Muscle weakness and mitochondrial stress occur before severe metastasis in a novel mouse model of ovarian cancer cachexia.

OBJECTIVES: A high proportion of women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) experience weakness and cachexia. This relationship is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. EOC is the most lethal gynecological cancer, yet no preclinical cachexia model has demonstrated the combined hallmark features of metastasis, ascites development, muscle loss and weakness in adult immunocompetent mice. METHODS: Here, we evaluated a new model of ovarian cancer-induced cachexia with the advantages of inducing cancer in adult immunocompetent C57BL/6J mice through orthotopic injections of EOC cells in the ovarian bursa. We characterized the development of metastasis, ascites, muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, markers of inflammation, and mitochondrial stress in the tibialis anterior (TA) and diaphragm ∼45, ∼75 and ∼90 days after EOC injection. RESULTS: Primary ovarian tumour sizes were progressively larger at each time point while severe metastasis, ascites development, and reductions in body, fat and muscle weights occurred by 90 Days. There were no changes in certain inflammatory (TNFα), atrogene (MURF1 and Atrogin) or GDF15 markers within both muscles whereas IL-6 was increased at 45 and 90 Day groups in the diaphragm. TA weakness in 45 Day preceded atrophy and metastasis that were observed later (75 and 90 Day, respectively). The diaphragm demonstrated both weakness and atrophy in 45 Day. In both muscles, this pre-severe-metastatic muscle weakness corresponded with considerable reprogramming of gene pathways related to mitochondrial bioenergetics as well as reduced functional measures of mitochondrial pyruvate oxidation and creatine-dependent ADP/ATP cycling as well as increased reactive oxygen species emission (hydrogen peroxide). Remarkably, muscle force per unit mass at 90 days was partially restored in the TA despite the presence of atrophy and severe metastasis. In contrast, the diaphragm demonstrated progressive weakness. At this advanced stage, mitochondrial pyruvate oxidation in both muscles exceeded control mice suggesting an apparent metabolic super-compensation corresponding with restored indices of creatine-dependent adenylate cycling. CONCLUSIONS: This mouse model demonstrates the concurrent development of cachexia and metastasis that occurs in women with EOC. The model provides physiologically relevant advantages of inducing tumour development within the ovarian bursa in immunocompetent adult mice. Moreover, the model reveals that muscle weakness in both TA and diaphragm precedes severe metastasis while weakness also precedes atrophy in the TA. An underlying mitochondrial bioenergetic stress corresponded with this early weakness. Collectively, these discoveries can direct new research towards the development of therapies that target pre-atrophy and pre-severe-metastatic weakness during EOC in addition to therapies targeting cachexia.

Inflammatory Cytokine-Induced Muscle Atrophy and Weakness Can Be Ameliorated by an Inhibition of TGF-ß-Activated Kinase-1.

Chronic inflammation causes muscle wasting. Because most inflammatory cytokine signals are mediated via TGF-ß-activated kinase-1 (TAK1) activation, inflammatory cytokine-induced muscle wasting may be ameliorated by the inhibition of TAK1 activity. The present study was undertaken to clarify whether TAK1 inhibition can ameliorate inflammation-induced muscle wasting. SKG/Jcl mice as an autoimmune arthritis animal model were treated with a small amount of mannan as an adjuvant to enhance the production of TNF-α and IL-1ß. The increase in these inflammatory cytokines caused a reduction in muscle mass and strength along with an induction of arthritis in SKG/Jcl mice. Those changes in muscle fibers were mediated via the phosphorylation of TAK1, which activated the downstream signaling cascade via NF-κB, p38 MAPK, and ERK pathways, resulting in an increase in myostatin expression. Myostatin then reduced the expression of muscle proteins not only via a reduction in MyoD1 expression but also via an enhancement of Atrogin-1 and Murf1 expression. TAK1 inhibitor, LL-Z1640-2, prevented all the cytokine-induced changes in muscle wasting. Thus, TAK1 inhibition can be a new therapeutic target of not only joint destruction but also muscle wasting induced by inflammatory cytokines.

The Effect of Neuronal CoQ10 Deficiency and Mitochondrial Dysfunction on a Rotenone-Induced Neuronal Cell Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder currently affecting the ageing population. Although the aetiology of PD has yet to be fully elucidated, environmental factors such as exposure to the naturally occurring neurotoxin rotenone has been associated with an increased risk of developing PD. Rotenone inhibits mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) complex I activity as well as induces dopaminergic neuronal death. The aim of the present study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms of rotenone-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in an in vitro SH-SY5Y neuronal cell model of PD and to assess the ability of pre-treatment with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to ameliorate oxidative stress in this model. Spectrophotometric determination of the mitochondrial enzyme activities and fluorescence probe studies of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was assessed. Significant inhibition of MRC complex I and II-III activities was observed, together with a significant loss of neuronal viability, CoQ10 status, and ATP synthesis. Additionally, significant increases were observed in intracellular and mitochondrial ROS production. Remarkably, CoQ10 supplementation was found to reduce ROS formation. These results have indicated mitochondrial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress in a rotenone-induced neuronal cell model of PD that was ameliorated by CoQ10 supplementation.

4-Hydroxybenzoic acid rescues multisystemic disease and perinatal lethality in a mouse model of mitochondrial disease.

Coenzyme Q (CoQ) deficiency syndrome is conventionally treated with limited efficacy using exogenous CoQ10. Poor outcomes result from low absorption and bioavailability of CoQ10 and the clinical heterogenicity of the disease. Here, we demonstrate that supplementation with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4HB), the precursor of the benzoquinone ring in the CoQ biosynthetic pathway, completely rescues multisystemic disease and perinatal lethality in a mouse model of CoQ deficiency. 4HB stimulates endogenous CoQ biosynthesis in tissues of Coq2 mutant mice, normalizing mitochondrial function and rescuing cardiac insufficiency, edema, and neurodevelopmental delay. In contrast, exogenous CoQ10 supplementation falls short in fully restoring the phenotype. The treatment is translatable to human use, as proven by in vitro studies in skin fibroblasts from patients with pathogenic variants in COQ2. The therapeutic approach extends to other disorders characterized by deficiencies in the production of 4HB and early steps of CoQ biosynthesis and instances of secondary CoQ deficiency.

Understanding coenzyme Q.

Coenzyme Q (CoQ), also known as ubiquinone, comprises a benzoquinone head group and a long isoprenoid side chain. It is thus extremely hydrophobic and resides in membranes. It is best known for its complex function as an electron transporter in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) but is also required for several other crucial cellular processes. In fact, CoQ appears to be central to the entire redox balance of the cell. Remarkably, its structure and therefore its properties have not changed from bacteria to vertebrates. In metazoans, it is synthesized in all cells and is found in most, and maybe all, biological membranes. CoQ is also known as a nutritional supplement, mostly because of its involvement with antioxidant defenses. However, whether there is any health benefit from oral consumption of CoQ is not well established. Here we review the function of CoQ as a redox-active molecule in the ETC and other enzymatic systems, its role as a prooxidant in reactive oxygen species generation, and its separate involvement in antioxidant mechanisms. We also review CoQ biosynthesis, which is particularly complex because of its extreme hydrophobicity, as well as the biological consequences of primary and secondary CoQ deficiency, including in human patients. Primary CoQ deficiency is a rare inborn condition due to mutation in CoQ biosynthetic genes. Secondary CoQ deficiency is much more common, as it accompanies a variety of pathological conditions, including mitochondrial disorders as well as aging. In this context, we discuss the importance, but also the great difficulty, of alleviating CoQ deficiency by CoQ supplementation.

Leucyl-tRNA Synthetase Contributes to Muscle Weakness through Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Activation and Autophagy Suppression in a Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), caused by loss-of-function mutations in the dystrophin gene, results in progressive muscle weakness and early fatality. Impaired autophagy is one of the cellular hallmarks of DMD, contributing to the disease progression. Molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibition of autophagy in DMD are not well understood. In the current study, the DMD mouse model mdx was used for the investigation of signaling pathways leading to suppression of autophagy. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) was hyperactive in the DMD muscles, accompanying muscle weakness and autophagy impairment. Surprisingly, Akt, a well-known upstream regulator of mTORC1, was not responsible for mTORC1 activation or the dystrophic muscle phenotypes. Instead, leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS) was overexpressed in mdx muscles compared with the wild type. LeuRS activates mTORC1 in a noncanonical mechanism that involves interaction with RagD, an activator of mTORC1. Disrupting LeuRS interaction with RagD by the small-molecule inhibitor BC-LI-0186 reduced mTORC1 activity, restored autophagy, and ameliorated myofiber damage in the mdx muscles. Furthermore, inhibition of LeuRS by BC-LI-0186 improved dystrophic muscle strength in an autophagy-dependent manner. Taken together, our findings uncovered a noncanonical function of the housekeeping protein LeuRS as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of DMD.

Mitochondrial abnormalities contribute to muscle weakness in a Dnajb6 deficient zebrafish model.

Mutations in DNAJB6 are a well-established cause of limb girdle muscular dystrophy type D1 (LGMD D1). Patients with LGMD D1 develop progressive muscle weakness with histology showing fibre damage, autophagic vacuoles, and aggregates. Whilst there are many reports of LGMD D1 patients, the role of DNAJB6 in the muscle is still unclear. In this study, we developed a loss of function zebrafish model in order to investigate the role of Dnajb6. Using a double dnajb6a and dnajb6b mutant model, we show that loss of Dnajb6 leads to a late onset muscle weakness. Interestingly, we find that adult fish lacking Dnajb6 do not have autophagy or myofibril defects, however, they do show mitochondrial changes and damage. This study demonstrates that loss of Dnajb6 causes mitochondrial defects and suggests that this contributes to muscle weakness in LGMD D1. These findings expand our knowledge of the role of Dnajb6 in the muscle and provides a model to screen novel therapies for LGMD D1.

Cancer-associated muscle weakness - From triggers to molecular mechanisms.

Skeletal muscle weakness is a debilitating consequence of many malignancies. Muscle weakness has a negative impact on both patient wellbeing and outcome in a range of cancer types and can be the result of loss of muscle mass (i.e. muscle atrophy, cachexia) and occur independently of muscle atrophy or cachexia. There are multiple cancer specific triggers that can initiate the progression of muscle weakness, including the malignancy itself and the tumour environment, as well as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and malnutrition. This can induce weakness via different routes: 1) impaired intrinsic capacity (i.e., contractile dysfunction and intramuscular impairments in excitation-contraction coupling or crossbridge cycling), 2) neuromuscular disconnection and/or 3) muscle atrophy. The mechanisms that underlie these pathways are a complex interplay of inflammation, autophagy, disrupted protein synthesis/degradation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The current lack of therapies to treat cancer-associated muscle weakness highlight the critical need for novel interventions (both pharmacological and non-pharmacological) and mechanistic insight. Moreover, most research in the field has placed emphasis on directly improving muscle mass to improve muscle strength. However, accumulating evidence suggests that loss of muscle function precedes atrophy. This review primarily focuses on cancer-associated muscle weakness, independent of cachexia, and provides a solid background on the underlying mechanisms, methodology, current interventions, gaps in knowledge, and limitations of research in the field. Moreover, we have performed a mini-systematic review of recent research into the mechanisms behind muscle weakness in specific cancer types, along with the main pathways implicated.

The D84G mutation in STIM1 causes nuclear envelope dysfunction and myopathy in mice.

Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) is a Ca2+ sensor located in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of skeletal muscle, where it is best known for its role in store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Genetic syndromes resulting from STIM1 mutations are recognized as a cause of muscle weakness and atrophy. Here, we focused on a gain-of-function mutation that occurs in humans and mice (STIM1+/D84G mice), in which muscles exhibited constitutive SOCE. Unexpectedly, this constitutive SOCE did not affect global Ca2+ transients, SR Ca2+ content, or excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) and was therefore unlikely to underlie the reduced muscle mass and weakness observed in these mice. Instead, we demonstrate that the presence of D84G STIM1 in the nuclear envelope of STIM1+/D84G muscle disrupted nuclear-cytosolic coupling, causing severe derangement in nuclear architecture, DNA damage, and altered lamina A-associated gene expression. Functionally, we found that D84G STIM1 reduced the transfer of Ca2+ from the cytosol to the nucleus in myoblasts, resulting in a reduction of [Ca2+]N. Taken together, we propose a novel role for STIM1 in the nuclear envelope that links Ca2+ signaling to nuclear stability in skeletal muscle.

Myopathy-causing mutation R91P in the TPM3 gene drastically impairs structural and functional properties of slow skeletal muscle tropomyosin γß-heterodimer.

Tropomyosin (Tpm) is a regulatory actin-binding protein involved in Ca2+ activation of contraction of striated muscle. In human slow skeletal muscles, two distinct Tpm isoforms, γ and ß, are present. They interact to form three types of dimeric Tpm molecules: γγ-homodimers, γß-heterodimers, or ßß-homodimers, and a majority of the molecules are present as γß-Tpm heterodimers. Point mutation R91P within the TPM3 gene encoding γ-Tpm is linked to the condition known as congenital fiber-type disproportion (CFTD), which is characterized by severe muscle weakness. Here, we investigated the influence of the R91P mutation in the γ-chain on the properties of the γß-Tpm heterodimer. We found that the R91P mutation impairs the functional properties of γß-Tpm heterodimer more severely than those of earlier studied γγ-Tpm homodimer carrying this mutation in both γ-chains. Since a significant part of Tpm molecules in slow skeletal muscle is present as γß-heterodimers, our results explain why this mutation leads to muscle weakness in CFTD.

Skeletal muscle-specific inducible AMPKα1/α2 knockout mice develop muscle weakness, glycogen depletion, and fibrosis that persists during disuse atrophy.

The 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important skeletal muscle regulator implicated as a possible therapeutic target to ameliorate the local undesired deconditioning of disuse atrophy. However, the muscle-specific role of AMPK in regulating muscle function, fibrosis, and transcriptional reprogramming during physical disuse is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine how the absence of both catalytic subunits of AMPK in skeletal muscle influences muscle force production, collagen deposition, and the transcriptional landscape. We generated skeletal muscle-specific tamoxifen-inducible AMPKα1/α2 knockout (AMPKα-/-) mice that underwent 14 days of hindlimb unloading (HU) or remained ambulatory for 14 days (AMB). We found that AMPKα-/- during ambulatory conditions altered body weight and myofiber size, decreased muscle function, depleted glycogen stores and TBC1 domain family member 1 (TBC1D1) phosphorylation, increased collagen deposition, and altered transcriptional pathways. Primarily, pathways related to cellular senescence and mitochondrial biogenesis and function were influenced by the absence of AMPKα. The effects of AMPKα-/- persisted, but were not worsened, following hindlimb unloading. Together, we report that AMPKα is necessary to maintain skeletal muscle quality.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We determined that skeletal muscle-specific AMPKα knockout (KO) mice display functional, fibrotic, and transcriptional alterations before and during muscle disuse atrophy. We also observed that AMPKα KO drives muscle fibrosis and pathways related to cellular senescence that continues during the hindlimb unloading period.

Epilepsy and Coenzyme Q10 deficiency with COQ4 variants.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is one of the essential substances for mitochondrial energy synthesis and extra-mitochondrial vital function. Primary CoQ10 deficiency is a rare disease resulting from interruption of CoQ10 biosynthetic pathway and biallelic COQ4 variants are one of the genetic etiologies recognized in this hereditary disorder. The clinical heterogenicity is broad with wide onset age from prenatal period to adulthood. The typical manifestations include early pharmacoresistant seizure, severe cognition and/or developmental delay, dystonia, ataxia, and spasticity. Patients may also have multisystemic involvements such as cardiomyopathy, lactic acidosis or gastro-esophageal regurgitation disease. Oral CoQ10 supplement is the major therapeutic medication currently. Among those patients, c.370G > A variant is the most common pathogenic variant detected, especially in Asian population. This phenomenon also suggests that this specific allele may be the founder variants in Asia. In this article, we report two siblings with infantile onset seizures, developmental delay, cardiomyopathy, and diffuse brain atrophy. Genetic analysis of both two cases revealed homozygous COQ4 c.370G > A (p.Gly124Ser) variants. We also review the clinical manifestations of primary CoQ10 deficiency patients and possible treatment categories, which are still under survey. As oral CoQ10 supplement may improve or stabilize disease severity, early precise diagnosis of primary CoQ10 deficiency and early treatment are the most important issues. This review article helps to further understand clinical spectrum and treatment categories of primary CoQ10 deficiency with COQ4 variant.

Verbascoside Elicits Its Beneficial Effects by Enhancing Mitochondrial Spare Respiratory Capacity and the Nrf2/HO-1 Mediated Antioxidant System in a Murine Skeletal Muscle Cell Line.

Muscle weakness and muscle loss characterize many physio-pathological conditions, including sarcopenia and many forms of muscular dystrophy, which are often also associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Verbascoside, a phenylethanoid glycoside of plant origin, also named acteoside, has shown strong antioxidant and anti-fatigue activity in different animal models, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are not completely understood. This study aimed to investigate the influence of verbascoside on mitochondrial function and its protective role against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in murine C2C12 myoblasts and myotubes pre-treated with verbascoside for 24 h and exposed to H2O2. We examined the effects of verbascoside on cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial function through high-resolution respirometry. Moreover, we verified whether verbascoside was able to stimulate nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) activity through Western blotting and confocal fluorescence microscopy, and to modulate the transcription of its target genes, such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), by Real Time PCR. We found that verbascoside (1) improved mitochondrial function by increasing mitochondrial spare respiratory capacity; (2) mitigated the decrease in cell viability induced by H2O2 and reduced ROS levels; (3) promoted the phosphorylation of Nrf2 and its nuclear translocation; (4) increased the transcription levels of HO-1 and, in myoblasts but not in myotubes, those of PGC-1α. These findings contribute to explaining verbascoside's ability to relieve muscular fatigue and could have positive repercussions for the development of therapies aimed at counteracting muscle weakness and mitochondrial dysfunction.

GADD45A is a mediator of mitochondrial loss, atrophy, and weakness in skeletal muscle.

Aging and many illnesses and injuries impair skeletal muscle mass and function, but the molecular mechanisms are not well understood. To better understand the mechanisms, we generated and studied transgenic mice with skeletal muscle-specific expression of growth arrest and DNA damage inducible α (GADD45A), a signaling protein whose expression in skeletal muscle rises during aging and a wide range of illnesses and injuries. We found that GADD45A induced several cellular changes that are characteristic of skeletal muscle atrophy, including a reduction in skeletal muscle mitochondria and oxidative capacity, selective atrophy of glycolytic muscle fibers, and paradoxical expression of oxidative myosin heavy chains despite mitochondrial loss. These cellular changes were at least partly mediated by MAP kinase kinase kinase 4, a protein kinase that is directly activated by GADD45A. By inducing these changes, GADD45A decreased the mass of muscles that are enriched in glycolytic fibers, and it impaired strength, specific force, and endurance exercise capacity. Furthermore, as predicted by data from mouse models, we found that GADD45A expression in skeletal muscle was associated with muscle weakness in humans. Collectively, these findings identify GADD45A as a mediator of mitochondrial loss, atrophy, and weakness in mouse skeletal muscle and a potential target for muscle weakness in humans.

Development of muscle weakness in a mouse model of critical illness: does fibroblast growth factor 21 play a role?

BACKGROUND: Critical illness is hallmarked by severe stress and organ damage. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been shown to rise during critical illness. FGF21 is a pleiotropic hormone that mediates adaptive responses to tissue injury and repair in various chronic pathological conditions. Animal studies have suggested that the critical illness-induced rise in FGF21 may to a certain extent protect against acute lung, liver, kidney and brain injury. However, FGF21 has also been shown to mediate fasting-induced loss of muscle mass and force. Such loss of muscle mass and force is a frequent problem of critically ill patients, associated with adverse outcome. In the present study, we therefore investigated whether the critical illness-induced acute rise in FGF21 is muscle-protective or rather contributes to the pathophysiology of critical illness-induced muscle weakness. METHODS: In a catheterised mouse model of critical illness induced by surgery and sepsis, we first assessed the effects of genetic FGF21 inactivation, and hence the inability to acutely increase FGF21, on survival, body weight, muscle wasting and weakness, and markers of muscle cellular stress and dysfunction in acute (30 h) and prolonged (5 days) critical illness. Secondly, we assessed whether any effects were mirrored by supplementing an FGF21 analogue (LY2405319) in prolonged critical illness. RESULTS: FGF21 was not required for survival of sepsis. Genetic FGF21 inactivation aggravated the critical illness-induced body weight loss (p = 0.0003), loss of muscle force (p = 0.03) and shift to smaller myofibers. This was accompanied by a more pronounced rise in markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress in muscle, without effects on impairments in mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activities or autophagy activation. Supplementing critically ill mice with LY2405319 did not affect survival, muscle force or weight, or markers of muscle cellular stress/dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous FGF21 is not required for sepsis survival, but may partially protect muscle force and may reduce cellular stress in muscle. Exogenous FGF21 supplementation failed to improve muscle force or cellular stress, not supporting the clinical applicability of FGF21 supplementation to protect against muscle weakness during critical illness.

Intrinsic contractile dysfunction due to impaired sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release in compensatory hypertrophied muscle fibers following synergist ablation.

Synergist ablation (SA) is an experimental procedure for the induction of hypertrophy. However, SA causes a decrease in specific force (i.e., force per cross-sectional area), likely due to excessive muscle use. Here, we investigated the mechanisms behind the SA-induced intrinsic contractile dysfunction, especially focusing on the excitation-contraction (EC) coupling. Male Wistar rats had unilateral surgical ablation of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to induce compensatory hypertrophy in the plantaris muscles. Two weeks after SA, plantaris muscle was dissected from each animal and used for later analyses. SA significantly increased the mean fiber cross-sectional area (+18%). On the other hand, the ratio of depolarization-induced force to the maximum Ca2+-activated specific force, an indicator of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release, was markedly reduced in mechanically skinned fibers from the SA group (-51%). These functional defects were accompanied by an extensive fragmentation of the SR Ca2+ release channel, the ryanodine receptor 1 (RyR1), and a decrease in the amount of other triad proteins (i.e., DHPR, STAC3, and junctophilin1). SA treatment also caused activation of calpain-1 and increased the amount of NADPH oxidase 2, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress proteins (i.e., Grp78, Grp94, PDI, and Ero1), and lipid peroxidation [i.e., 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE)] in SA-treated muscles. Our findings show that SA causes skeletal muscle weakness due to impaired EC coupling. This is likely to be induced by Ca2+-dependent degradation of triad proteins, which may result from Ca2+ leak from fragmented RyR1 triggered by increased oxidative stress.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Synergist ablation (SA) has widely been used to understand the mechanisms behind skeletal muscle hypertrophy. However, compensatory hypertrophied muscles display intrinsic contractile dysfunction, i.e., a hallmark of overuse. Here, we demonstrate that SA-induced compensatory hypertrophy is accompanied by muscle weakness due to impaired sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release. This dysfunction may be caused by the degradation of triad proteins due to the reciprocal amplification of reactive oxygen species and Ca2+ signaling at the junctional space microdomain.

RhoA/ROCK signalling activated by ARHGEF3 promotes muscle weakness via autophagy in dystrophic mdx mice.

BACKGROUND: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), caused by dystrophin deficiency, leads to progressive and fatal muscle weakness through yet-to-be-fully deciphered molecular perturbations. Emerging evidence implicates RhoA/Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) signalling in DMD pathology, yet its direct role in DMD muscle function, and related mechanisms, are unknown. METHODS: Three-dimensionally engineered dystrophin-deficient mdx skeletal muscles and mdx mice were used to test the role of ROCK in DMD muscle function in vitro and in situ, respectively. The role of ARHGEF3, one of the RhoA guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), in RhoA/ROCK signalling and DMD pathology was examined by generating Arhgef3 knockout mdx mice. The role of RhoA/ROCK signalling in mediating the function of ARHGEF3 was determined by evaluating the effects of wild-type or GEF-inactive ARHGEF3 overexpression with ROCK inhibitor treatment. To gain more mechanistic insights, autophagy flux and the role of autophagy were assessed in various conditions with chloroquine. RESULTS: Inhibition of ROCK with Y-27632 improved muscle force production in 3D-engineered mdx muscles (+25% from three independent experiments, P < 0.05) and in mice (+25%, P < 0.001). Unlike suggested by previous studies, this improvement was independent of muscle differentiation or quantity and instead related to increased muscle quality. We found that ARHGEF3 was elevated and responsible for RhoA/ROCK activation in mdx muscles, and that depleting ARHGEF3 in mdx mice restored muscle quality (up to +36%, P < 0.01) and morphology without affecting regeneration. Conversely, overexpressing ARHGEF3 further compromised mdx muscle quality (-13% vs. empty vector control, P < 0.01) in GEF activity- and ROCK-dependent manner. Notably, ARHGEF3/ROCK inhibition exerted the effects by rescuing autophagy which is commonly impaired in dystrophic muscles. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings uncover a new pathological mechanism of muscle weakness in DMD involving the ARHGEF3-ROCK-autophagy pathway and the therapeutic potential of targeting ARHGEF3 in DMD.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness and Critical Illness Myopathy: A Narrative Review.

Mitochondria are key structures providing most of the energy needed to maintain homeostasis. They are the main source of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), participate in glucose, lipid and amino acid metabolism, store calcium and are integral components in various intracellular signaling cascades. However, due to their crucial role in cellular integrity, mitochondrial damage and dysregulation in the context of critical illness can severely impair organ function, leading to energetic crisis and organ failure. Skeletal muscle tissue is rich in mitochondria and, therefore, particularly vulnerable to mitochondrial dysfunction. Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICUAW) and critical illness myopathy (CIM) are phenomena of generalized weakness and atrophying skeletal muscle wasting, including preferential myosin breakdown in critical illness, which has also been linked to mitochondrial failure. Hence, imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics, dysregulation of the respiratory chain complexes, alterations in gene expression, disturbed signal transduction as well as impaired nutrient utilization have been proposed as underlying mechanisms. This narrative review aims to highlight the current known molecular mechanisms immanent in mitochondrial dysfunction of patients suffering from ICUAW and CIM, as well as to discuss possible implications for muscle phenotype, function and therapeutic approaches.

Muscle weakness precedes atrophy during cancer cachexia and is linked to muscle-specific mitochondrial stress.

Muscle weakness and wasting are defining features of cancer-induced cachexia. Mitochondrial stress occurs before atrophy in certain muscles, but the possibility of heterogeneous responses between muscles and across time remains unclear. Using mice inoculated with Colon-26 cancer, we demonstrate that specific force production was reduced in quadriceps and diaphragm at 2 weeks in the absence of atrophy. At this time, pyruvate-supported mitochondrial respiration was lower in quadriceps while mitochondrial H2O2 emission was elevated in diaphragm. By 4 weeks, atrophy occurred in both muscles, but specific force production increased to control levels in quadriceps such that reductions in absolute force were due entirely to atrophy. Specific force production remained reduced in diaphragm. Mitochondrial respiration increased and H2O2 emission was unchanged in both muscles versus control while mitochondrial creatine sensitivity was reduced in quadriceps. These findings indicate muscle weakness precedes atrophy and is linked to heterogeneous mitochondrial alterations that could involve adaptive responses to metabolic stress. Eventual muscle-specific restorations in specific force and bioenergetics highlight how the effects of cancer on one muscle do not predict the response in another muscle. Exploring heterogeneous responses of muscle to cancer may reveal new mechanisms underlying distinct sensitivities, or resistance, to cancer cachexia.

Establishment of a system evaluating the contractile force of electrically stimulated myotubes from wrinkles formed on elastic substrate.

Muscle weakness is detrimental not only to quality of life but also life expectancy. However, effective drugs have still not been developed to improve and prevent muscle weakness associated with aging or diseases. One reason for the delay in drug discovery is that no suitable in vitro screening system has been established to test whether drugs improve muscle strength. Here, we used a specific deformable silicone gel substrate to effectively and sensitively evaluate the contractile force generated by myotubes from wrinkles formed on the substrate. Using this system, it was found that the contractile force generated by an atrophic phenotype of myotubes induced by dexamethasone or cancer cell-conditioned medium treatment significantly decreased while that generated by hypertrophic myotubes induced by insulin-like growth factor-1 significantly increased. Notably, it was found that changes in the index related to contractile force can detect atrophic or hypertrophic phenotypes more sensitively than changes in myotube diameter or myosin heavy chain expression, both commonly used to evaluate myotube function. These results suggest that our proposed system will be an effective tool for assessing the contractile force-related state of myotubes, which are available for the development of drugs to prevent and/or treat muscle weakness.