TLR2 and TLR4 activation induces p38 MAPK‐dependent phosphorylation of S6 kinase 1 in C2C12 myotubes

Toll‐like receptors 2 (TLR2) and 4 (TLR4) are present in the plasma membrane of skeletal muscle cells where their functions remain incompletely resolved. They can bind various extracellular ligands, such as FSL‐1, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or palmitic acid (PA). We have investigated the link between PA, TLR2/4 and ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) in C2C12 myotubes. Incubation with agonists of either TLR2 or TLR4, and with a high concentration of PA, increased S6K1 phosphorylation. Canonical upstream kinases of S6K1, protein kinase B (PKB) and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), were regulated in the opposite way by PA, indicating that these kinases were probably not involved. By using the SB202190 inhibitor, p38 MAPK (mitogen‐activated protein kinase) was found to be a key mediator of PA‐induced phosphorylation of S6K1. Downregulation of either tlr2 or tlr4 gene expression by small interfering RNAs prevented the activation of both p38 MAPK and S6K1 by FSL‐1, LPS or PA. Thus TLR2 and TLR4 agonists can increase the level of S6K1 phosphorylation in a p38 MAPK‐dependent way in C2C12 myotubes. As PA induced the same intracellular signalling, a novel atypical pathway for PA is induced at the cellular membrane level and results in a higher phosphorylation state of S6K1.