P38α-MAPK Signaling Inhibition Attenuates Soleus Atrophy during Early Stages of Muscle Unloading

To test the hypothesis that p38α-MAPK plays a critical role in the regulation of E3 ligase expression and skeletal muscle atrophy during unloading, we used VX-745, a selective p38α inhibitor. Three groups of rats were used: non-treated control (C), 3 days of unloading/hindlimb suspension (HS), and 3 days HS with VX-745 inhibitor (HSVX; 10 mg/kg/day). Total weight of soleus muscle in HS group was reduced compared to C (72.3 ± 2.5 vs 83.0 ± 3 mg, respectively), whereas muscle weight in the HSVX group was maintained (84.2 ± 5 mg). The expression of muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1) mRNA was significantly increased in the HS group (165%), but not in the HSVX group (127%), when compared with the C group. The expression of muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx) mRNA was increased in both HS and HSVX groups (294% and 271%, respectively) when compared with C group. The expression of ubiquitin mRNA was significantly higher in the HS (423%) than in the C and HSVX (200%) groups. VX-745 treatment blocked unloading-induced upregulation of calpain-1 mRNA expression (HS: 120%; HSVX: 107%). These results indicate that p38α-MAPK signaling regulates MuRF1 but not MAFbx E3 ligase expression and inhibits skeletal muscle atrophy during early stages of unloading

Differences in the Role of HDACs 4 and 5 in the Modulation of Processes Regulating MAFbx and MuRF1 Expression during Muscle Unloading

Unloading leads to skeletal muscle atrophy via the upregulation of MuRF-1 and MAFbx E3-ligases expression. Reportedly, histone deacetylases (HDACs) 4 and 5 may regulate the expression of MuRF1 and MAFbx. To examine the HDAC-dependent mechanisms involved in the control of E3-ubiquitin ligases expression at the early stages of muscle unloading we used HDACs 4 and 5 inhibitor LMK-235 and HDAC 4 inhibitor Tasqinimod (Tq). Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (eight rats per group): nontreated control (C), three days of unloading/hindlimb suspension (HS) and three days HS with HDACs inhibitor LMK-235 (HSLMK) or Tq (HSTq). Treatment with LMK-235 diminished unloading-induced of MAFbx, myogenin (MYOG), ubiquitin and calpain-1 mRNA expression (p < 0.05). Tq administration had no effect on the expression of E3-ligases. The mRNA expression of MuRF1 and MAFbx was significantly increased in both HS and HSTq groups (1.5 and 4.0 folds, respectively; p < 0.05) when compared with the C group. It is concluded that during three days of muscle unloading: (1) the HDACs 4 and 5 participate in the regulation of MAFbx expression as well as the expression of MYOG, ubiquitin and calpain-1; (2) the inhibition of HDAC 4 has no effect on MAFbx expression. Therefore, HDAC 5 is perhaps more important for the regulation of MAFbx expression than HDAC 4

Role of Pannexin 1 ATP-Permeable Channels in the Regulation of Signaling Pathways during Skeletal Muscle Unloading

Skeletal muscle unloading results in atrophy. We hypothesized that pannexin 1 ATP-permeable channel (PANX1) is involved in the response of muscle to unloading. We tested this hypothesis by blocking PANX1, which regulates efflux of ATP from the cytoplasm. Rats were divided into six groups (eight rats each): non-treated control for 1 and 3 days of the experiments (1C and 3C, respectively), 1 and 3 days of hindlimb suspension (HS) with placebo (1H and 3H, respectively), and 1 and 3 days of HS with PANX1 inhibitor probenecid (PRB; 1HP and 3HP, respectively). When compared with 3C group there was a significant increase in ATP in soleus muscle of 3H and 3HP groups (32 and 51%, respectively, p < 0.05). When compared with 3H group, 3HP group had: (1) lower mRNA expression of E3 ligases MuRF1 and MAFbx (by 50 and 38% respectively, p < 0.05) and MYOG (by 34%, p < 0.05); (2) higher phosphorylation of p70S6k and p90RSK (by 51 and 35% respectively, p < 0.05); (3) lower levels of phosphorylated eEF2 (by 157%, p < 0.05); (4) higher level of phosphorylated GSK3β (by 189%, p < 0.05). In conclusion, PANX1 ATP-permeable channels are involved in the regulation of muscle atrophic processes by modulating expression of E3 ligases, and protein translation and elongation processes during unloading

How Postural Muscle Senses Disuse? Early Signs and Signals

A mammalian soleus muscle along with other &ldquo;axial&rdquo; muscles ensures the stability of the body under the Earth&rsquo;s gravity. In rat experiments with hindlimb suspension, zero-gravity parabolic flights as well as in human dry immersion studies, a dramatic decrease in the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the soleus muscle has been repeatedly shown. Most of the motor units of the soleus muscle convert from a state of activity to a state of rest which is longer than under natural conditions. And the state of rest gradually converts to the state of disuse. This review addresses a number of metabolic events that characterize the earliest stage of the cessation of the soleus muscle contractile activity. One to three days of mechanical unloading are accompanied by energy-dependent dephosphorylation of AMPK, accumulation of the reactive oxygen species, as well as accumulation of resting myoplasmic calcium. In this transition period, a rapid rearrangement of the various signaling pathways occurs, which, primarily, results in a decrease in the rate of protein synthesis (primarily via inhibition of ribosomal biogenesis and activation of endogenous inhibitors of mRNA translation, such as GSK3&beta;) and an increase in proteolysis (via upregulation of muscle-specific E3-ubiquitin ligases)

How postural muscle senses disuse? Early signs and signals

A mammalian soleus muscle along with other “axial” muscles ensures the stability of the body under the Earth's gravity. In rat experiments with hindlimb suspension, zero-gravity parabolic flights as well as in human dry immersion studies, a dramatic decrease in the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the soleus muscle has been repeatedly shown. Most of the motor units of the soleus muscle convert from a state of activity to a state of rest which is longer than under natural conditions. And the state of rest gradually converts to the state of disuse. This review addresses a number of metabolic events that characterize the earliest stage of the cessation of the soleus muscle contractile activity. One to three days of mechanical unloading are accompanied by energy-dependent dephosphorylation of AMPK, accumulation of the reactive oxygen species, as well as accumulation of resting myoplasmic calcium. In this transition period, a rapid rearrangement of the various signaling pathways occurs, which, primarily, results in a decrease in the rate of protein synthesis (primarily via inhibition of ribosomal biogenesis and activation of endogenous inhibitors of mRNA translation, such as GSK3β) and an increase in proteolysis (via upregulation of muscle-specific E3-ubiquitin ligases)

HDAC4 Is Indispensable for Reduced Slow Myosin Expression at the Early Stage of Hindlimb Unloading in Rat Soleus Muscle

It is well known that reduced contractile activity of the main postural soleus muscle during long-term bedrest, immobilization, hindlimb unloading, and space flight leads to increased expression of fast isoforms and decreased expression of the slow isoform of myosin heavy chain (MyHC). The signaling cascade such as HDAC4/MEF2-D pathway is well-known to take part in regulating MyHC I gene expression. Earlier, we found a significant increase of HDAC4 in myonuclei due to AMPK dephosphorylation during 24 h of hindlimb unloading via hindlimb suspension (HU) and it had a significant impact on the expression of MyHC isoforms in rat soleus causing a decrease in MyHC I(β) pre-mRNA and mRNA expression as well as MyHC IIa mRNA expression. We hypothesized that dephosphorylated HDAC4 translocates into the nuclei and can lead to a reduced expression of slow MyHC. To test this hypothesis, Wistar rats were treated with HDAC4 inhibitor (Tasquinimod) for 7 days before HU as well as during 24 h of HU. We discovered that Tasquinimod treatment prevented a decrease in pre-mRNA expression of MyHC I. Furthermore, 24 h of hindlimb suspension resulted in HDAC4 nuclear accumulation of rat soleus but Tasquinimod pretreatment prevented this accumulation. The results of the study indicate that HDAC4 after 24 h of HU had a significant impact on the precursor MyHC I mRNA expression in rat soleus

AMP-Activated Protein Kinase as a Key Trigger for the Disuse-Induced Skeletal Muscle Remodeling

Molecular mechanisms that trigger disuse-induced postural muscle atrophy as well as myosin phenotype transformations are poorly studied. This review will summarize the impact of 5&#8242; adenosine monophosphate -activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity on mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)-signaling, nuclear-cytoplasmic traffic of class IIa histone deacetylases (HDAC), and myosin heavy chain gene expression in mammalian postural muscles (mainly, soleus muscle) under disuse conditions, i.e., withdrawal of weight-bearing from ankle extensors. Based on the current literature and the authors&#8217; own experimental data, the present review points out that AMPK plays a key role in the regulation of signaling pathways that determine metabolic, structural, and functional alternations in skeletal muscle fibers under disuse

Transversal Stiffness and Young's Modulus of Single Fibers from Rat Soleus Muscle Probed by Atomic Force Microscopy

The structural integrity of striated muscle is determined by extra-sarcomere cytoskeleton that includes structures that connect the Z-disks and M-bands of a sarcomere to sarcomeres of neighbor myofibrils or to sarcolemma. Mechanical properties of these structures are not well characterized. The surface structure and transversal stiffness of single fibers from soleus muscle of the rat were studied with atomic force microscopy in liquid. We identified surface regions that correspond to projections of the Z-disks, M-bands, and structures between them. Transversal stiffness of the fibers was measured in each of these three regions. The stiffness was higher in the Z-disk regions, minimal between the Z-disks and the M-bands, and intermediate in the M-band regions. The stiffness increased twofold when relaxed fibers were maximally activated with calcium and threefold when they were transferred to rigor (ATP-free) solution. Transversal stiffness of fibers heavily treated with Triton X-100 was about twice higher than that of the permeabilized ones, however, its regional difference and the dependence on physiological state of the fiber remained the same. The data may be useful for understanding mechanics of muscle fibers when it is subjected to both axial and transversal strain and stress

The Role of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 in the Regulation of Ribosome Biogenesis in Rat Soleus Muscle under Disuse Conditions

It is well-established that prolonged exposure to real or simulated microgravity/disuse conditions results in a significant reduction in the rate of muscle protein synthesis (PS) and loss of muscle mass. Muscle protein synthesis is largely dependent upon translational capacity (ribosome content), the regulation of which is poorly explored under conditions of mechanical unloading. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) (a negative regulator of PS) is known to be activated in rat soleus muscle under unloading conditions. We hypothesized that inhibition of GSK-3 activity under disuse conditions (hindlimb suspension, HS) would reduce disuse-induced downregulation of ribosome biogenesis in rat soleus muscle. Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: (1) vivarium control (C), (2) vivarium control + daily injections (4 mg/kg) of AR-A014418 (GSK-3 inhibitor) for 7 days, (3) 7-day HS, (4) 7-day HS + daily injections (4 mg/kg) of AR-A014418. GSK-3beta and glycogen synthase 1 (GS-1) phosphorylation levels were measured by Western-blotting. The key markers of ribosome biogenesis were assessed via agarose gel-electrophoresis and RT-PCR. The rate of muscle PS was assessed by puromycin-based SUnSET method. As expected, 7-day HS resulted in a significant decrease in the inhibitory Ser9 GSK-3beta phosphorylation and an increase in GS-1 (Ser641) phosphorylation compared to the C group. Treatment of rats with GSK-3 inhibitor prevented HS-induced increase in GS1 (Ser641) phosphorylation, which was indicative of GSK-3 inhibition. Administration of GSK-3 inhibitor partly attenuated disuse-induced downregulation of c-Myc expression as well as decreases in the levels of 45S pre-rRNA and 18S + 28S rRNAs. These AR-A014418-induced alterations in the markers of ribosome biogenesis were paralleled with partial prevention of a decrease in the rate of muscle PS. Thus, inhibition of GSK-3 during 7-day HS is able to partially attenuate the reductions in translational capacity and the rate of PS in rat soleus muscle

L-arginine supplementation protects exercise performance and structural integrity of muscle fibers after a single bout of eccentric exercise in rats.

Eccentric exercise is known to disrupt sarcolemmal integrity and induce damage of skeletal muscle fibers. We hypothesized that L-arginine (L-Arg; nitric oxide synthase (NOS) substrate) supplementation prior to a single bout of eccentric exercise would diminish exercise-induced damage. In addition, we used N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME; NOS inhibitor) to clarify the role of native NOS activity in the development of exercise-induced muscle damage. Rats were divided into four groups: non-treated control (C), downhill running with (RA) or without (R) L-Arg supplementation and downhill running with L-NAME supplementation (RN). Twenty four hours following eccentric exercise seven rats in each group were sacrificed and soleus muscles were dissected and frozen for further analysis. The remaining seven rats in each group were subjected to the exercise performance test. Our experiments showed that L-Arg supplementation prior to a single bout of eccentric exercise improved subsequent exercise performance capacity tests in RA rats when compared with R, RN and C rats by 37%, 27% and 13%, respectively. This outcome is mediated by L-Arg protection against post-exercise damage of sarcolemma (2.26- and 0.87-fold less than R and RN groups, respectively), reduced numbers of damaged muscle fibers indicated by the reduced loss of desmin content in the muscle (15% and 25% less than R and RN groups, respectively), and diminished µ-calpain mRNA up-regulation (42% and 30% less than R and RN groups, respectively). In conclusion, our study indicates that L-Arg supplementation prior to a single bout of eccentric exercise alleviates muscle fiber damage and preserves exercise performance capacity