Elliott M. McMillan

Differential apoptosis-related protein expression, mitochondrial properties, proteolytic enzyme activity, and DNA fragmentation between skeletal muscles

Increased skeletal muscle apoptosis has been associated with a number of conditions including aging, disuse, and cardiovascular disease. Skeletal muscle is a complex tissue comprised of several fiber types with unique properties. To date, no report has specifically examined apoptotic differences across muscles or fiber types. Therefore, we measured several apoptotic indices in healthy rat red (RG) and white gastrocnemius (WG) muscle, as well as examined the expression of several key proteins across fiber types in a mixed muscle (mixed gastrocnemius). The protein content of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC), Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome c, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), and second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (Smac) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in RG vs. WG muscle. Cytosolic AIF, cytochrome c, and Smac as well as nuclear AIF were also significantly (P < 0.05) higher in RG compared with WG muscle. In addition, ARC protein expression was related to muscle fiber type and found to be highest (P < 0.001) in type I fibers. Similarly, AIF protein expression was differentially expressed across fibers; however, AIF was correlated to oxidative potential (P < 0.001). Caspase-3, -8, and -9 activity, calpain activity, and DNA fragmentation (a hallmark of apoptosis) were also significantly higher (P < 0.05) in RG compared with WG muscle. Furthermore, total muscle reactive oxygen species generation, as well as Ca(2+)-induced permeability transition pore opening and loss of membrane potential in isolated mitochondria were greater in RG muscle. Collectively, these data suggest that a number of apoptosis-related indices differ between muscles and fiber types. Given these findings, muscle and fiber-type differences in apoptotic protein expression, signaling, and susceptibility should be considered when studying cell death processes in skeletal muscle.

Autophagy is required and protects against apoptosis during myoblast differentiation

Several degradative systems assist in formation of multinucleated terminally differentiated myotubes. However, the role of autophagy in this process has not been examined. GFP-LC3B (light chain 3 beta) puncta, LC3B-II protein and LysoTracker fluorescence increased during C2C12 cell differentiation. Importantly, accumulation of LC3B-II protein occurred in CQ (chloroquine)-treated cells throughout differentiation. Furthermore, BECN1 (beclin 1), ATG7 (autophagy-related 7) and ATG12-5 protein increased, whereas SQSTM1/p62 (sequestosome 1) protein was rapidly reduced during differentiation. A transient decrease in BECN1-BCL2 association was observed from day 0.5 to 2 of differentiation. Chemical inhibition of JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) during differentiation reduced LC3B-II protein and GFP-LC3B puncta and maintained BECN1-BCL2 association. Inhibition of autophagy by 3MA (3-methyladenine) or shRNA against Atg7 (shAtg7) resulted in lower myosin heavy chain expression, as well as impaired myoblast fusion and differentiation. Interestingly, 3MA treatment during differentiation increased transient CASP3 (caspase 3) activation, DNA fragmentation and the percentage of apoptotic nuclei. Similarly, shAtg7 cells had increased DNA fragmentation during differentiation compared with the controls. Collectively, these data demonstrate that autophagy increases and is required during myoblast differentiation. Moreover, autophagy protects differentiating myoblasts from apoptotic cell death.

Potentiation in mouse lumbrical muscle without myosin light chain phosphorylation: Is resting calcium responsible?

The increase in isometric twitch force observed in fast-twitch rodent muscles during or after activity, known universally as potentiation, is normally associated with myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) phosphorylation. Interestingly, fast muscles from mice devoid of detectable skeletal myosin light chain kinase (skMLCK) retain a reduced ability to potentiate twitch force, indicating the presence of a secondary origin for this characteristic feature of the fast muscle phenotype. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in intracellular cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) after a potentiating stimulus in mouse lumbrical muscle (37°C). Lumbricals were loaded with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent indicators fura-2 or furaptra to detect changes in resting and peak, respectively, intracellular Ca2+ levels caused by 2.5 s of 20-Hz stimulation. Although this protocol produced an immediate increase in twitch force of 17 ± 3% (all data are n = 10) (P < 0.01), this potentiation dissipated quickly and was absent 30 s afterward. Fura-2 fluorescence signals at rest were increased by 11.1 ± 1.3% (P < 0.01) during potentiation, indicating a significant increase in resting [Ca2+]i. Interestingly, furaptra signals showed no change to either the amplitude or the duration of the intracellular Ca2+ transients (ICTs) that triggered potentiated twitches during this time (P < 0.50). Immunofluorescence work showed that 77% of lumbrical fibers expressed myosin heavy chain isoform IIx and/or IIb, but with low expression of skMLCK and high expression of myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 2. As a result, lumbrical muscles displayed no detectable RLC phosphorylation either at rest or after stimulation. We conclude that stimulation-induced elevations in resting [Ca2+]i, in the absence of change in the ICT, are responsible for a small-magnitude, short-lived potentiation of isometric twitch force. If operative in other fast-twitch muscles, this mechanism may complement the potentiating influence of myosin RLC phosphorylation.

Autophagic Signaling and Proteolytic Enzyme Activity in Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats following Chronic Aerobic Exercise

Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease associated with deleterious effects in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Autophagy is a degradative process essential to muscle health. Acute exercise can alter autophagic signaling. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the effects of chronic endurance exercise on autophagy in skeletal and cardiac muscle of normotensive and hypertensive rats. Male Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were assigned to a sedentary condition or 6 weeks of treadmill running. White gastrocnemius (WG) of hypertensive rats had higher (p<0.05) caspase-3 and proteasome activity, as well as elevated calpain activity. In addition, skeletal muscle of hypertensive animals had elevated (p<0.05) ATG7 and LC3I protein, LAMP2 mRNA, and cathepsin activity, indicative of enhanced autophagic signaling. Interestingly, chronic exercise training increased (p<0.05) Beclin-1, LC3, and p62 mRNA as well as proteasome activity, but reduced (p<0.05) Beclin-1 and ATG7 protein, as well as decreased (p<0.05) caspase-3, calpain, and cathepsin activity. Left ventricle (LV) of hypertensive rats had reduced (p<0.05) AMPKα and LC3II protein, as well as elevated (p<0.05) p-AKT, p-p70S6K, LC3I and p62 protein, which collectively suggest reduced autophagic signaling. Exercise training had little effect on autophagy-related signaling factors in LV; however, exercise training increased (p<0.05) proteasome activity but reduced (p<0.05) caspase-3 and calpain activity. Our results suggest that autophagic signaling is altered in skeletal and cardiac muscle of hypertensive animals. Regular aerobic exercise can effectively alter the proteolytic environment in both cardiac and skeletal muscle, as well as influence several autophagy-related factors in skeletal muscle of normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Glucopsychosine increases cytosolic calcium to induce calpain-mediated apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia cells.

To identify novel anti-cancer agents, we created and screened a unique nutraceutical library for activity against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. From this screen, we determined that glucopsychosine was selectively toxic toward AML cell lines and primary AML patient samples with no effect toward normal hematopoietic cells. It delayed tumor growth and reduced tumor weights in mouse xenograft models without imparting toxicity. Glucopsychosine increased cytosolic calcium and induced apoptosis through calpain enzymes. Extracellular calcium was functionally important for glucopsychosine-induced AML cell death and surface calcium channel expression is altered in AML cells highlighting a unique mechanism of glucopsychosines selectivity.

Decreased DNA fragmentation and apoptotic signaling in soleus muscle of hypertensive rats following 6 weeks of treadmill training

Cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension are associated with a generalized skeletal myopathy including a proapoptotic phenotype. Current evidence suggests that exercise may alter apoptosis-related signaling in skeletal muscle; however, the effect of exercise on skeletal muscle DNA fragmentation and apoptotic signaling is unclear in hypertensive animals. Male normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY; n = 24) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR; n = 24) were assigned to a sedentary (SED) condition or exercise (EX) consisting of progressive treadmill running 5 days/wk for 6 wks. Consistent with our previous work we found that soleus muscle of hypertensive animals had significantly higher DNA fragmentation (a hallmark of apoptosis), elevated proapoptotic factors (Bax, caspase-3 activity), and lower antiapoptotic proteins (apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain, Bcl-2, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein) compared with normotensive rats. In addition, soleus muscle of hypertensive animals displayed myosin accumulation and fragmentation, had elevated cytosolic cytochrome c, second mitochondrial-derived activator of caspase (Smac), apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), and endonuclease G protein levels, higher nuclear AIF content, and greater muscle reactive oxygen species generation compared with normotensive animals. Interestingly, exercise training significantly lowered DNA fragmentation and myosin accumulation/fragmentation in soleus muscle of hypertensive rats. Furthermore, exercise training significantly reduced cytosolic levels of cytochrome c as well as cytosolic and nuclear AIF in soleus muscle of hypertensive animals. This beneficial response is likely due to exercise-mediated elevations in Bcl-2, heat shock protein 70, and manganese superoxide dismutase protein content, as well as reductions in Bax protein levels and the Bax-to-Bcl-2 ratio. These results suggest that regular exercise training provides protection against skeletal muscle apoptosis by altering a number of apoptosis regulatory proteins and by influencing mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic signaling mechanisms.

Phospholamban overexpression in mice causes a centronuclear myopathy-like phenotype.

ABSTRACT Centronuclear myopathy (CNM) is a congenital myopathy that is histopathologically characterized by centrally located nuclei, central aggregation of oxidative activity, and type I fiber predominance and hypotrophy. Here, we obtained commercially available mice overexpressing phospholamban (PlnOE), a well-known inhibitor of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPases (SERCAs), in their slow-twitch type I skeletal muscle fibers to determine the effects on SERCA function. As expected with a 6- to 7-fold overexpression of phospholamban, SERCA dysfunction was evident in PlnOE muscles, with marked reductions in rates of Ca2+ uptake, maximal ATPase activity and the apparent affinity of SERCA for Ca2+. However, our most significant discovery was that the soleus and gluteus minimus muscles from the PlnOE mice displayed overt signs of myopathy: they histopathologically resembled human CNM, with centrally located nuclei, central aggregation of oxidative activity, type I fiber predominance and hypotrophy, progressive fibrosis and muscle weakness. This phenotype is associated with significant upregulation of muscle sarcolipin and dynamin 2, increased Ca2+-activated proteolysis, oxidative stress and protein nitrosylation. Moreover, in our assessment of muscle biopsies from three human CNM patients, we found a significant 53% reduction in SERCA activity and increases in both total and monomeric PLN content compared with five healthy subjects, thereby justifying future studies with more CNM patients. Altogether, our results suggest that the commercially available PlnOE mouse phenotypically resembles human CNM and could be used as a model to test potential mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. To date, there is no cure for CNM and our results suggest that targeting SERCA function, which has already been shown to be an effective therapeutic target for murine muscular dystrophy and human cardiomyopathy, might represent a novel therapeutic strategy to combat CNM. Summary: Phospholamban overexpression in mouse slow-twitch muscle impairs SERCA function and causes histopathological features associated with human centronuclear myopathy.

High-fat feeding does not induce an autophagic or apoptotic phenotype in female rat skeletal muscle

Apoptosis and autophagy are critical in normal skeletal muscle homeostasis; however, dysregulation can lead to muscle atrophy and dysfunction. Lipotoxicity and/or lipid accumulation may promote apoptosis, as well as directly or indirectly influence autophagic signaling. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a 16-week high-fat diet on morphological, apoptotic, and autophagic indices in oxidative and glycolytic skeletal muscle of female rats. High-fat feeding resulted in increased fat pad mass, altered glucose tolerance, and lower muscle pAKT levels, as well as lipid accumulation and reactive oxygen species generation in soleus muscle; however, muscle weights, fiber type-specific cross-sectional area, and fiber type distribution were not affected. Moreover, DNA fragmentation and LC3 lipidation as well as several apoptotic (ARC, Bax, Bid, tBid, Hsp70, pBcl-2) and autophagic (ATG7, ATG4B, Beclin 1, BNIP3, p70 s6k, cathepsin activity) indices were not altered in soleus or plantaris following high-fat diet. Interestingly, soleus muscle displayed small increases in caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 activity, as well as higher ATG12-5 and p62 protein, while both soleus and plantaris muscle showed dramatically reduced Bcl-2 and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) levels. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that 16 weeks of high-fat feeding does not affect tissue morphology or induce a global autophagic or apoptotic phenotype in skeletal muscle of female rats. However, high-fat feeding selectively influenced a number of apoptotic and autophagic indices which could have implications during periods of enhanced muscle stress.