scholarly journals Calpain 3 deficiency affects SERCA expression and function in the skeletal muscle

Author(s):  
Ivan Toral-Ojeda ◽  
Garazi Aldanondo ◽  
Jaione Lasa-Elgarresta ◽  
Haizpea Lasa-Fernández ◽  
Roberto Fernández-Torrón ◽  
...  

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A) is a form of muscular dystrophy caused by mutations in calpain 3 (CAPN3). Several studies have implicated Ca2+ dysregulation as an underlying event in several muscular dystrophies, including LGMD2A. In this study we used mouse and human myotube cultures, and muscle biopsies in order to determine whether dysfunction of sarco/endoplasmatic Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) is involved in the pathology of this disease. In CAPN3-deficient myotubes, we found decreased levels of SERCA 1 and 2 proteins, while mRNA levels remained comparable with control myotubes. Also, we found a significant reduction in SERCA function that resulted in impairment of Ca2+ homeostasis, and elevated basal intracellular [Ca2+] in human myotubes. Furthermore, small Ankyrin 1 (sAnk1), a SERCA1-binding protein that is involved in sarcoplasmic reticulum integrity, was also diminished in CAPN3-deficient fibres. Interestingly, SERCA2 protein was patently reduced in muscles from LGMD2A patients, while it was normally expressed in other forms of muscular dystrophy. Thus, analysis of SERCA2 expression may prove useful for diagnostic purposes as a potential indicator of CAPN3 deficiency in muscle biopsies. Altogether, our results indicate that CAPN3 deficiency leads to degradation of SERCA proteins and Ca2+ dysregulation in the skeletal muscle. While further studies are needed in order to elucidate the specific contribution of SERCA towards muscle degeneration in LGMD2A, this study constitutes a reasonable foundation for the development of therapeutic approaches targeting SERCA1, SERCA2 or sAnk1.

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (3) ◽  
pp. C1139-C1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cora Weigert ◽  
Martina Düfer ◽  
Perikles Simon ◽  
Evaine Debre ◽  
Heike Runge ◽  
...  

Skeletal muscle cells have been established as significant producers of IL-6 during exercise. This IL-6 production is discussed as one possible mediator of the beneficial effects of physical activity on glucose and fatty acid metabolism. IL-6 itself could be the exercise-related factor that upregulates and maintains its own production. We investigated this hypothesis and the underlying molecular mechanism in cultured C2C12 cells. IL-6 led to a rapid and prolonged increase in IL-6 mRNA, which was also found in human myotubes. Because IL-6 has been shown to activate AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), we studied whether, in turn, activated AMPK induces IL-6 expression. Pharmacological activation of AMPK with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-4-ribofuranoside upregulated IL-6 mRNA expression, which was blocked by knockdown of AMPK α1 and α2 using small, interfering RNA (siRNA) oligonucleotides. However, the effect of IL-6 was shown to be independent of AMPK, since the siRNA approach silencing the AMPK α-subunits did not reduce the upregulation of IL-6 induced by IL-6 stimulation. The self-stimulatory effect of IL-6 partly involves a Ca2+-dependent pathway: IL-6 increased intracellular Ca2+, and intracellular blockade of Ca2+ with a Ca2+ chelator reduced the IL-6-mediated increase in IL-6 mRNA levels. Moreover, inhibition of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase with STO-609 or the siRNA approach decreased IL-6 mRNA levels of control and IL-6-stimulated cells. A major, STO-609-independent mechanism is the IL-6-mediated stabilization of its mRNA. The data suggest that IL-6 could act as autocrine factor upregulating its mRNA levels, thereby supporting its function as an exercise-activated factor in skeletal muscle cells.


2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebekah Sian Hwee Yu ◽  
Daryll Baker ◽  
David Abraham ◽  
Janice Tsui

Objectives Erythropoietin (Epo) has tissue-protective effects in response to injury, acting through the EpoR-βcR heteroreceptor. We have previously demonstrated the presence and interaction of the EpoR and βcR in human skeletal muscle. Here we aim to investigate the potential cytoprotective effects of Epo and an Epo-derivative (ARA-290) in a human in vitro model of skeletal muscle and establish a potential downstream signalling pathway utilised in protecting cells from apoptosis (including Jak-2, PI3k/Akt, NFkB). Methods Gastrocnemius muscle biopsies were obtained from patients with critical limb ischaemia and control samples were obtained from non-ischaemic patients. Human myoblasts were isolated from muscle biopsies, cultured, and allowed to differentiate into myotubes in order to investigate the cytoprotective effects of Epo and ARA-290 on myotubes subjected to simulated ischaemia. The PI3k inhibitors, LY294002 and wortmannin, were then used to determine the role of PI3k/Akt pathway in mediating cytoprotection. Following this, inhibitors against the upstreatm (Jak-2) and downstream (NFkB) molecules were also investigated. Western blot analysis, using the pro-apoptotic marker cleaved caspase-3 was performed and compared with levels of Akt and phosphorylated-Akt, using western blot analysis. Results Exogenous administration of Epo and ARA-290 were able to ameliorate the ischaemia-induced apoptosis on isolated human myotubes as shown by a significant reduction in cleaved caspase-3 expression. Addition of all inhibitors, to ARA-290 or Epo pre-treated cells, abolished the reduction in apoptosis. Conclusion The ability of ARA-290 to attenuate apoptosis in human myotubes undergoing ischaemic insult suggests a potential role in tissue protection in skeletal muscle injury. We propose that the PI3k/Akt signalling pathway is involved in mediating this cytoprotection.


2010 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 721-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Gustafsson ◽  
T. Osterlund ◽  
J. N. Flanagan ◽  
F. von Waldén ◽  
T. A. Trappe ◽  
...  

Changes in skeletal muscle mass are controlled by mechanisms that dictate protein synthesis or degradation. The current human study explored whether changes in activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt1, p38, myostatin, and mRNA expression of markers of protein degradation and synthesis occur soon after withdrawal of weight bearing. Biopsies of the vastus lateralis muscle (VL) and soleus muscle (Sol) were obtained from eight healthy men before and following 3 days of unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS). Akt1, Forkhead box class O (FOXO)-1A, FOXO-3A, p38, and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) phosphorylation and protein levels and myostatin protein level were analyzed by Western blot. Levels of mRNA of IGF1, FOXO-1A, FOXO-3A, atrogin-1, MuRF-1, caspase-3, calpain-2, calpain-3, 4E-BP1, and myostatin were measured using real-time PCR. The amounts of phosphorylated Akt1, FOXO-1A, FOXO-3A, and p38 were unaltered ( P > 0.05) after ULLS. Similarly, mRNA levels of IGF1, FOXO-1A, FOXO-3A, caspase-3, calpain-2, and calpain-3 showed no changes ( P > 0.05). The mRNA levels of atrogin-1 and MuRF-1, as well as the mRNA and protein phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, increased ( P < 0.05) in VL but not in Sol. Both muscles showed increased ( P < 0.05) myostatin mRNA and protein following ULLS. These results suggest that pathways other than PI3K-Akt stimulate atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 expression within 3 days of ULLS. Alternatively, transient changes in these pathways occurred in the early phase of ULLS. The increased myostatin mRNA and protein expression also indicate that multiple processes are involved in the early phase of muscle wasting. Further, the reported difference in gene expression pattern across muscles suggests that mechanisms regulating protein content in human skeletal muscle are influenced by phenotype and/or function.


2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (39) ◽  
pp. 10992-10997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik P. Rader ◽  
Rolf Turk ◽  
Tobias Willer ◽  
Daniel Beltrán ◽  
Kei-ichiro Inamori ◽  
...  

Dystroglycan (DG) is a highly expressed extracellular matrix receptor that is linked to the cytoskeleton in skeletal muscle. DG is critical for the function of skeletal muscle, and muscle with primary defects in the expression and/or function of DG throughout development has many pathological features and a severe muscular dystrophy phenotype. In addition, reduction in DG at the sarcolemma is a common feature in muscle biopsies from patients with various types of muscular dystrophy. However, the consequence of disrupting DG in mature muscle is not known. Here, we investigated muscles of transgenic mice several months after genetic knockdown of DG at maturity. In our study, an increase in susceptibility to contraction-induced injury was the first pathological feature observed after the levels of DG at the sarcolemma were reduced. The contraction-induced injury was not accompanied by increased necrosis, excitation–contraction uncoupling, or fragility of the sarcolemma. Rather, disruption of the sarcomeric cytoskeleton was evident as reduced passive tension and decreased titin immunostaining. These results reveal a role for DG in maintaining the stability of the sarcomeric cytoskeleton during contraction and provide mechanistic insight into the cause of the reduction in strength that occurs in muscular dystrophy after lengthening contractions.


2014 ◽  
Vol 115 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ida G Lunde ◽  
Hiroko Wakimoto ◽  
Michael A Burke ◽  
Wolfgang Linke ◽  
Geir Christensen ◽  
...  

20% of dilated cardiomyopathy patients carry mutations in the giant protein titin. Mutations are predominant in A band but also occur in I band, a domain that regulates passive tension and myocyte signaling. A recessive mouse mutation in titin I band N2A region (mdm) causes early onset muscular dystrophy with myositis and death. We assessed cardiac morphology, function, and transcriptional profiles (RNAseq) in mdm mice. Young homozygous mdm mice (n>6) have reduced body weight (7gms) vs. heterozygous (20gm) or WT (17gm) littermates, with severe skeletal muscle dystrophy. Four-week old homozygous mdm mice have higher left ventricular (LV): body weight ratios. Echocardiography revealed thinner LV posterior wall and septum (LVPWd and IVSd) and normal LV diameter (LVDd); when normalized for body weight, cardiac dimensions were increased compared to WT or heterozygous mdm mice. Fractional shortening was reduced in homozygous Mdm mice (35%) vs. WT (40-41%, p<0.01); histology showed neither overt pathology nor fibrosis. Titin gels showed lack of difference in cardiac titin isoform pattern, consistent with RNAseq, which showed the mdm titin transcript excluded exons 107 and 108, deleting in frame 48 amino acids. 240 transcripts (0.8%) were differentially expressed (fold change >1.5 and <0.75, p<0.001) in homozygous vs. heterozygous mdm hearts; ANP and BNP were mildly upregulated (2- and 1.2-fold). Altered transcripts participated in extracellular and immune signaling pathways. Among titin binding partners, only calpain-3 that interacts with N2A was changed (0.6-fold), consistent with previous reports in skeletal muscle. As humans have heterozygous mutations, we stressed adult heterozygous mdm and WT mice (2 weeks of angiotensin II infusion): both had comparable hypertrophic responses (increased LVPWd and IVSd). Aged (89 week old) unstressed heterozygous mdm mice had normal cardiac dimensions and function. The N2A region, I-band titin mdm mutation causes minimal cardiac dysfunction in mice, unlike the severe skeletal muscle phenotype. Human I-band mutations are unlikely to cause dilated cardiomyopathy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 318 (3) ◽  
pp. C615-C626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed M. Abdelmoez ◽  
Laura Sardón Puig ◽  
Jonathon A. B. Smith ◽  
Brendan M. Gabriel ◽  
Mladen Savikj ◽  
...  

Rat L6, mouse C2C12, and primary human skeletal muscle cells (HSMCs) are commonly used to study biological processes in skeletal muscle, and experimental data on these models are abundant. However, consistently matched experimental data are scarce, and comparisons between the different cell types and adult tissue are problematic. We hypothesized that metabolic differences between these cellular models may be reflected at the mRNA level. Publicly available data sets were used to profile mRNA levels in myotubes and skeletal muscle tissues. L6, C2C12, and HSMC myotubes were assessed for proliferation, glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis, mitochondrial activity, and substrate oxidation, as well as the response to in vitro contraction. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that mRNA of genes coding for actin and myosin was enriched in C2C12, whereas L6 myotubes had the highest levels of genes encoding glucose transporters and the five complexes of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Consistently, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and oxidative capacity were greatest in L6 myotubes. Insulin-induced glycogen synthesis was highest in HSMCs, but C2C12 myotubes had higher baseline glucose oxidation. All models responded to electrical pulse stimulation-induced glucose uptake and gene expression but in a slightly different manner. Our analysis reveals a great degree of heterogeneity in the transcriptomic and metabolic profiles of L6, C2C12, or primary human myotubes. Based on these distinct signatures, we provide recommendations for the appropriate use of these models depending on scientific hypotheses and biological relevance.


2001 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelika Hammerer-Lercher ◽  
Petra Erlacher ◽  
Reginald Bittner ◽  
Rudolf Korinthenberg ◽  
Daniela Skladal ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Because of controversial earlier studies, the purpose of this study was to provide novel experimental and additional clinical data regarding the possible reexpression of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in regenerating skeletal muscle in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Methods: Plasma from 14 patients (mean age, 7.5 years; range, 5.7–19.4 years) with DMD was investigated for creatine kinase (CK), the CK MB isoenzyme (CKMB), cTnT and cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and myoglobin. cTnT concentrations were measured by an ELISA (second-generation assay; Roche) using the ES 300 Analyzer. cTnI, myoglobin, and CKMB were measured by an ELISA using the ACCESS System (Beckman Diagnostics). Troponin isoform expression was studied by Western blot analysis in remnants of skeletal muscle biopsies of three patients with DMD and in an animal model of DMD (mdx mice; n = 6). Results: There was no relation of cTnT and cTnI to clinical evidence for cardiac failure. cTnI concentrations remained below the upper reference limit in all patients. cTnT was increased (median, 0.11 μg/L; range, 0.06–0.16 μg/L) in 50% of patients. The only significant correlation was found for CK (median, 3938 U/L; range, 2763–5030 U/L) with age (median, 7.5 years; range, 6.8–10.9 years; r = −0.762; P = 0.042). Western blot analysis of human or mouse homogenized muscle specimens showed no evidence for cardiac TnT and cTnI expression, despite strong signals for skeletal muscle troponin isoforms. Conclusions: We found no evidence for cTnT reexpression in human early-stage DMD and in mdx mouse skeletal muscle biopsies. Discrepancies of cTnT and cTnI in plasma samples of DMD patients were found, but neither cTnT nor cTnI plasma concentrations were related with other clinical evidence for cardiac involvement.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (3) ◽  
pp. H960-H969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej M. Janczewski ◽  
Toshiaki Kadokami ◽  
Bonnie Lemster ◽  
Carole S. Frye ◽  
Charles F. McTiernan ◽  
...  

Transgenic (TG) TNF1.6 mice, which cardiac specifically overexpress tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), exhibit heart failure (HF) and increased mortality, which is markedly higher in young (<20 wk) males (TG-M) than females (TG-F). HF in this model may be partly caused by remodeling of the extracellular matrix and/or structure/function alterations at the single myocyte level. We studied left ventricular (LV) structure and function using echocardiography and LV myocyte morphometry, contractile function, and intracellular Ca2+ (Ca[Formula: see text]) handling using cell edge detection and fura 2 fluorescence, respectively, in 12-wk-old TG-M and TG-F mice and their wild-type (WT) littermates. TG-F mice showed LV hypertrophy without dilatation and only a small reduction of basal fractional shortening (FS) and response to isoproterenol (Iso). TG-M mice showed a large LV dilatation, higher mRNA levels of β-myosin heavy chain and atrial natriuretic factor versus TG-F mice, reduced FS relative to both WT and TG-F mice, and minimal response to Iso. TG-F and TG-M myocytes were similarly elongated (by ≈20%). The amplitude of Ca[Formula: see text] transients and contractions and the response to Iso were comparable in WT and TG-F myocytes, whereas the time to 50% decline (TD50%) of the Ca[Formula: see text]transient, an index of the rate of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ uptake, was prolonged in TG-F myocytes. In TG-M myocytes, the amplitudes of Ca[Formula: see text] transients and contractions were reduced, TD50% of the Ca[Formula: see text] transient was prolonged, and the inotropic effect of Iso on Ca[Formula: see text] transients was reduced approximately twofold versus WT myocytes. Protein expression of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2 and phospholamban was unaltered in TG versus WT hearts, suggesting functional origins of impaired Ca2+ handling in the former. These results indicate that cardiac-specific overexpression of TNF-α induces myocyte hypertrophy and gender-dependent alterations in Ca[Formula: see text] handling and contractile function, which may at least partly account for changes in LV geometry and in vivo cardiac function in this model.


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