Nrf2 deficiency does not affect denervation‐induced alterations in mitochondrial fission and fusion proteins in skeletal muscle

Oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with age-related and disuse-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. However, the role ofnuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) during muscle fiber atrophyremains to be elucidated. In this study, we examined whether deficiency ofNrf2, a master regulator of antioxidant transcription, promotes denervation-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and muscle atrophy. We found that theexpression of Nrf2 and its target antioxidant genes was upregulated at 2 weeksafter denervation in wild-type (WT) mice. The response of these antioxidantgenes was attenuated in Nrf2 knockout (KO) mice. Nrf2 KO mice exhibitedelevated levels of 4-hydroxynonenal in the skeletal muscle, whereas the proteinlevels of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complex IV wasdeclined in the denervated muscle of these mice. Increased in mitochondrialfission regulatory proteins and decreased fusion proteins in response to dener-vation were observed in both WT and KO mice; however, no difference wasobserved between the two groups. These findings suggest that Nrf2 deficiencyaggravates denervation-induced oxidative stress, but does not affect the alter-ations in mitochondrial morphology proteins and the loss of skeletal musclemass

Effects of Nrf2 deficiency on mitochondrial oxidative stress in aged skeletal muscle

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are associated with the aging process. However, the role of nuclear factor erythroid 2 ‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) in skeletal muscle during aging remains to be clarified. In the current study, we assessed whether the lack of Nrf2, which is known as a master regulator of redox homeostasis, promotes age‐related mitochondrial dysfunction and muscle atrophy in skeletal muscle. Here, we demonstrated that mitochondrial 4‐hydroxynonenal and protein carbonyls, markers of oxidative stress, were robustly elevated in aged Nrf2 knockout (KO) mice because of the decreased expression of Nrf2‐target antioxidant genes. Mitochondrial respiration declined with aging; however, there was no difference between Nrf2 KO and age‐matched WT mice. Similarly, cytochrome c oxidase activity was lower in aged WT and Nrf2 KO mice compared with young WT mice. The expression of Mfn1 and Mfn2 mRNA was lower in aged Nrf2 KO muscle. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production per oxygen consumed was elevated in aged Nrf2 KO mice. There was no effect of Nrf2 KO on muscle mass normalized to body weight. These results suggest that Nrf2 deficiency exacerbates age‐related mitochondrial oxidative stress but does not affect the decline of respiratory function in skeletal muscle

TRPV2 channel inhibitors attenuate fibroblast differentiation and contraction mediated by keratinocyte-derived TGF-β1 in an in vitro wound healing model of rats.

BACKGROUND:Keratinocytes release several factors that are involved in wound contracture and scar formation. We previously reported that a three-dimensional reconstruction model derived from rat skin represents a good wound healing model.OBJECTIVE:We characterized the role of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in the release of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 from keratinocytes and the differentiation of fibroblasts to identify possible promising pharmacological approaches to prevent scar formation and contractures.METHODS:The three-dimensional culture model was made from rat keratinocytes seeded on a collagen gel in which dermal fibroblasts had been embedded.RESULTS:Among the TRP channel inhibitors tested, the TRPV2 inhibitors SKF96365 and tranilast attenuated most potently keratinocyte-dependent and - independent collagen gel contraction due to TGF-β signaling as well as TGF-β1 release from keratinocytes and α-smooth muscle actin production in myofibroblasts. Besides the low amounts detected in normal dermis, TRPV2 mRNA and protein levels were increased after fibroblasts were embedded in the gel. TRPV2 was also expressed in the epidermis and keratinocyte layers of the model. Both inhibitors and TRPV2 siRNA attenuated the intracellular increase of Ca2+ induced by the TRPV agonist 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate in TGF-β1-pretreated fibroblasts.CONCLUSION:This is the first study to show that compounds targeting TRPV2 channels ameliorate wound contraction through the inhibition of TGF-β1 release and the differentiation of dermal fibroblasts in a culture model福岡歯科大学2018年

Identification of a high incidence region for retroviral vector integration near exon 1 of the LMO2 locus

Therapeutic retroviral vector integration near the oncogene LMO2 is thought to be a cause of leukemia in X-SCID gene therapy trials. However, no published studies have evaluated the frequency of vector integrations near exon 1 of the LMO2 locus. We identified a high incidence region (HIR) of vector integration using PCR techniques in the upstream region close to the LMO2 transcription start site in the TPA-Mat T cell line. The integration frequency of the HIR was one per 4.46 × 10(4 )cells. This HIR was also found in Jurkat T cells but was absent from HeLa cells. Furthermore, using human cord blood-derived CD34(+ )cells we identified a HIR in a similar region as the TPA-Mat T cell line. One of the X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID) patients that developed leukemia after gene therapy had a vector integration site in this HIR. Therefore, the descriptions of the location and the integration frequency of the HIR presented here may help us to better understand vector-induced leukemogenesis

Botulinum hemagglutinin disrupts the intercellular epithelial barrier by directly binding E-cadherin

Botulinum neurotoxin's nontoxic HA protein binds E-cadherin to disrupt cell–cell adhesion in a species-specific manner

Lactate administration increases mRNA expression of PGC-1α and UCP3 in mouse skeletal muscle

To examine the potential role of lactate as a signaling molecule in skeletal muscle, we performed global gene expression analysis of the mouse gastrocnemius muscle, 3 h after lactate administration using the Affymetrix GeneChip system. Among the top 15 genes with the largest fold change, increased expression of Ppargc1a, Pdk4, and Ucp3 was confirmed using real-time quantitative PCR. Our findings suggest that lactate serves as a signal for upregulating genes related to mitochondrial function.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Effect of electrical stimulation-induced resistance exercise on mitochondrial fission and fusion proteins in rat skeletal muscle

It is well known that resistance exercise increases muscle protein synthesis and muscle strength. However, little is known about the effect of resistance exercise on mitochondrial dynamics, which is coupled with mitochondrial function. In skeletal muscle, mitochondria exist as dynamic networks that are continuously remodeling through fusion and fission. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of acute and chronic resistance exercise, which induces muscle hypertrophy, on the expression of proteins related to mitochondrial dynamics in rat skeletal muscle. Resistance exercise consisted of maximum isometric contraction, which was induced by percutaneous electrical stimulation of the gastrocnemius muscle. Our results revealed no change in mitochondrial fission (Fis1 and Drp1) or fusion (Opa1, Mfn1, and Mfn2) regulatory protein levels over the 24-h period following acute resistance exercise. Phosphorylation of Drp1 at Ser616 was increased immediately after exercise (PThe accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author