant vertebrates. Previous findings suggest that dynorphin-A is more potent than other opiates in decreasing evoked neurotransmission in amphibian NMJs. Dynorphin-A has been shown not to alter the amplitude or the frequency of miniature quantal neurotransmitter release. In the present study, we report that dynorphin-A exerted a more pronounced inhibitory effect on evoked neurotransmitter release during the dry (hibernating period) when compared with the wet (active period) season. Dynorphin-A increased the frequency and decreased the amplitude of miniature neurotransmitter release only at relatively high concentration during the dry season. In the present study, we propose that dynorphin-A suppresses evoked neurotransmitter release and thus contraction of skeletal muscles, while allowing subthreshold activation of the NMJ by miniature neurotransmission, thus preventing any significant neuromuscular remodeling. The inhibitory effect of dynorphin-A on evoked transmitter release is reduced by increasing the extracellular calcium concentration.

Conserved structural and functional aspects of the tripartite motif gene family point towards therapeutic applications in multiple diseases

The tripartite motif (TRIM) gene family is a highly conserved group of E3 ubiquitin ligase proteins that can establish substrate specificity for the ubiquitin-proteasome complex and also have proteasome-independent functions. While several family members were studied previously, it is relatively recent that over 80 genes, based on sequence homology, were grouped to establish the TRIM gene family. Functional studies of various TRIM genes linked these proteins to modulation of inflammatory responses showing that they can contribute to a wide variety of disease states including cardiovascular, neurological and musculoskeletal diseases, as well as various forms of cancer. Given the fundamental role of the ubiquitin-proteasome complex in protein turnover and the importance of this regulation in most aspects of cellular physiology, it is not surprising that TRIM proteins display a wide spectrum of functions in a variety of cellular processes. This broad range of function and the highly conserved primary amino acid sequence of family members, particularly in the canonical TRIM E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, complicates the development of therapeutics that specifically target these proteins. A more comprehensive understanding of the structure and function of TRIM proteins will help guide therapeutic development for a number of different diseases. This review summarizes the structural organization of TRIM proteins, their domain architecture, common and unique post-translational modifications within the family, and potential binding partners and targets. Further discussion is provided on efforts to target TRIM proteins as therapeutic agents and how our increasing understanding of the nature of TRIM proteins can guide discovery of other therapeutics in the future.

Noncoding RNAs in Muscle Atrophy

Denervation, disuse, fasting, and various diseases could induce skeletal muscle atrophy, which results in the decline of life quality and increase of the mortality risk for patients. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are implicated important in regulating gene expression. Thus, ncRNAs, especially microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), have gained widespread attention as crucial players in numerous physiological and pathological processes, including skeletal muscle atrophy. In this review, we comprehensively described the potential of circulating microRNAs as biomarkers, summarized the profiling of microRNAs and lncRNAs in atrophying muscles, as well as discussed the effects and underlying mechanisms of microRNA machinery proteins, microRNAs, and lncRNAs in skeletal muscle atrophy. Considering the large quantity and variety of ncRNAs, the understanding of ncRNAs in muscle atrophy is still very limited. Future studies are needed to elucidate the possibility of ncRNAs as diagnosis biomarkers and therapeutic targets in muscle atrophy.

Modulating the metabolism by trimetazidine enhances myoblast differentiation and promotes myogenesis in cachectic tumor-bearing c26 mice

Trimetazidine (TMZ) is a metabolic reprogramming agent able to partially inhibit mitochondrial free fatty acid β-oxidation while enhancing glucose oxidation. Here we have found that the metabolic shift driven by TMZ enhances the myogenic potential of skeletal muscle progenitor cells leading to MyoD, Myogenin, Desmin and the slow isoforms of troponin C and I over-expression. Moreover, similarly to exercise, TMZ stimulates the phosphorylation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and up-regulates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-α (PGC1α), both of which are known to enhance the mitochondrial biogenesis necessary for myoblast differentiation. TMZ also induces autophagy which is required during myoblast differentiation and promotes myoblast alignment which allows cell fusion and myofiber formation. Finally, we found that intraperitoneally administered TMZ (5mg/kg) is able to stimulate myogenesis in vivo both in a mice model of cancer cachexia (C26 mice) and upon cardiotoxin damage. Collectively, our work demonstrates that TMZ enhances myoblast differentiation and promotes myogenesis, which might contribute recovering stem cell blunted regenerative capacity and counteracting muscle wasting, thanks to the formation of new myofibers; TMZ is already in use in humans as an anti-anginal drug and its repositioning might impact significantly on aging and regeneration-impaired disorders, including cancer cachexia, as well as have implications in regenerative medicine.

Making muscle: skeletal myogenesis in vivo and in vitro

Skeletal muscle is the largest tissue in the body and loss of its function or its regenerative properties results in debilitating musculoskeletal disorders. Understanding the mechanisms that drive skeletal muscle formation will not only help to unravel the molecular basis of skeletal muscle diseases, but also provide a roadmap for recapitulating skeletal myogenesis in vitro from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). PSCs have become an important tool for probing developmental questions, while differentiated cell types allow the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive overview of skeletal myogenesis from the earliest premyogenic progenitor stage to terminally differentiated myofibers, and discuss how this knowledge has been applied to differentiate PSCs into muscle fibers and their progenitors in vitro.

Korean mistletoe (Viscum album coloratum) extract regulates gene expression related to muscle atrophy and muscle hypertrophy

Background

Korean mistletoe (Viscum album coloratum) is a semi-parasitic plant that grows on various trees and has a diverse range of effects on biological functions, being implicated in having anti-tumor, immunostimulatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity properties. Recently, we also reported that Korean mistletoe extract (KME) improves endurance exercise in mice, suggesting its beneficial roles in enhancing the capacity of skeletal muscle.

Methods

We examined the expression pattern of several genes concerned with muscle physiology in C2C12 myotubes cells to identify whether KME inhibits muscle atrophy or promotes muscle hypertrophy. We also investigated these effects of KME in denervated mice model.

Results

Interestingly, KME induced the mRNA expression of SREBP-1c, PGC-1α, and GLUT4, known positive regulators of muscle hypertrophy, in C2C12 cells. On the contrary, KME reduced the expression of Atrogin-1, which is directly involved in the induction of muscle atrophy. In animal models, KME mitigated the decrease of muscle weight in denervated mice. The expression of Atrogin-1 was also diminished in those mice. Moreover, KME enhanced the grip strength and muscle weight in long-term feeding mice.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that KME has beneficial effects on muscle atrophy and muscle hypertrophy.

Molecular signatures of age-associated chronic degeneration of shoulder muscles

Chronic muscle diseases are highly prevalent in the elderly causing severe mobility limitations, pain and frailty. The intrinsic molecular mechanisms are poorly understood due to multifactorial causes, slow progression with age and variations between individuals. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms could lead to new treatment options which are currently limited. Shoulder complaints are highly common in the elderly, and therefore, muscles of the shoulder's rotator cuff could be considered as a model for chronic age-associated muscle degeneration. Diseased shoulder muscles were characterized by muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration compared with unaffected shoulder muscles. We confirmed fatty infiltration using histochemical analysis. Additionally, fibrosis and loss of contractile myosin expression were found in diseased muscles. Most cellular features, including proliferation rate, apoptosis and cell senescence, remained unchanged and genome-wide molecular signatures were predominantly similar between diseased and intact muscles. However, we found down-regulation of a small subset of muscle function genes, and up-regulation of extracellular region genes. Myogenesis was defected in muscle cell culture from diseased muscles but was restored by elevating MyoD levels. We suggest that impaired muscle functionality in a specific environment of thickened extra-cellular matrix is crucial for the development of chronic age-associated muscle degeneration.

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

To test the role of extracellular-signal regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in slow-twitch, type 1 skeletal muscle fibers, we studied the soleus muscle in mice genetically deficient for myofiber ERK1/2. Young adult mutant soleus was drastically wasted, with highly atrophied type 1 fibers, denervation at most synaptic sites, induction of “fetal” acetylcholine receptor gamma subunit (AChRγ), reduction of “adult” AChRε, and impaired mitochondrial biogenesis and function. In weanlings, fiber morphology and mitochondrial markers were mostly normal, yet AChRγ upregulation and AChRε downregulation were observed. Synaptic sites with fetal AChRs in weanling muscle were ~3% in control and ~40% in mutants, with most of the latter on type 1 fibers. These results suggest that: (1) ERK1/2 are critical for slow-twitch fiber growth; (2) a defective γ/ε-AChR subunit switch, preferentially at synapses on slow fibers, precedes wasting of mutant soleus; (3) denervation is likely to drive this wasting, and (4) the neuromuscular synapse is a primary subcellular target for muscle ERK1/2 function in vivo.

The Signature of MicroRNA Dysregulation in Muscle Paralyzed by Spinal Cord Injury Includes Downregulation of MicroRNAs that Target Myostatin Signaling

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in muscle atrophy, reduced force generation and an oxidative-to-glycolytic fiber type shift. The mechanisms responsible for these alterations remain incompletely understood. To gain new insights regarding mechanisms involved in deterioration of muscle after SCI, global expression profiles of miRs in paralyzed gastrocnemius muscle were compared between sham-operated (Sham) and spinal cord-transected (SCI) rats. Ingenuity Pathways Analysis of the altered miRs identified signaling via insulin, IGF-1, integrins and TGF-β as being significantly enriched for target genes. By qPCR, miRs 23a, 23b, 27b, 145, and 206, were downregulated in skeletal muscle 56 days after SCI. Using FISH, miR-145, a miR not previously implicated in the function of skeletal muscle, was found to be localized to skeletal muscle fibers. One predicted target of miR-145 was Cited2, a transcriptional regulator that modulates signaling through NF-κB, Smad3 and other transcription factors. The 3’ UTR of Cited2 mRNA contained a highly conserved miR-145 seed sequence. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-145 interacts with this seed sequence. However, Cited2 protein levels were similar between Sham and SCI groups, indicating a biochemical interaction that was not involved in the context of adaptations after SCI. Taken together, the findings indicate dysregulation of several highly expressed miRs in skeletal muscle after SCI and suggest that reduced expression of miR-23a, 145 and 206 may have roles in alteration in skeletal muscle mass and insulin responsiveness in muscle paralyzed by upper motor neuron injuries.

Synergizing Engineering and Biology to Treat and Model Skeletal Muscle Injury and Disease

Although skeletal muscle is one of the most regenerative organs in our body, various genetic defects, alterations in extrinsic signaling, or substantial tissue damage can impair muscle function and the capacity for self-repair. The diversity and complexity of muscle disorders have attracted much interest from both cell biologists and, more recently, bioengineers, leading to concentrated efforts to better understand muscle pathology and develop more efficient therapies. This review describes the biological underpinnings of muscle development, repair, and disease, and discusses recent bioengineering efforts to design and control myomimetic environments, both to study muscle biology and function and to aid in the development of new drug, cell, and gene therapies for muscle disorders. The synergy between engineering-aided biological discovery and biology-inspired engineering solutions will be the path forward for translating laboratory results into clinical practice.

Silencing Myostatin Using Cholesterol-conjugated siRNAs Induces Muscle Growth

Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are a valuable tool for gene silencing with applications in both target validation and therapeutics. Many advances have recently been made to improve potency and specificity, and reduce toxicity and immunostimulation. However, siRNA delivery to a variety of tissues remains an obstacle for this technology. To date, siRNA delivery to muscle has only been achieved by local administration or by methods with limited potential use in the clinic. We report systemic delivery of a highly chemically modified cholesterol-conjugated siRNA targeting muscle-specific gene myostatin (Mstn) to a full range of muscles in mice. Following a single intravenous injection, we observe 85–95% knockdown of Mstn mRNA in skeletal muscle and >65% reduction in circulating Mstn protein sustained for >21 days. This level of Mstn knockdown is also accompanied by a functional effect on skeletal muscle, with animals showing an increase in muscle mass, size, and strength. The cholesterol-conjugated siRNA platform described here could have major implications for treatment of a variety of muscle disorders, including muscular atrophic diseases, muscular dystrophy, and type II diabetes.

Degenerin channel activation causes caspase-mediated protein degradation and mitochondrial dysfunction in adult C. elegans muscle

BACKGROUND

Declines in skeletal muscle structure and function are found in various clinical populations, but the intramuscular proteolytic pathways that govern declines in these individuals remain relatively poorly understood. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been developed into a model for identifying and understanding these pathways. Recently, it was reported that UNC-105/degenerin channel activation produced muscle protein degradation via an unknown mechanism.

METHODS

Generation of transgenic and double mutant C. elegans, RNAi, and drug treatments were utilized to assess molecular events governing protein degradation. Western blots were used to measure protein content. Cationic dyes and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production assays were utilized to measure mitochondrial function.

RESULTS

unc-105 gain-of-function mutants display aberrant muscle protein degradation and a movement defect; both are reduced in intragenic revertants and in let-2 mutants that gate the hyperactive UNC-105 channel. Degradation is not suppressed by interventions suppressing proteasome-mediated, autophagy-mediated, or calpain-mediated degradation nor by suppressors of degenerin-induced neurodegeneration. Protein degradation, but not the movement defect, is decreased by treatment with caspase inhibitors or RNAi against ced-3 or ced-4. Adult unc-105 muscles display a time-dependent fragmentation of the mitochondrial reticulum that is associated with impaired mitochondrial membrane potential and that correlates with decreased rates of maximal ATP production. Reduced levels of CED-4, which is sufficient to activate CED-3 in vitro, are observed in unc-105 mitochondrial isolations.

CONCLUSIONS

Constitutive cationic influx into muscle appears to cause caspase degradation of cytosolic proteins as the result of mitochondrial dysfunction, which may be relevant to ageing and sarcopenia.

Iron-induced skeletal muscle atrophy involves an Akt-forkhead box O3-E3 ubiquitin ligase-dependent pathway

Skeletal muscle wasting or sarcopenia is a critical health problem. Skeletal muscle atrophy is induced by an excess of iron, which is an essential trace metal for all living organisms. Excessive amounts of iron catalyze the formation of highly toxic hydroxyl radicals via the Fenton reaction. However, the molecular mechanism of iron-induced skeletal muscle atrophy has remained unclear. In this study, 8-weeks-old C57BL6/J mice were divided into 2 groups: vehicle-treated group and the iron-injected group (10 mg iron day(-1)mouse(-1)) during 2 weeks. Mice in the iron-injected group showed an increase in the iron content of the skeletal muscle and serum and ferritin levels in the muscle, along with reduced skeletal muscle mass. The skeletal muscle showed elevated mRNA expression of the muscle atrophy-related E3 ubiquitin ligases, atrogin-1 and muscle ring finger-1(MuRF1), on days 7 and 14 of iron treatment. Moreover, iron-treated mice showed reduced phosphorylation of Akt and forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a) in skeletal muscles. Inhibition of FOXO3a using siRNA in vitro in C2C12 myotube cells inhibited iron-induced upregulation of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 and reversed the reduction in myotube diameters. Iron-load caused oxidative stress, and an oxidative stress inhibitor abrogated iron-induced muscle atrophy by reactivating the Akt-FOXO3a pathway. Iron-induced skeletal muscle atrophy is suggested to involve the E3 ubiquitin ligase mediated by the reduction of Akt-FOXO3a signaling by oxidative stress.

Role of Nutrition and Muscle in Cirrhosis

OPINION STATEMENT

Most widely recognized complications in cirrhotic patients include ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, kidney dysfunction, and hepatocellular carcinoma; however, malnutrition and muscle wasting (sarcopenia) constitute common complications which negatively impact survival, quality of life, and response to stressors, such as infection and surgery in patients with cirrhosis. Despite the important role that malnutrition and sarcopenia play in the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis, they are frequently overlooked, in part because nutritional assessment can be a difficult task in patients with cirrhosis due to fluid retention and/or overweight. Moreover, patients with cirrhosis may develop simultaneous loss of skeletal muscle and gain of adipose tissue, culminating in the condition of "sarcopenic obesity." In addition, muscle depletion is characterized by both a reduction in muscle size and increased proportion of intermuscular and intramuscular fat-denominated "myosteatosis." Sarcopenia in cirrhotic patients has been associated with increased mortality, sepsis complications, hyperammonemia, overt hepatic encephalopathy, and increased length of stay after liver transplantation. Muscularity assessment with cross-sectional imaging studies has become an attractive index of nutritional status evaluation in cirrhosis, as sarcopenia reflects a chronic detriment in general physical condition, rather than acute severity of the liver disease. In this review, we discuss the current diagnostic methods to evaluate malnutrition and muscle abnormalities in cirrhosis and also analyze the current knowledge regarding incidence and clinical impact of malnutrition and muscle abnormalities in cirrhosis and their impact after liver transplantation. We also discuss existing and potential novel therapeutic strategies for malnutrition in cirrhosis, emphasizing the recognition of sarcopenia in cirrhosis in an effort to improve survival and reduce morbidity related to cirrhosis. Finally, we analyze new studies including sarcopenia with the MELD score that seems to allow better prediction of mortality among cirrhotic patients waiting for liver transplantation.

Design, evaluation, and application of engineered skeletal muscle

For over two decades, research groups have been developing methods to engineer three-dimensional skeletal muscle tissues. These tissues hold great promise for use in disease modeling and pre-clinical drug development, and have potential to serve as therapeutic grafts for functional muscle repair. Recent advances in the field have resulted in the engineering of regenerative muscle constructs capable of survival, vascularization, and functional maturation in vivo as well as the first-time creation of functional human engineered muscles for screening of therapeutics in vitro. In this review, we will discuss the methodologies that have progressed work in the muscle tissue engineering field to its current state. The emphasis will be placed on the existing procedures to generate myogenic cell sources and form highly functional muscle tissues in vitro, techniques to monitor and evaluate muscle maturation and performance in vitro and in vivo, and surgical strategies to both create diseased environments and ensure implant survival and rapid integration into the host. Finally, we will suggest the most promising methodologies that will enable continued progress in the field.

Neuromuscular junction immaturity and muscle atrophy are hallmarks of the ColQ-deficient mouse, a model of congenital myasthenic syndrome with acetylcholinesterase deficiency

The collagen ColQ anchors acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the synaptic cleft of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). It also binds MuSK and perlecan/dystroglycan, 2 signaling platforms of the postsynaptic domain. Mutations in ColQ cause a congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) with AChE deficiency. Because the absence of AChE does not fully explain the complexity of the syndrome and there is no curative treatment for the disease, we explored additional potential targets of ColQ by conducting a large genetic screening of ColQ-deficient mice, a model for CMS with AChE deficiency, and analyzed their NMJ and muscle phenotypes. We demonstrated that ColQ controls the development and the maturation of the postsynaptic domain by regulating synaptic gene expression. Notably, ColQ deficiency leads to an up-regulation of the 5 subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR), leading to mixed mature and immature AChRs at the NMJ of adult mice. ColQ also regulates the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. However, whereas the ECM mRNAs were down-regulated in vitro, compensation seemed to occur in vivo to maintain normal levels of these mRNAs. Finally, ColQ deficiency leads to a general atrophic phenotype and hypoplasia that affect fast muscles. This study points to new specific hallmarks for this CMS.-Sigoillot, S. M., Bourgeois, F., Karmouch, J., Molgó, J., Dobbertin, A., Chevalier, C., Houlgatte, R., Léger, J., Legay, C. Neuromuscular junction immaturity and muscle atrophy are hallmarks of the ColQ-deficient mouse, a model of congenital myasthenic syndrome with acetylcholinesterase deficiency.

Characterizing a distal muscle enhancer in the mouse Igf2 locus

Insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF2) is highly expressed in skeletal muscle and was identified as a quantitative trait locus for muscle mass. Yet little is known about mechanisms of its regulation in muscle. Recently, a DNA segment found ∼100 kb from the Igf2 gene was identified as a possible muscle transcriptional control element. Here we have developed an in vivo reporter system to assess this putative enhancer by substituting nuclear (n) EGFP for Igf2 coding exons in a bacterial artificial chromosome containing the mouse Igf2 - H19 chromosomal locus. After stable transfection into a mesenchymal stem cell line, individual clones were converted to myoblasts and underwent progressive muscle-specific gene expression and myotube formation in differentiation medium. Transgenic mRNA and nuclear-targeted enhanced green fluorescent protein were produced coincident with endogenous Igf2 mRNA, but only in lines containing an intact distal conserved DNA element. Our results show that a 294 bp DNA fragment containing two E-boxes is a necessary and sufficient long-range enhancer for induction of Igf2 gene transcription during skeletal muscle differentiation and provides a robust experimental platform for its further functional dissection.

Perlecan inhibits autophagy to maintain muscle homeostasis in mouse soleus muscle

The autophagy-lysosome system is essential for muscle protein synthesis and degradation equilibrium, and its dysfunction has been linked to various muscle disorders. It has been reported that a diverse collection of extracellular matrix constituents, including decorin, collagen VI, laminin α2, endorepellin, and endostatin, can modulate autophagic signaling pathways. However, the association between autophagy and perlecan in muscle homeostasis remains unclear. The mechanical unloading of perlecan-deficient soleus muscles resulted in significantly decreased wet weights and cross-section fiber area compared with those of control mice. We found that perlecan deficiency in slow-twitch soleus muscles enhanced autophagic activity. This was accompanied by a decrease in autophagic substrates, such as p62, and an increase in LC3II levels. Furthermore, perlecan deficiency caused a reduction in the phosphorylation levels of p70S6k and Akt and increased the phosphorylation of AMPKα. Our findings suggested that perlecan inhibits the autophagic process through the activation of the mTORC1 pathway. This autophagic response may be a novel target for enhancing the efficacy of skeletal muscle atrophy treatment.

Altered Ca(2+) signaling in skeletal muscle fibers of the R6/2 mouse, a model of Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat within the gene encoding the protein huntingtin. The resulting elongated glutamine (poly-Q) sequence of mutant huntingtin (mhtt) affects both central neurons and skeletal muscle. Recent reports suggest that ryanodine receptor-based Ca(2+) signaling, which is crucial for skeletal muscle excitation-contraction coupling (ECC), is changed by mhtt in HD neurons. Consequently, we searched for alterations of ECC in muscle fibers of the R6/2 mouse, a mouse model of HD. We performed fluorometric recordings of action potentials (APs) and cellular Ca(2+) transients on intact isolated toe muscle fibers (musculi interossei), and measured L-type Ca(2+) inward currents on internally dialyzed fibers under voltage-clamp conditions. Both APs and AP-triggered Ca(2+) transients showed slower kinetics in R6/2 fibers than in fibers from wild-type mice. Ca(2+) removal from the myoplasm and Ca(2+) release flux from the sarcoplasmic reticulum were characterized using a Ca(2+) binding and transport model, which indicated a significant reduction in slow Ca(2+) removal activity and Ca(2+) release flux both after APs and under voltage-clamp conditions. In addition, the voltage-clamp experiments showed a highly significant decrease in L-type Ca(2+) channel conductance. These results indicate profound changes of Ca(2+) turnover in skeletal muscle of R6/2 mice and suggest that these changes may be associated with muscle pathology in HD.

Mechanisms Regulating Neuromuscular Junction Development and Function and Causes of Muscle Wasting

The neuromuscular junction is the chemical synapse between motor neurons and skeletal muscle fibers. It is designed to reliably convert the action potential from the presynaptic motor neuron into the contraction of the postsynaptic muscle fiber. Diseases that affect the neuromuscular junction may cause failure of this conversion and result in loss of ambulation and respiration. The loss of motor input also causes muscle wasting as muscle mass is constantly adapted to contractile needs by the balancing of protein synthesis and protein degradation. Finally, neuromuscular activity and muscle mass have a major impact on metabolic properties of the organisms. This review discusses the mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction, the consequences of and the mechanisms involved in its dysfunction, and its role in maintaining muscle mass during aging. As life expectancy is increasing, loss of muscle mass during aging, called sarcopenia, has emerged as a field of high medical need. Interestingly, aging is also accompanied by structural changes at the neuromuscular junction, suggesting that the mechanisms involved in neuromuscular junction maintenance might be disturbed during aging. In addition, there is now evidence that behavioral paradigms and signaling pathways that are involved in longevity also affect neuromuscular junction stability and sarcopenia.

External physical and biochemical stimulation to enhance skeletal muscle bioengineering

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cell based muscle tissue engineering carries the potential to revert the functional loss of muscle tissue caused by disease and trauma. Although muscle tissue can be bioengineered using various precursor cells, major limitations still remain.

RECENT FINDINGS

In the last decades several cellular pathways playing a crucial role in muscle tissue regeneration have been described. These pathways can be influenced by external stimuli and they not only orchestrate the regenerative process after physiologic wear and muscle trauma, but also play an important part in aging and maintaining the stem cell niche, which is required to maintain long-term muscle function.

SUMMARY

In this review article we will highlight possible new avenues using external physical and biochemical stimulation in order to optimize muscle bioengineering.

The orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 is a determinant of myofiber size and muscle mass in mice

We previously showed that the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 (Nr4a1) plays an important role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis and oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle. Here, we show using both gain- and loss-of-function models that Nur77 is also a regulator of muscle growth in mice. Transgenic expression of Nur77 in skeletal muscle in mice led to increases in myofiber size. Conversely, mice with global or muscle-specific deficiency in Nur77 exhibited reduced muscle mass and myofiber size. In contrast to Nur77 deficiency, deletion of the highly related nuclear receptor NOR1 (Nr4a3) had minimal effect on muscle mass and myofiber size. We further show that Nur77 mediates its effects on muscle size by orchestrating transcriptional programs that favor muscle growth, including the induction of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), as well as concomitant downregulation of growth-inhibitory genes, including myostatin, Fbxo32 (MAFbx), and Trim63 (MuRF1). Nur77-mediated increase in IGF1 led to activation of the Akt-mTOR-S6K cascade and the inhibition of FoxO3a activity. The dependence of Nur77 on IGF1 was recapitulated in primary myoblasts, establishing this as a cell-autonomous effect. Collectively, our findings identify Nur77 as a novel regulator of myofiber size and a potential transcriptional link between cellular metabolism and muscle growth.

Neuronal involvement in muscular atrophy

The innervation of skeletal myofibers exerts a crucial influence on the maintenance of muscle tone and normal operation. Consequently, denervated myofibers manifest atrophy, which is preceded by an increase in sarcolemma permeability. Recently, de novo expression of hemichannels (HCs) formed by connexins (Cxs) and other none selective channels, including P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs), and transient receptor potential, sub-family V, member 2 (TRPV2) channels was demonstrated in denervated fast skeletal muscles. The denervation-induced atrophy was drastically reduced in denervated muscles deficient in Cxs 43 and 45. Nonetheless, the transduction mechanism by which the nerve represses the expression of the above mentioned non-selective channels remains unknown. The paracrine action of extracellular signaling molecules including ATP, neurotrophic factors (i.e., brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)), agrin/LDL receptor-related protein 4 (Lrp4)/muscle-specific receptor kinase (MuSK) and acetylcholine (Ach) are among the possible signals for repression for connexin expression. This review discusses the possible role of relevant factors in maintaining the normal functioning of fast skeletal muscles and suppression of connexin hemichannel expression.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy as a paradigm for muscle aging

Symptoms in late-onset neuromuscular disorders initiate only from midlife onward and progress with age. These disorders are primarily determined by identified hereditable mutations, but their late-onset symptom manifestation is not fully understood. Here, we review recent research developments on the late-onset autosomal dominant oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). OPMD is caused by an expansion mutation in the gene encoding for poly-adenylate RNA binding protein1 (PABPN1). The molecular pathogenesis for the disease is still poorly understood. Despite a ubiquitous expression of PABPN1, symptoms in OPMD are limited to skeletal muscles. We discuss recent studies showing that PABPN1 levels in skeletal muscles are lower compared with other tissues, and specifically in skeletal muscles, PABPN1 expression declines from midlife onward. In OPMD, aggregation of expanded PABPN1 causes an additional decline in the level of the functional protein, which is associated with severe muscle weakness in OPMD. Reduced PABNPN1 expression in muscle cell culture causes myogenic defects, suggesting that PABPN1 loss-of-function causes muscle weakness in OPMD and in the elderly. Molecular signatures of OPMD muscles are similar to those of normal muscle aging, although expression trends progress faster in OPMD. We discuss a working hypothesis that aging-associated factors trigger late-onset symptoms in OPMD, and contribute to accelerated muscle weakness in OPMD. We focus on the pharyngeal and eyelid muscles, which are often affected in OPMD patients. We suggest that muscle weakness in OPMD is a paradigm for muscle aging.

Myostatin and the skeletal muscle atrophy and hypertrophy signaling pathways

Myostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth and is conserved in many species, from rodents to humans. Myostatin inactivation can induce skeletal muscle hypertrophy, while its overexpression or systemic administration causes muscle atrophy. As it represents a potential target for stimulating muscle growth and/or preventing muscle wasting, myostatin regulation and functions in the control of muscle mass have been extensively studied. A wealth of data strongly suggests that alterations in skeletal muscle mass are associated with dysregulation in myostatin expression. Moreover, myostatin plays a central role in integrating/mediating anabolic and catabolic responses. Myostatin negatively regulates the activity of the Akt pathway, which promotes protein synthesis, and increases the activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system to induce atrophy. Several new studies have brought new information on how myostatin may affect both ribosomal biogenesis and translation efficiency of specific mRNA subclasses. In addition, although myostatin has been identified as a modulator of the major catabolic pathways, including the ubiquitin-proteasome and the autophagy-lysosome systems, the underlying mechanisms are only partially understood. The goal of this review is to highlight outstanding questions about myostatin-mediated regulation of the anabolic and catabolic signaling pathways in skeletal muscle. Particular emphasis has been placed on (1) the cross-regulation between myostatin, the growth-promoting pathways and the proteolytic systems; (2) how myostatin inhibition leads to muscle hypertrophy; and (3) the regulation of translation by myostatin.

Srf: A key factor controlling skeletal muscle hypertrophy by enhancing the recruitment of muscle stem cells

Adult skeletal muscles adapt their fiber size to workload. We show that serum response factor (Srf) is required for satellite cell-mediated hypertrophic muscle growth. Deletion of Srf from myofibers, and not satellite cells, blunts overload-induced hypertrophy, and impairs satellite cell proliferation and recruitment to pre-existing fibers. We reveal a gene network in which Srf within myofibers modulates interleukin-6 and cyclooxygenase-2/interleukin-4 expressions and therefore exerts a paracrine control of satellite cell functions. In Srf-deleted muscles, in vivo overexpression of interleukin-6 is sufficient to restore satellite cell proliferation, but not satellite cell fusion and overall growth. In contrast, cyclooxygenase-2/interleukin-4 overexpression rescues satellite cell recruitment and muscle growth without affecting satellite cell proliferation, identifying altered fusion as the limiting cellular event. These findings unravel a role for Srf in the translation of mechanical cues applied to myofibers into paracrine signals, which in turn will modulate satellite cell functions and support muscle growth.