Sulforaphane ameliorates serum starvation-induced muscle atrophy via activation of the Nrf2 pathway in cultured C2C12 cells

Cadmium treatment induces oxidative damage and apoptosis in vitro skeletal muscle cells

Cadmium is a prevalent environmental contaminant, and current research indicates that exposure to cadmium is a significant risk factor contributing to the increased incidence of sarcopenia. However, the precise mechanisms by which cadmium exposure leads to skeletal muscle damage remain to be fully elucidated. Utilizing an in vitro culture model of mouse C2C12 myoblasts, this study exposed cells to 0, 2, 4, and 8 μmol/L cadmium chloride for 24 hours to evaluate the cellular damage and explore the potential mechanisms. Our present data of this study demonstrate that cadmium treatment results in a reduction of C2C12 cell viability, an increased release of lactate dehydrogenase, and an imbalance in the oxidative-antioxidant system characterized by an excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species, elevated malondialdehyde production, and decreased superoxide dismutase activity. Additionally, there is an upregulation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2, heme oxygenase-1, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1, and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit protein expression, along with a downregulation of superoxide dismutase 1 protein expression. Furthermore, cadmium exposure mediates an increase in cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-dependent apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway, as indicated by an increased apoptosis rate, elevated Bcl-2 associated X protein and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 protein expression, and a decreased expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 protein. Our findings elucidate the mechanisms of cadmium-induced cytotoxic damage in skeletal muscle cells from the perspectives of oxidative injury and apoptosis, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of cadmium toxicity.

Plant-Derived Treatments for Different Types of Muscle Atrophy

With the development of medicine and chemistry, an increasing number of plant-derived medicines have been shown to exert beneficial therapeutic on the treatment of various physical and psychological diseases. In particular, by using physical chemistry methods, we are able to examine the chemical components of plants and the effects of these substances on the human body. Muscle atrophy (MA) is characterized by decreased muscle mass and function, is caused by multiple factors and severely affects the quality of life of patients. The multifactorial and complex pathogenesis of MA hinders drug research and disease treatment. However, phytotherapy has achieved significant results in the treatment of MA. We searched PubMed and the Web of Science for articles related to plant-derived substances and muscle atrophy. After applying exclusion and inclusion criteria, 166 and 79 articles met the inclusion criteria, respectively. A total of 173 articles were included in the study after excluding duplicates. The important role of phytoactives such as curcumin, resveratrol, and ginsenosides in the treatment of MA (e.g., maintaining a positive nitrogen balance in muscles and exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects) has been extensively studied. Unfortunately, MA dose not have to a single cause, and each cause has its own unique mechanism of injury. This review focuses on the therapeutic mechanisms of active plant components in MA and provides insights into the personalized treatment of MA.

Chronic IL-1-Exposed LNCaP Cells Evolve High Basal p62-KEAP1 Complex Accumulation and NRF2/KEAP1-Dependent and -Independent Hypersensitive Nutrient Deprivation Response

Chronic inflammation is a cancer hallmark and chronic exposure to interleukin-1 (IL-1) transforms castration-sensitive prostate cancer (PCa) cells into more fit castration-insensitive PCa cells. p62 is a scaffold protein that protects cells from nutrient deprivation via autophagy and from cytotoxic reactive oxygen via NFκB and NRF2 antioxidant signaling. Herein, we report that the LNCaP PCa cell line acquires high basal accumulation of the p62-KEAP1 complex when chronically exposed to IL-1. p62 promotes non-canonical NRF2 antioxidant signaling by binding and sequestering KEAP1 to the autophagosome for degradation. But despite high basal p62-KEAP1 accumulation, only two of several NRF2-induced genes analyzed, GCLC and HMOX1, showed high basal mRNA levels, suggesting that the high basal p62-KEAP1 accumulation does not result in overall high basal NRF2 activity. Nutrient starvation induces NRF2-dependent GCLC upregulation and HMOX1 repression, and we found that chronic IL-1-exposed LNCaP cells show hypersensitivity to serum starvation-induced GCLC and HMOX1 regulation. Thus, chronic IL-1 exposure affects cell response to nutrient stress. While HMOX1 expression remains NRF2/KEAP1-dependent in chronic IL-1-exposed LNCaP cells, GCLC expression is NRF2/KEAP1-independent. Furthermore, the high basal p62-KEAP1 complex accumulation is not required to regulate GCLC or HMOX1 expression, suggesting cells chronically exposed to IL-1 evolve a novel NRF2-independent role for the p62/KEAP1 axis.

Repairing muscle with broccoli-derived sulforaphane: A preclinical evaluation for the treatment of mitochondrial myopathies

Skeletal muscle health relies on the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the mitochondria. ATP production is accompanied by oxidative phosphorylation, which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS). When there is an imbalance in ROS levels, oxidative stress and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction, mitochondrial myopathies including sarcopenia, chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, and proximal myopathy can result. Such incurable myopathies are characterised by aberrant metabolism, limited ATP production, and muscle atrophy. Broccoli-derived sulforaphane has emerged as a novel treatment for mitochondrial myopathies because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This review discusses preclinical studies that reveal sulforaphane's potential therapeutic benefits and limitations in treating mitochondrial myopathies.

Sulforaphane, Urolithin A, and ZLN005 induce time-dependent alterations in antioxidant capacity, mitophagy, and mitochondrial biogenesis in muscle cells

Efficient signal transduction that mediates mitochondrial turnover is a strong determinant of metabolic health in skeletal muscle. Of these pathways, our focus was aimed towards the enhancement of antioxidant capacity, mitophagy, and mitochondrial biogenesis. While physical activity is an excellent inducer of mitochondrial turnover, its ability to ubiquitously activate and enhance mitochondrial turnover prevents definitive differentiation of the contribution made by each pathway. Therefore, we employed three agents, Sulforaphane (SFN), Urolithin A (UroA), and ZLN005 (ZLN), which are activators of important biological markers involved in antioxidant signaling, mitophagy, and biogenesis, respectively. We investigated the time-dependent changes in proteins related to each mechanism in C2C12 myotubes. SFN treatment resulted in increased nuclear localization of the transcription factor Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf-2) after 4 ​hour (h), with subsequent 2-fold increases in the antioxidant enzymes Nicotinamide Quinone Oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and Heme-Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) by 24 ​h and 48 ​h. Mitochondrial respiration and ATP production were significantly increased by both 24 h and 48 ​h. UroA showed a 2-fold increase in AMP-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) after 4 ​h, which led to a modest 30% increase in whole cell mitophagy markers p62 and LC3, after 48 ​h. This was accompanied by a reduction in cellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), detected with the CellROX Green reagent. Mitophagy flux measurements showed mitophagy activation as both LC3-II and p62 flux increased with UroA at 24-h and 48-h time points, respectively. Finally, AMPK activation was observed by 4 ​h, in addition to a 2-fold increase in Mitochondrial Transcription Factor A (TFAM) promoter activity by 24 ​h of ZLN treatment following transient transfection of a TFAM promoter-luciferase construct. Mitochondrial respiration and ATP production were enhanced by 24 ​h. Our results suggest that early time points of treatment increase upstream pathway activity, whereas later time points represent the increased phenotypic expression of related downstream markers. Our findings suggest that the spatiotemporal progression of these mechanisms following drug treatment is another important factor to consider when examining subcellular changes towards mitochondrial turnover in muscle.

Heme oxygenase-1: A potential therapeutic target for improving skeletal muscle atrophy

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a common muscle disease that is directly caused by an imbalance in protein synthesis and degradation. At the histological level, it is mainly characterized by a reduction in muscle mass and fiber cross-sectional area (CSA). Patients with skeletal muscle atrophy present with reduced motor ability, easy fatigue, and poor life quality. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an inducible enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of heme and has attracted much attention for its anti-oxidation effects. In addition, there is growing evidence that HO-1 plays an important role in anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis, pro-angiogenesis, and maintaining skeletal muscle homeostasis, making it a potential therapeutic target for improving skeletal muscle atrophy. Here, we review the pathogenesis of skeletal muscle atrophy, the biology of HO-1 and its regulation, and the biological function of HO-1 in skeletal muscle homeostasis, with a specific focus on the role of HO-1 in skeletal muscle atrophy, aiming to observe the therapeutic potential of HO-1 for skeletal muscle atrophy.

Saikosaponin A and D attenuate skeletal muscle atrophy in chronic kidney disease by reducing oxidative stress through activation of PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 pathway

BACKGROUND

Skeletal muscle atrophy in chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to a decline in quality of life and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. We have obtained evidence that oxidative stress is essential in the progression of CKD-related muscle atrophy. Whether Saikosaponin A and D, two emerging antioxidants extracted from Bupleurum chinense DC, alleviate muscle atrophy remains to be further studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of these two components on CKD complicated with muscle atrophy.

METHODS

In this research, muscle dystrophy model was established using 5/6 nephrectomized mice in vivo and in vitro with Dexamethasone (Dex)-managed C2C12 myotubes.

RESULTS

The results of RNA-sequencing showed that exposure to Dex affected the antioxidant activity, catalytic activity and enzyme regulator activity of C2C12 cells. According to KEGG analysis, the largest numbers of differentially expressed genes detected were enriched in the PI3K/AKT pathway. In vivo, Saikosaponin A and D remain renal function, cross-section size, fiber-type composition and anti-inflammatory ability. These two components suppressed the expression of MuRF-1 and enhanced the expression of MyoD and Dystrophin. In addition, Saikosaponin A and D maintained redox balance by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes while inhibiting the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, Saikosaponin A and D stimulated PI3K/AKT and its downstream Nrf2 pathway in CKD mice. The effects of Saikosaponin A and D on increasing the inner diameter of C2C12 myotube, reducing oxidative stress and enhancing expression of p-AKT, p-mTOR, p70S6K, Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins were observed in vitro. Importantly, we verified that these protective effects could be significantly reversed by inhibiting PI3K and knocking out Nrf2.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, Saikosaponin A and D improve CKD-induced muscle atrophy by reducing oxidative stress through the PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 pathway.

Exercise intervention mitigates zebrafish age-related sarcopenia via alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction

Sarcopenia is a common disorder that leads to a progressive decrease in skeletal muscle function in elderly people. Exercise effectively prevents or delays the onset and progression of sarcopenia. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying how exercise intervention improves skeletal muscle atrophy remain unclear. In this study, we found that 21-month-old zebrafish had a decreased swimming ability, reduced muscle fibre cross-sectional area, unbalanced protein synthesis, and degradation, increased oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, which suggests zebrafish are a valuable model for sarcopenia. Eight weeks of exercise intervention attenuated these pathological changes in sarcopenia zebrafish. Moreover, the effects of exercise on mitochondrial dysfunction were associated with the activation of the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α axis and 15-PGDH downregulation. Our results reveal potential therapeutic targets and indicators to treat age-related sarcopenia using exercise intervention.

Sulforaphane attenuates cancer cell-induced atrophy of C2C12 myotubes

Cancer cachexia is common in many cancers and the loss of skeletal muscle mass compromises the response to therapies and quality of life. A contributing mechanism is oxidative stress and compounds able to attenuate it may be protective. Sulforaphane (SFN), a natural antioxidant in cruciferous vegetables, activates nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling to decrease oxidative stress. Although SFN has potential as a cancer therapeutic, whether it can attenuate muscle wasting in the absence or presence of chemotherapy is unknown. In healthy C2C12 myotubes, SFN administration for 48 h induced hypertrophy through increased myoblast fusion via Nrf2 and ERK signaling. To determine whether SFN could attenuate wasting induced by cancer cells, myotubes were cocultured with or without Colon-26 (C-26) cancer cells for 48 h and treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, 5 µM) or vehicle (DMSO). SFN (10 µM) or DMSO was added for the final 24 h. Coculture with cancer cells in the absence and presence of 5-FU reduced myotube width by ∼30% (P < 0.001) and ∼20% (P < 0.01), respectively, which was attenuated by SFN (P < 0.05). Exposure to C-26 conditioned media reduced myotube width by 15% (P < 0.001), which was attenuated by SFN. Western immunoblotting and qRT-PCR confirmed activation of Nrf2 signaling and antioxidant genes. Coadministration of Nrf2 inhibitors (ML-385) or MEK inhibitors (PD184352) revealed that SFN's attenuation of atrophy was blocked by ERK inhibition. These data support the chemoprotective and antioxidative function of SFN in myotubes, highlighting its therapeutic potential for cancer-related muscle wasting.

Role of Nrf2 and exercise in alleviating COPD-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex chronic respiratory disease with cumulative impacts on multiple systems, exhibiting significant extrapulmonary impacts, and posing a serious public health problem. Skeletal muscle dysfunction is one of the most pronounced extrapulmonary effects in patients with COPD, which severely affects patient prognosis and mortality primarily through reduced productivity resulting from muscle structural and functional alterations. Although the detailed pathogenesis of COPD has not been fully determined, some researchers agree that oxidative stress plays a significant role. Oxidative stress not only catalyzes the progression of pulmonary symptoms but also drives the development of skeletal muscle dysfunction. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), is a key transcription factor that regulates the antioxidant response and plays an enormous role in combating oxidative stress. In this review, we have summarized current research on oxidative stress damage to COPD skeletal muscle and analyzed the role of Nrf2 in improving skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD through exercise. The results suggest that oxidative stress drives the occurrence and development of skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD. Exercise may improve skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with COPD by promoting the dissociation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and Nrf2, inducing sequestosome1(p62) phosphorylation to bind with Keap1 competitively leading to Nrf2 stabilization and improving dynamin-related protein 1-dependent mitochondrial fission. Nrf2 may be a key target for exercise anti-oxidative stress to alleviate skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD.

Sulforaphane Enhanced Proliferation of Porcine Satellite Cells via Epigenetic Augmentation of SMAD7

Satellite cells take an indispensable place in skeletal muscle regeneration, maintenance, and growth. However, only limited works have investigated effects of dietary compounds on the proliferation of porcine satellite cells (PSCs) and related mechanisms. Sulforaphane (SFN) at multiple levels was applied to PSCs. The PSCs’ viability and HDAC activity were measured with a WST-1 cell proliferation kit and Color-de-Lys® HDAC colorimetric activity assay kit. Gene expression and epigenetics modification were tested with qRT-PCR, Western blot, bisulfite sequencing, and ChIP-qPCR. This study found that SFN enhanced PSC proliferation and altered mRNA expression levels of myogenic regulatory factors. In addition, SFN inhibited histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity, disturbed mRNA levels of HDAC family members, and elevated acetylated histone H3 and H4 abundance in PSCs. Furthermore, both mRNA and protein levels of the Smad family member 7 (SMAD7) in PSCs were upregulated after SFN treatment. Finally, it was found that SFN increased the acetylation level of histone H4 in the SMAD7 promoter, decreased the expression of microRNAs, including ssc-miR-15a, ssc-miR-15b, ssc-miR-92a, ssc-miR-17-5p, ssc-miR-20a-5p, and ssc-miR-106a, targeting SMAD7, but did not impact on the SMAD7 promoter’s methylation status in PSCs. In summary, SFN was found to boost PSC proliferation and epigenetically increase porcine SMAD7 expression, which indicates a potential application of SFN in modulation of skeletal muscle growth.

Hidden Agenda - The Involvement of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Unfolded Protein Response in Inflammation-Induced Muscle Wasting

Critically ill patients at the intensive care unit (ICU) often develop a generalized weakness, called ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW). A major contributor to ICUAW is muscle atrophy, a loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. Skeletal muscle assures almost all of the vital functions of our body. It adapts rapidly in response to physiological as well as pathological stress, such as inactivity, immobilization, and inflammation. In response to a reduced workload or inflammation muscle atrophy develops. Recent work suggests that adaptive or maladaptive processes in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), also known as sarcoplasmic reticulum, contributes to this process. In muscle cells, the ER is a highly specialized cellular organelle that assures calcium homeostasis and therefore muscle contraction. The ER also assures correct folding of proteins that are secreted or localized to the cell membrane. Protein folding is a highly error prone process and accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins can cause ER stress, which is counteracted by the activation of a signaling network known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). Three ER membrane residing molecules, protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), inositol requiring protein 1a (IRE1a), and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) initiate the UPR. The UPR aims to restore ER homeostasis by reducing overall protein synthesis and increasing gene expression of various ER chaperone proteins. If ER stress persists or cannot be resolved cell death pathways are activated. Although, ER stress-induced UPR pathways are known to be important for regulation of skeletal muscle mass and function as well as for inflammation and immune response its function in ICUAW is still elusive. Given recent advances in the development of ER stress modifying molecules for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, it is important to know whether or not therapeutic interventions in ER stress pathways have favorable effects and these compounds can be used to prevent or treat ICUAW. In this review, we focus on the role of ER stress-induced UPR in skeletal muscle during critical illness and in response to predisposing risk factors such as immobilization, starvation and inflammation as well as ICUAW treatment to foster research for this devastating clinical problem.

Cardiovasomobility: an integrative understanding of how disuse impacts cardiovascular and skeletal muscle health

Cardiovasomobility is a novel concept that encompasses the integration of cardiovascular and skeletal muscle function in health and disease with critical modification by physical activity, or lack thereof. Compelling evidence indicates that physical activity improves health while a sedentary, or inactive, lifestyle accelerates cardiovascular and skeletal muscle dysfunction and hastens disease progression. Identifying causative factors for vascular and skeletal muscle dysfunction, especially in humans, has proven difficult due to the limitations associated with cross-sectional investigations. Therefore, experimental models of physical inactivity and disuse, which mimic hospitalization, injury, and illness, provide important insight into the mechanisms and consequences of vascular and skeletal muscle dysfunction. This review provides an overview of the experimental models of disuse and inactivity and focuses on the integrated responses of the vasculature and skeletal muscle in response to disuse/inactivity. The time course and magnitude of dysfunction evoked by various models of disuse/inactivity are discussed in detail, and evidence in support of the critical roles of mitochondrial function and oxidative stress are presented. Lastly, strategies aimed at preserving vascular and skeletal muscle dysfunction during disuse/inactivity are reviewed. Within the context of cardiovasomobility, experimental manipulation of physical activity provides valuable insight into the mechanisms responsible for vascular and skeletal muscle dysfunction that limit mobility, degrade quality of life, and hasten the onset of disease.

Role for Plant-Derived Antioxidants in Attenuating Cancer Cachexia

Cancer cachexia is the progressive muscle wasting and weakness experienced by many cancer patients. It can compromise the response to gold standard cancer therapies, impair functional capacity and reduce overall quality of life. Cancer cachexia accounts for nearly one-third of all cancer-related deaths and has no effective treatment. The pathogenesis of cancer cachexia and its progression is multifactorial and includes increased oxidative stress derived from both the tumor and the host immune response. Antioxidants have therapeutic potential to attenuate cancer-related muscle loss, with polyphenols, a group of plant-derived antioxidants, being the most widely investigated. This review describes the potential of these plant-derived antioxidants for treating cancer cachexia.

Fermented Oyster Extract Attenuated Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy by Decreasing Oxidative Stress

It is well known that oxidative stress induces muscle atrophy, which decreases with the activation of Nrf2/HO-1. Fermented oyster extracts (FO), rich in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and lactate, have shown antioxidative effects. We evaluated whether FO decreased oxidative stress by upregulating Nrf2/HO-1 and whether it decreased NF-κB, leading to decreased IL-6 and TNF-α. Decreased oxidative stress led to the downregulation of Cbl-b ubiquitin ligase, which increased IGF-1 and decreased FoxO3, atrogin1, and Murf1, and eventually decreased muscle atrophy in dexamethasone (Dexa)-induced muscle atrophy animal model. For four weeks, mice were orally administered with FO, GABA, lactate, or GABA+Lactate, and then Dexa was subcutaneously injected for ten days. During Dexa injection period, FO, GABA, lactate, or GABA+Lactate were also administered, and grip strength test and muscle harvesting were performed on the day of the last Dexa injection. We compared the attenuation effect of FO with GABA, lactate, and GABA+lactate treatment. Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions were increased by Dexa but decreased by FO; SOD activity and glutathione levels were decreased by Dexa but increased by FO; NADPH oxidase activity was increased by Dexa but decreased by FO; NF-κB, IL-6, and TNF-α activities were increased by Dexa were decreased by FO; Cbl-b expression was increased by Dexa but restored by FO; IGF-1 expression was decreased by Dexa but increased by FO; FoxO3, Atrogin-1, and MuRF1 expressions were increased by Dexa but decreased by FO. The gastrocnemius thickness and weight were decreased by Dexa but increased by FO. The cross-sectional area of muscle fiber and grip strength were decreased by Dexa but increased by FO. In conclusion, FO decreased Dexa-induced oxidative stress through the upregulation of Nrf2/HO-1. Decreased oxidative stress led to decreased Cbl-b, FoxO3, atrogin1, and MuRF1, which attenuated muscle atrophy.

Nutraceutical Strategies for Suppressing NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation: Pertinence to the Management of COVID-19 and Beyond

Inflammasomes are intracellular protein complexes that form in response to a variety of stress signals and that serve to catalyze the proteolytic conversion of pro-interleukin-1β and pro-interleukin-18 to active interleukin-1β and interleukin-18, central mediators of the inflammatory response; inflammasomes can also promote a type of cell death known as pyroptosis. The NLRP3 inflammasome has received the most study and plays an important pathogenic role in a vast range of pathologies associated with inflammation-including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, the complications of diabetes, neurological and autoimmune disorders, dry macular degeneration, gout, and the cytokine storm phase of COVID-19. A consideration of the molecular biology underlying inflammasome priming and activation enables the prediction that a range of nutraceuticals may have clinical potential for suppressing inflammasome activity-antioxidants including phycocyanobilin, phase 2 inducers, melatonin, and N-acetylcysteine, the AMPK activator berberine, glucosamine, zinc, and various nutraceuticals that support generation of hydrogen sulfide. Complex nutraceuticals or functional foods featuring a number of these agents may find utility in the prevention and control of a wide range of medical disorders.

Sulforaphane modulates CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis and inflammation in palmitic acid-induced cell injury in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells

Studies have shown that sulforaphane (SFN) has potent anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging effects on obesity and associated disorder such as diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, and metabolic syndrome. fractalkine (CX3CL1) and its receptor, CX3CR1, play an important role in muscle metabolism by improving insulin-sensitizing effects. Here, in this study we examined the SFN effect on CX3CL1 and its receptor, CX3CR1, in C2C12 myotubes in palmitic acid (PA)-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. The results showed that PA (750 μM) evoked lipotoxicity as a reduction in cell viability, increased IL-6 and TNF-α expression, and enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, SFN pretreatment attenuated the levels of, IL-6 and TNF-α in C2C12 myotubes exposure to PA. Moreover, SFN pretreatment up-regulated nuclear factor erythroid related factor 2 (Nrf2) /heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) pathway protein in C2C12 cells as indicated by a decrease in ROS levels. Interestingly, PA also caused an increase in CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 expression that SFN abrogated it. We also found the protective effect of SFN agonist PA-induced lipotoxicity with promotes in UCP3 gene expression in C2C12 cells. Collectively, these findings suggest that SFN hampers the PA-induced inflammation in C2C12 cells by modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis and may propose a new therapeutic approach to protect against obesity-associated disorders in skeletal muscle cells.