Titin-based mechanosensing and signaling: role in diaphragm atrophy during unloading?

The diaphragm, the main muscle of inspiration, is constantly subjected to mechanical loading. One of the very few occasions during which diaphragm loading is arrested is during controlled mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit. Recent animal studies indicate that the diaphragm is extremely sensitive to unloading, causing rapid muscle fiber atrophy: unloading-induced diaphragm atrophy and the concomitant diaphragm weakness has been suggested to contribute to the difficulties in weaning patients from ventilatory support. Little is known about the molecular triggers that initiate the rapid unloading atrophy of the diaphragm, although proteolytic pathways and oxidative signaling have been shown to be involved. Mechanical stress is known to play an important role in the maintenance of muscle mass. Within the muscle's sarcomere titin is considered to play an important role in the stress-response machinery. Titin is the largest protein known to date and acts as a mechanosensor that regulates muscle protein expression in a sarcomere strain-dependent fashion. Thus, titin is an attractive candidate for sensing the sudden mechanical arrest of the diaphragm when patients are mechanically ventilated, leading to changes in muscle protein expression. Here, we provide a novel perspective on how titin, and its biomechanical sensing and signaling, might be involved in the development of mechanical unloading-induced diaphragm weakness.     

肌肉萎缩与氧化应激

肌肉是机体具有收缩性的组织,它的主要功能是通过力量产生引起机体各部位的运动.肌肉萎缩是肌肉质量和力量丧失,肌肉活动功能减退的一种反应,在许多生理和病理情况下都可以出现.肌肉萎缩时不仅表现为肌肉结构形态的变化,如肌肉的重量和体积减少,肌纤维类型改变,最主要是肌肉蛋白质水解作用增强、合成减少.氧化应激是机体氧化产物超过机体抗氧化防御能力一种应激状态,可以导致细胞、组织和器官的损伤.大量证据表明,氧化应激参与肌肉萎缩的致病过程.探讨氧化应激在肌肉萎缩中的作用,对了解肌肉萎缩的致病机制有重要作用.本文对氧化应激和肌肉萎缩的关系,氧化应激参与肌肉萎缩时的蛋白质水解途径,以及连接氧化应激和肌肉萎缩的两个重要细胞信号转导通路做一简要综述.     

The ubiquitin-proteasome and the mitochondria-associated apoptotic pathways are sequentially downregulated during recovery after immobilization-induced muscle atrophy

Immobilization produces morphological, physiological, and biochemical alterations in skeletal muscle leading to muscle atrophy and long periods of recovery. Muscle atrophy during disuse results from an imbalance between protein synthesis and proteolysis but also between apoptosis and regeneration processes. This work aimed to characterize the mechanisms underlying muscle atrophy and recovery following immobilization by studying the regulation of the mitochondria-associated apoptotic and the ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent proteolytic pathways. Animals were subjected to hindlimb immobilization for 4-8 days (I4 to I8) and allowed to recover after cast removal for 10-40 days (R10 to R40). Soleus and gastrocnemius muscles atrophied from I4 to I8 to a greater extent than extensor digitorum longus and tibialis anterior muscles. Gastrocnemius muscle atrophy was first stabilized at R10 before being progressively reduced until R40. Polyubiquitinated proteins accumulated from I4, whereas the increased ubiquitination rates and chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome were detectable from I6 to I8. Apoptosome and caspase-3 or -9 activities increased at I6 and I8, respectively. The ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent pathway was normalized early when muscle stops to atrophy (R10). By contrast, the mitochondria-associated apoptotic pathway was first downregulated below basal levels when muscle started to recover at R15 and completely normalized at R20. Myf 5 protein levels decreased from I4 to I8 and were normalized at R10. Altogether, our results suggest a two-stage process in which the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is rapidly up- and downregulated when muscle atrophies and recovers, respectively, whereas apoptotic processes may be involved in the late stages of atrophy and recovery.     

Differential localization of autolyzed calpains 1 and 2 in slow and fast skeletal muscles in the early phase of atrophy

Calpains have been proposed to be involved in the cytoskeletal remodeling and wasting of skeletal muscle. However, limited data are available about the specific involvement of each calpain in the early stages of muscle atrophy. The aims of this study were to determine whether calpains 1 and 2 are autolyzed after a short period of muscle disuse, and, if so, where in the myofibers the autolyzed products are localized. In the rat soleus muscle, 5 days of immobilization increased autolyzed calpain 1 in the particulate and not the soluble fraction. Conversely, autolyzed calpain 2 was not found in the particulate fraction, whereas it was increased in the soluble fraction after immobilization. In the less atrophied plantaris muscle, no difference was noted between the control and immobilized groups whatever the fraction or calpain. Other proteolytic pathways were also investigated. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway was activated in both skeletal muscles, and caspase 3 was activated only in the soleus muscle. Taken together, our data suggest that calpains 1 and 2 are involved in atrophy development in slow type muscle exclusively and that they have different regulation and protein targets. Moreover, the activation of proteolytic pathways appears to differ in slow and fast muscles, and the proteolytic mechanisms involved in fast-type muscle atrophy remain unclear. Ca²⁺-dependent proteases; wasting; skeletal muscle; soluble and particulate fractions; immobilization     

Circadian regulation in aging: Implications for spaceflight and life on earth

Alterations in the circadian system are characteristic of aging on Earth. With the decline in physiological processes due to aging, several health concerns including vision loss, cardiovascular disorders, cognitive impairments, and muscle mass loss arise in elderly populations. Similar health risks are reported as “red flag” risks among astronauts during and after a long-term Space exploration journey. However, little is known about the common molecular alterations underlying terrestrial aging and space-related aging in astronauts, and controversial conclusions have been recently reported. In light of the regulatory role of the circadian clock in the maintenance of human health, we review here the overlapping role of the circadian clock both on aging on Earth and spaceflight with a focus on the four most affected systems: visual, cardiovascular, central nervous, and musculoskeletal systems. In this review, we briefly introduce the regulatory role of the circadian clock in specific cellular processes followed by alterations in those processes due to aging. We next summarize the known molecular alterations associated with spaceflight, highlighting involved clock-regulated genes in space flown Drosophila, nematodes, small mammals, and astronauts. Finally, we discuss common genes that are altered in terms of their expression due to aging on Earth and spaceflight. Altogether, the data elaborated in this review strengthen our hypothesis regarding the timely need to include circadian dysregulation as an emerging hallmark of aging on Earth and beyond.     

Matrix metalloproteinase imbalance in muscle disuse atrophy

Muscle atrophy commonly occurs as a consequence of prolonged muscle inactivity, as observed after cast immobilization, bed rest or space flights. The molecular mechanisms responsible for muscle atrophy are still unknown, but a role has been proposed for altered permeability of the sarcolemma and of the surrounding connective tissue. Matrix metallo-proteinases (MMPs) are a family of enzymes with proteolytic activity toward a number of extracellular matrix (ECM) components; they are inhibited by tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs). In a rat tail-suspension experimental model, we show that after fourteen days of non-weight bearing there is increased expression of MMP-2 in the atrophic soleus and gastrocnemius and decreased expression of TIMP-2. In the same experimental model the expression of Collagen I and Collagen IV, two main ECM components present in the muscles, was reduced and unevenly distributed in unloaded animals. The difference was more evident in the soleus than in the gastrocnemius muscle. This suggests that muscle disuse induces a proteolytic imbalance, which could be responsible for the breakdown of basal lamina structures such as Collagen I and Collagen IV, and that this leads to an altered permeability with consequent atrophy. In conclusion, an MMP-2/TIMP-2 imbalance could have a role in the mechanism underlying muscle disuse atrophy; more studies are needed to expand our molecular knowledge on this issue and to explore the possibility of targeting the proteolytic imbalance with MMP inhibitors.     

Skeletal muscle proteolysis in response to short-term unloading in humans.

Skeletal muscle atrophy is evident after muscle disuse, unloading, or spaceflight and results from decreased protein content as a consequence of decreased protein synthesis, increased protein breakdown or both. At this time, there are essentially no human data describing proteolysis in skeletal muscle undergoing atrophy on Earth or in space, primarily due to lack of valid and accurate methodology. This particular study aimed at assessing the effects of short-term unloading on the muscle contractile proteolysis rate. Eight men were subjected to 72-h unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS) and intramuscular interstitial levels of the naturally occurring proteolytic tracer 3-methylhistidine (3MH) were measured by means of microdialysis before and on completion of this intervention. The 3MH concentration following 72-h ULLS (2.01 +/- 0.22 nmol/ml) was 44% higher (P < 0.05) than before ULLS (1.56 +/- 0.20 nmol/ml). The present experimental model and the employed method determining 3MH in microdialysates present a promising tool for monitoring skeletal muscle proteolysis or metabolism of specific muscles during conditions resulting in atrophy caused by, e.g., disuse and real or simulated microgravity. This study provides evidence that the atrophic processes are evoked rapidly and within 72 h of unloading and suggests that countermeasures should be employed in the early stages of space missions to offset or prevent muscle loss during the period when the rate of muscle atrophy is the highest.     

Non-enzymatic modification of proteins by steroids: pathological implications for autoimmunity and glucocorticoid toxicity

Collagen is the most abundant vertebrate protein and forms a stable fibrous architecture in connective tissues, such as bone, cartilage, skin and tendon. Much recent research has been directed towards an understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the synthesis and degradation of collagen, because a change in the normal balance, or an increased destruction of collagen, can cause loss of function of specialized tissues. This short review attempts to summarize present knowledge about the proteolytic destruction of collagen and the exciting new work on the factors that are emerging as important controlling agents. An understanding of the regulatory processes is yielding some important clues regarding the levels at which they can fail in pathological conditions and we speculate about evolving strategies for preventing uncontrolled resorption.     

Proteomic study of calpain interacting proteins during skeletal muscle aging

Aging is associated with a progressive and involuntary loss of muscle mass also known as sarcopenia. This condition represents a major public health concern. Although sarcopenia is well documented, the molecular mechanisms of this condition still remain unclear. The calcium-dependent proteolytic system is composed of calcium-dependent cysteine proteases named calpains. Calpains are involved in a large number of physiological processes such as muscle growth and differentiation, and pathological conditions such as muscular dystrophies. The aim of this study was to determine the involvement of this proteolytic system in the phenotype associated with sarcopenia by identifying key proteins (substrates or regulators) interacting with calpains during muscle aging.     

Deubiquitinating enzymes in skeletal muscle atrophy—An essential role for USP19

The ubiquitin proteasome system is well recognized to be involved in mediating muscle atrophy in response to diverse catabolic conditions. To date, almost all of the genes that have been implicated are ubiquitin ligases. Although ubiquitination is modulated also by deubiquitinating enzymes, the roles of these enzymes in muscle wasting remains largely unexplored. In this article, the potential roles of deubiquitinating enzymes in regulating muscle size are discussed. This is followed by a review of the roles described for USP19, the deubiquitinating enzyme that has been most studied in muscle wasting. This enzyme is upregulated in muscle in many catabolic conditions and its inactivation leads to protection from muscle loss induced by stimuli that are common in many illnesses causing cachexia. It can regulate both protein synthesis and protein degradation as well as myogenesis, thereby modulating the key processes that control muscle mass. Roles for other deubiquitinating enzymes remain possible and to be explored.     

Attenuation of skeletal muscle atrophy via protease inhibition.

Skeletal muscle atrophy in response to a number of muscle wasting conditions, including disuse, involves the induction of increased protein breakdown, decreased protein synthesis, and likely a variable component of apoptosis. The increased activation of specific proteases in the atrophy process presents a number of potential therapeutic targets to reduce muscle atrophy via protease inhibition. In this study, mice were provided with food supplemented with the Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI), a serine protease inhibitor known to reduce the proteolytic activity of a number of proteases, such as chymotrypsin, trypsin, elastase, cathepsin G, and chymase. Mice fed the BBI diet were suspended for 3-14 days, and the muscle mass and function were then compared with those of the suspended mice on a normal diet. The results indicate that dietary supplementation with BBI significantly attenuates the normal loss of muscle mass and strength following unloading. Furthermore, the data reveal the existence of yet uncharacterized serine proteases that are important contributors to the evolution of disuse atrophy, since BBI inhibited serine protease activity that was elevated following hindlimb unloading and also slowed the loss of muscle fiber size. These results demonstrate that targeted reduction of protein degradation can limit the severity of muscle mass loss following hindlimb unloading. Thus BBI is a candidate therapeutic agent to minimize skeletal muscle atrophy and loss of strength associated with disuse, cachexia, sepsis, weightlessness, or the combination of age and inactivity.     

Differential structural features in soleus and gastrocnemius of carnitine-treated cancer cachectic rats

Muscle wasting is associated with chronic diseases and cancer. Elucidation of the biological mechanism involved in the process of muscle mass loss and cachexia may help identify therapeutic targets. We hypothesized that l -carnitine treatment may differentially revert muscle fiber atrophy and other structural alterations in slow- and fast-twitch limb muscles of rats bearing the Yoshida ascites hepatoma. In soleus and gastrocnemius of tumor-bearing rats (10⁸ AH-130 Yoshida ascites hepatoma cells inoculated intraperitoneally) with and without treatment with l -carnitine (1 g/kg body weight for 7 days, intragastric), food intake, body and muscle weights, fiber typing and morphometry, morphological features, redox balance, autophagy and proteolytic, and signaling markers were explored. Levels of carnitine palmitoyl transferase were also measured in all the study muscles. l - Carnitine treatment ameliorated the atrophy of both slow- and fast-twitch fibers (gastrocnemius particularly), muscle structural alterations (both muscles), and attenuated oxidative stress, proteolytic and signaling markers (gastrocnemius). Despite that carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 levels increased in both muscle types in a similar fashion, l -carnitine ameliorated muscle atrophy and proteolysis in a muscle-specific manner in cancer-induced cachexia. These data reveal the need to study muscles of different fiber type composition and function to better understand whereby l -carnitine exerts its beneficial effects on the myofibers in muscle wasting processes. These findings also have potential clinical implications, since combinations of various exercise and muscle training modalities with l -carnitine should be specifically targeted for the muscle groups to be trained.     

The TWEAK-Fn14 system: breaking the silence of cytokine-induced skeletal muscle wasting

The occurrence of skeletal muscle atrophy, a devastating complication of a large number of disease states and inactivity/disuse conditions, provides a never ending quest to identify novel targets for its therapy. Proinflammatory cytokines are considered the mediators of muscle wasting in chronic diseases; however, their role in disuse atrophy has just begun to be elucidated. An inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), has recently been identified as a potent inducer of skeletal muscle wasting. TWEAK activates various proteolytic pathways and stimulates the degradation of myofibril protein both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, TWEAK mediates the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function in response to denervation, a model of disuse atrophy. Adult skeletal muscle express very low to minimal levels of TWEAK receptor, Fn14. Specific catabolic conditions such as denervation, immobilization, or unloading rapidly increase the expression of Fn14 in skeletal muscle which in turn stimulates the TWEAK activation of various catabolic pathways leading to muscle atrophy. In this article, we have discussed the emerging roles and the mechanisms of action of TWEAK-Fn14 system in skeletal muscle with particular reference to different models of muscle atrophy and injury and its potential to be used as a therapeutic target for prevention of muscle loss.     

Are antioxidants useful for treating skeletal muscle atrophy?

Changes in the skeletal muscle protein mass frequently occur in both physiological and pathological states. Muscle hypotrophy, in particular, is commonly observed during aging and is characteristic of several pathological conditions such as neurological diseases, cancer, diabetes, and sepsis. The skeletal muscle protein content depends on the relative rates of synthesis and degradation, which must be coordinately regulated to maintain the equilibrium. Pathological muscle depletion is characterized by a negative nitrogen balance, which results from disruption of this equilibrium due to reduced synthesis, increased breakdown, or both. The current view, mainly based on experimental data, considers hypercatabolism as the major cause of muscle protein depletion. Several signaling pathways that probably contribute to muscle atrophy have been identified, and there is increasing evidence that oxidative stress, due to reactive oxygen species production overwhelming the intracellular antioxidant systems, plays a role in causing muscle depletion both during aging and in chronic pathological states. In particular, oxidative stress has been proposed to enhance protein breakdown, directly or by interacting with other factors. This review focuses on the possibility of using antioxidant treatments to target molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of skeletal muscle wasting.     

Testosterone protects against dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy, protein degradation and MAFbx upregulation

Administration of glucocorticoids in pharmacological amounts results in muscle atrophy due, in part, to accelerated degradation of muscle proteins by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The ubiquitin ligase MAFbx is upregulated during muscle loss including that caused by glucocorticoids and has been implicated in accelerated muscle protein catabolism during such loss. Testosterone has been found to reverse glucocorticoid-induced muscle loss due to prolonged glucocorticoid administration. Here, we tested the possibility that testosterone would block muscle loss, upregulation of MAFbx, and protein catabolism when begun at the time of glucocorticoid administration. Coadministration of testosterone to male rats blocked dexamethasone-induced reduction in gastrocnemius muscle mass and upregulation of MAFbx mRNA levels. Administration of testosterone together with dexamethasone also prevented glucocorticoid-induced upregulation of MAFbx mRNA levels and protein catabolism in C2C12 myotube expressing the androgen receptor. Half-life of MAFbx was not altered by testosterone, dexamethasone or the combination. Testosterone blocked dexamethasone-induced increases in activity of the human MAFbx promotor. The findings indicate that administration testosterone prevents glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy and suggest that this results, in part at least, from reductions in muscle protein catabolism and expression of MAFbx.     

Cellular signals activating muscle proteolysis in chronic kidney disease: a two-stage process

Muscle atrophy is a prominent feature of catabolic conditions and in animal models of these conditions there is accelerated muscle proteolysis that is dependent on the ubiquitin-proteasome system. However, ubiquitin system cannot degrade actomyosin or myofibrils even though it rapidly degrades actin or myosin. We identified caspase-3 as the initial and potentially rate-limiting proteolytic step that cleaves actomyosin/myofibrils. In rodent models of catabolic conditions, we find that caspase-3 is activated to cleave muscle proteins and actomyosin to fragments that are rapidly degraded by the ubiquitin system. This initial proteolytic step in muscle can be recognized because it leaves a footprint of a characteristic 14-kDa actin band. Stimulation of caspase-3 activity depends on activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. When we suppressed this enzyme in muscle cells, protein breakdown increased as did the expression of caspase-3. In addition, there was increased expression of E3-ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes that are involved in muscle proteolysis, atrogin-1/MAFbx and MuRF1. Thus, when phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity is low in muscle cells or rat muscle, both caspase-3 and the ubiquitin-proteasome system are stimulated to degrade protein. Additional investigations will be needed to define the cell signaling processes that activate muscle proteolysis in uremia and catabolic conditions.