Ca2+/calmodulin-based signalling in the regulation of the muscle fibre phenotype and its therapeutic potential via modulation of utrophin A and myostatin expression

2007 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 921-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin N. Michel ◽  
Eva R. Chin ◽  
Joe V. Chakkalakal ◽  
Joe K. Eibl ◽  
Bernard J. Jasmin

Ca2+ signalling plays an important role in excitation–contraction coupling and the resultant force output of skeletal muscle. It is also known to play a crucial role in modulating both short- and long-term muscle cellular phenotypic adaptations associated with these events. Ca2+ signalling via the Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent phosphatase calcineurin (CnA) and via Ca2+/CaM-dependent kinases, such as CaMKI and CaMKII, is known to regulate hypertrophic growth in response to overload, to direct slow versus fast fibre gene expression, and to contribute to mitochondrial biogenesis. The CnA- and CaMK-dependent regulation of the downstream transcription factors nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2 are known to activate muscle-specific genes associated with a slower, more oxidative fibre phenotype. We have also recently shown the expression of utrophin A, a cytoskeletal protein that accumulates at the neuromuscular junction and plays a role in maturation of the postsynaptic apparatus, to be regulated by CnA–NFAT and Ca2+/CaM signalling. This regulation is fibre-type specific and potentiated by interactions with the transcriptional regulators and coactivators GA binding protein (also known as nuclear respiratory factor 2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1 alpha. Another downstream target of CnA signalling may be myostatin, a transforming growth factor-β family member that is a negative regulator of muscle growth. While the list of the downstream targets of CnA/NFAT- and Ca2+/CaM-dependent signalling is emerging, the precise interaction of these pathways with the Ca2+-independent pathways p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2, phosphoinositide-3 kinase, and protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) must also be considered when deciphering fibre responses and plasticity to altered contractile load.

PPAR Research ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Ramirez ◽  
Erin N. Ballard ◽  
Jesse Roman

Transforming growth factorβ1 (TGFβ1) promotes fibrosis by, among other mechanisms, activating quiescent fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and increasing the expression of extracellular matrices. Recent work suggests that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPARγ) is a negative regulator of TGFβ1-induced fibrotic events. We, however, hypothesized that antifibrotic pathways mediated by PPARγare influenced by TGFβ1, causing an imbalance towards fibrogenesis. Consistent with this, primary murine primary lung fibroblasts responded to TGFβ1 with a sustained downregulation of PPARγtranscripts. This effect was dampened in lung fibroblasts deficient in Smad3, a transcription factor that mediates many of the effects of TGFβ1. Paradoxically, TGFβ1 stimulated the activation of the PPARγgene promoter and induced the phosphorylation of PPARγin primary lung fibroblasts. The ability of TGFβ1 to modulate the transcriptional activity of PPARγwas then tested in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts containing a PPARγ-responsive luciferase reporter. In these cells, stimulation of TGFβ1 signals with a constitutively active TGFβ1 receptor transgene blunted PPARγ-dependent reporter expression induced by troglitazone, a PPARγactivator. Overexpression of PPARγprevented TGFβ1 repression of troglitazone-induced PPARγ-dependent gene transcription, whereas coexpression of PPARγand Smad3 transgenes recapitulated the TGFβ1 effects. We conclude that modulation of PPARγis controlled by TGFβ1, in part through Smad3 signals, involving regulation of PPARγexpression and transcriptional potential.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (19) ◽  
pp. 10431
Author(s):  
Gábor Kökény ◽  
Laurent Calvier ◽  
Georg Hansmann

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a type II nuclear receptor, initially recognized in adipose tissue for its role in fatty acid storage and glucose metabolism. It promotes lipid uptake and adipogenesis by increasing insulin sensitivity and adiponectin release. Later, PPARγ was implicated in cardiac development and in critical conditions such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and kidney failure. Recently, a cluster of different papers linked PPARγ signaling with another superfamily, the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), and its receptors, all of which play a major role in PAH and kidney failure. TGFβ is a multifunctional cytokine that drives inflammation, fibrosis, and cell differentiation while PPARγ activation reverses these adverse events in many models. Such opposite biological effects emphasize the delicate balance and complex crosstalk between PPARγ and TGFβ. Based on solid experimental and clinical evidence, the present review summarizes connections and their implications for PAH and kidney failure, highlighting the similarities and differences between lung and kidney mechanisms as well as discussing the therapeutic potential of PPARγ agonist pioglitazone.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. e201900619
Author(s):  
Hyoung Kyu Kim ◽  
Tae Hee Ko ◽  
In-Sung Song ◽  
Yu Jeong Jeong ◽  
Hye Jin Heo ◽  
...  

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of mortality/morbidity in diabetes mellitus patients. Although tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) shows therapeutic potential as an endogenous cardiovascular target, its effect on myocardial cells and mitochondria in DCM and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we determined the involvement of BH4 deficiency in DCM and the therapeutic potential of BH4 supplementation in a rodent DCM model. We observed a decreased BH4:total biopterin ratio in heart and mitochondria accompanied by cardiac remodeling, lower cardiac contractility, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Prolonged BH4 supplementation improved cardiac function, corrected morphological abnormalities in cardiac muscle, and increased mitochondrial activity. Proteomics analysis revealed oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) as the BH4-targeted biological pathway in diabetic hearts as well as BH4-mediated rescue of down-regulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) signaling as a key modulator of OXPHOS and mitochondrial biogenesis. Mechanistically, BH4 bound to calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CaMKK2) and activated downstream AMP-activated protein kinase/cAMP response element binding protein/PGC-1α signaling to rescue mitochondrial and cardiac dysfunction in DCM. These results suggest BH4 as a novel endogenous activator of CaMKK2.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 7247
Author(s):  
Jyun-Bin Huang ◽  
Shih-Pin Hsu ◽  
Hsiu-Yung Pan ◽  
Shang-Der Chen ◽  
Shu-Fang Chen ◽  
...  

Status epilepticus may cause molecular and cellular events, leading to hippocampal neuronal cell death. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) is an important regulator of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), also known as fetal liver kinase receptor 1 (Flk-1). Resveratrol is an activator of PGC-1α. It has been suggested to provide neuroprotective effects in epilepsy, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we used microinjection of kainic acid into the left hippocampal CA3 region in Sprague Dawley rats to induce bilateral prolonged seizure activity. Upregulating the PGC-1α pathway will increase VEGF/VEGFR2 (Flk-1) signaling and further activate some survival signaling that includes the mitogen activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/mitogen activated protein kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathways and offer neuroprotection as a consequence of apoptosis in the hippocampal neurons following status epilepticus. Otherwise, downregulation of PGC-1α by siRNA against pgc-1α will inhibit VEGF/VEGFR2 (Flk-1) signaling and suppress pro-survival PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways that are also accompanied by hippocampal CA3 neuronal cell apoptosis. These results may indicate that the PGC-1α induced VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway may trigger the neuronal survival signaling, and the PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. Thus, the axis of PGC-1α/VEGF/VEGFR2 (Flk-1) and the triggering of downstream PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signaling could be considered an endogenous neuroprotective effect against apoptosis in the hippocampus following status epilepticus.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jungon Yun ◽  
Changhee Kim ◽  
Mi-Bo Kim ◽  
Jae-Kwan Hwang

Photoaging occurs by UVB-irradiation and involves production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), leading to extracellular matrix damage.Piper retrofractumVahl. is used as a traditional medicine for antiflatulence, expectorant, sedative, and anti-irritant; however, its antiphotoaging effect has not yet been studied. The current study investigated the antiphotoaging effect of standardizedPiper retrofractumextract (PRE) on UVB-damaged human dermal fibroblasts and hairless mouse skin. PRE treatment activated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) and the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), consequently upregulating mitochondrial synthesis and reducing ROS production. Additionally, PRE inhibited MMPs expression via suppressing mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and activator protein-1 (AP-1). PRE downregulated UVB-induced inflammatory reactions by inhibiting the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity. PRE also enhanced transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and the Smad signaling pathway, thereby promoting procollagen gene transcription. Furthermore, oral administration of PRE (300 mg/kg/day) similarly regulated the signaling pathways and increased antioxidant enzyme expression, thus attenuating physiological deformations, such as wrinkle formation and erythema response. Collectively, these results suggest that PRE acts as a potent antiphotoaging agent via PPARδand AMPK activation.


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