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

Moderate-intensity training can ameliorate the process of cardiac apoptosis induced by lithium drug consumption in male Wistar rats

Background and objective

Lithium medication, given its significant role in the treatment or reduction of psychiatric disorders, may exert adverse effects on cardiac tissue. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of different exercise training intensities on the process of cardiac apoptosis and serum levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) resulting from lithium administration in male Wistar rats.

Methodology

In the present experimental study, 35 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=7); Control (CTL), Lithium (Li), High-Intensity training + lithium (HIT-Li), Moderate-Intensity training + lithium (MIT-Li), and Low-Intensity training + lithium (LIT-Li). Lithium drug (dose of 40 mmol/kg dry food weight) and exercise training (5 days per week) were administered for eight weeks. Serum levels of cTnI, mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3, and histopatholigical changes were assessed by using the ELISA method, Real-Time PCR, and H&E staining, respectively.

Results

The expression of the Bcl-2 gene was significantly increased in the LIT-Li group compared to the Li group (P = 0.003). Serum levels of cTnI were considereably higher in the Li group compared to the MIT-Li group (P = 0.0001). The expression of the Bax gene, in the LIT-Li, HIT-L, and Li groups, significantly increased compared to the MIT-Li group (P = 0.0001). Histopathological scores decreased in MIT-Li compared to Li group (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

It seems that among different exercise intensities, the greatest protective effect against lithium consumption can be observed with moderate exercise intensity, which may potentially modulate factors influencing cardiac apoptosis and reduce lithium toxicity in the cardiac tissue of rats.

Mitochondrial Apoptotic Signaling Involvement in Remodeling During Myogenesis and Skeletal Muscle Atrophy

Mitochondria play a major role in apoptotic signaling. In addition to its role in eliminating dysfunctional cells, mitochondrial apoptotic signaling is implicated as a key component of myogenic differentiation and skeletal muscle atrophy. For example, the activation of cysteine-aspartic proteases (caspases; CASP's) can aid in the initial remodeling stages of myogenic differentiation by cleaving protein kinases, transcription factors, and cytoskeletal proteins. Precise regulation of these signals is needed to prevent excessive cell disassemble and subsequent cell death. During skeletal muscle atrophy, the activation of CASP's and mitochondrial derived nucleases participate in myonuclear fragmentation, a potential loss of myonuclei, and cleavage of contractile structures within skeletal muscle. The B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) family of proteins play a significant role in regulating myogenesis and skeletal muscle atrophy by governing the initiating steps of mitochondrial apoptotic signaling. This review discusses the role of mitochondrial apoptotic signaling in skeletal muscle remodeling during myogenic differentiation and skeletal muscle pathological states, including aging, disuse, and muscular dystrophy.

Aerobic Exercise Training Improves Renal Injury in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats by Increasing Renalase Expression in Medulla

We aimed to examine the effects of aerobic exercise training on renal function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and elucidate their possible mechanisms. Adult male SHR and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were divided into four groups: WKY sedentary group, SHR sedentary group, low-intensity training group, and medium-intensity training group. Using molecular and biochemical approaches, we investigated the effects of 14-week training on renalase (RNLS) protein levels, renal function, and apoptosis and oxidative stress modulators in kidney tissues. In vitro, angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced human kidney proximal epithelial cells (HK-2) were treated with RNLS, and changes in apoptosis and oxidative stress levels were observed. Our results show that moderate training improved renal function decline in SHR. In addition, aerobic exercise therapy significantly increased levels of RNLS in the renal medulla of SHR. We observed in vitro that RNLS significantly inhibited the increase of Ang II-inducedapoptosis and oxidative stress levels in HK-2. In conclusion, aerobic exercise training effectively improved renal function in SHR by promoting RNLS expression in the renal medulla. These results explain the possible mechanism in which exercise improves renal injury in hypertensive patients and suggest RNLS as a novel therapy for kidney injury patients.

The effect of endurance exercise and rosehip extract supplementation on the expression of P53 and cytochrome C genes in male rat heart

Introduction: Considering the effect of apoptosis on cardiovascular disease, this study aimed to determine the combined effect of endurance exercise and rosehip extract supplementation on the expression of P53 and cytochrome C genes in the myocardium of male rats. Methods: A total of 35 male rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=7) as follows: endurance exercise+rosehip extract supplementation (Ex+Supp), endurance exercise (Ex), rosehip extract supplementation (Supp), six-month control (Con2), and three-month control (Con). The subjects in Ex+Supp and Ex groups performed endurance exercise (running on a treadmill at 24-33 m/min for 10-60 min) for 12 weeks, five times a week. Subjects in Ex+Supp and Supp groups consumed 1000 milligrams/ kilogram of rosehip extract for 12 weeks. Also, Con and Con2 groups did not receive any intervention. To RNA extraction and synthesis cDNA and evaluate the P53 and cytochrome C genes of the myocardium of rats, RT-PCR analysis was used. Results: Neither endurance exercise nor rosehip alone nor together significantly affected the expression of cytochrome C and P53 genes in the heart muscle of male rats (P>0.05). Also, endurance exercise (P=0.001) and rosehip supplementation (P=0.002) alone and in interaction (P<0.01) had a significant effect on body weight, myocardium weight, and the ratio of myocardium weight to body weight in male rats. Conclusion: Twelve weeks of endurance exercise accompanied with rosehip extract did not significantly affect the expression of P53 and cytochrome C genes. Further studies are suggested to confirm these results.

Apoptotic response to acute and chronic exercises in rat skeletal muscle: Eccentric & sprint interval

AIMS

Apoptosis is a type of cell death that is vital for tissue homeostasis. Exercise can lead to initial stimulation of apoptotic regulator genes. We investigated their response to an acute exercise and their adaptations to chronic exercise training with an emphasis on eccentric and sprint interval exercises.

MAIN METHODS

Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 8): acute eccentric exercise (AEE), acute sprint interval exercise (ASE), chronic eccentric exercise (CEE), chronic sprint interval exercise (CSE) and control (C). The AEE group underwent downhill running (at -16° slope) at 16 m/min 18 sets. The ASE group run for 7 sets and the speed increased gradually to 70-80 m/min. The chronic groups were implemented for 9 weeks. The CEE run 1 set for 15 min at -4° slope that increased gradually to 90 min at -16°. The CSE sprinted 1 min with 2-5 min rest. The mRNA in soleus (slow-twitch muscle) and super vastus lateralis (SVL) (fast-twitch muscle) muscles was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR.

KEY FINDINGS

According to the gene expression level in soleus muscle, apoptotic responses to acute and chronic sprint interval exercise as well as towards chronic eccentric exercise were clearly evident. But in SVL muscle, the only acute eccentric exercise group showed significance increase in apoptotic factors.

SIGNIFICANCE

these results revealed the apoptotic response to the exercise depends on the type and intensity of exercise and also on the sensitivity and susceptibility of the muscle.

Role of apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) in cancer

Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis. Under physiological conditions, ARC is abundantly expressed in terminally differentiated cells, including cardiomyocytes, skeletal muscles and neurons. ARC serves a key role in determining cell fate, and abnormal ARC expression has been demonstrated to be associated with abnormal cell growth. Previous studies have revealed that ARC was upregulated in several different types of solid tumor, where it suppressed tumor cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the increased expression levels of ARC in cancer cells contributed to the development of therapeutic resistance and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with leukemia. However, the exact role of ARC, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms involved, remain poorly understood. The present review summarizes the characteristics of ARC and its cytoprotective role under different conditions and describes the potential ARC as a new target for cancer therapy.

Role of apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) in cancer

Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis. Under physiological conditions, ARC is abundantly expressed in terminally differentiated cells, including cardiomyocytes, skeletal muscles and neurons. ARC serves a key role in determining cell fate, and abnormal ARC expression has been demonstrated to be associated with abnormal cell growth. Previous studies have revealed that ARC was upregulated in several different types of solid tumor, where it suppressed tumor cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the increased expression levels of ARC in cancer cells contributed to the development of therapeutic resistance and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with leukemia. However, the exact role of ARC, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms involved, remain poorly understood. The present review summarizes the characteristics of ARC and its cytoprotective role under different conditions and describes the potential ARC as a new target for cancer therapy.

Mitophagy regulates mitochondrial network signaling, oxidative stress, and apoptosis during myoblast differentiation

Macroautophagy/autophagy is a degradative process essential for various cellular processes. We previously demonstrated that autophagy-deficiency causes myoblast apoptosis and impairs myotube formation. In this study, we continued this work with particular emphasis on mitochondrial remodelling and stress/apoptotic signaling. We found increased (p < 0.05) autophagic (e.g., altered LC3B levels, increased ATG7, decreased SQSTM1) and mitophagic (e.g., BNIP3 upregulation, mitochondrial localized GFP-LC3 puncta, and elevated mitochondrial LC3B-II) signaling during myoblast differentiation. shRNA-mediated knockdown of ATG7 (shAtg7) decreased these autophagic and mitophagic responses, while increasing CASP3 activity and ANXA5/annexin V staining in differentiating myoblasts; ultimately resulting in dramatically impaired myogenesis. Further confirming the importance of mitophagy in these responses, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout of Bnip3 (bnip3^-/-) resulted in increased CASP3 activity and DNA fragmentation as well as impaired myoblast differentiation. In addition, shAtg7 myoblasts displayed greater endoplasmic reticulum (e.g., increased CAPN activity and HSPA) and mitochondrial (e.g., mPTP formation, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, elevated mitochondrial 4-HNE) stress. shAtg7 and bnip3^-/- myoblasts also displayed altered mitochondria-associated signaling (e.g., PPARGC1A, DNM1L, OPA1) and protein content (e.g., SLC25A4, VDAC1, CYCS). Moreover, shAtg7 myoblasts displayed CYCS and AIFM1 release from mitochondria, and CASP9 activation. Similarly, bnip3^-/- myoblasts had significantly higher CASP9 activation during differentiation. Importantly, administration of a chemical inhibitor of CASP9 (Ac-LEHD-CHO) or dominant-negative CASP9 (ad-DNCASP9) partially recovered differentiation and myogenesis in shAtg7 myoblasts. Together, these data demonstrate an essential role for autophagy in protecting myoblasts from mitochondrial oxidative stress and apoptotic signaling during differentiation, as well as in the regulation of mitochondrial network remodelling and myogenesis. Abbreviations: 3MA: 3-methyladenine; 4-HNE: 4-hydroxynonenal; ACT: actin; AIFM1/AIF: apoptosis-inducing factor, mitochondrion-associated 1; ANXA5: annexin V; ATG7: autophagy related 7; AU: arbitrary units; BAX: BCL2-associated X protein; BCL2: B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2; BECN1: beclin 1, autophagy related; BNIP3: BCL2/adenovirus E1B interacting protein 3; CAPN: calpain; CASP: caspase; CASP3: caspase 3; CASP8: caspase 8; CASP9: caspase 9; CASP12: caspase 12; CAT: catalase; CQ: chloroquine; CYCS: cytochrome c, somatic; DCF; 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein; DNM1L/DRP1: dynamin 1-like; DM: differentiation media; DMEM: Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GFP: green fluorescent protein; GM: growth media; p-H2AFX: phosphorylated H2A histone family, member X; H2BFM: H2B histone family, member M; HBSS: Hanks balanced salt solution; HSPA/HSP70: heat shock protein family A; JC-1: tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; mPTP: mitochondrial permeability transition pore; MYH: myosin heavy chain; MYOG: myogenin; OPA1: OPA1, mitochondrial dynamin like GTPase; PI: propidium iodide; PINK1: PTEN induced putative kinase 1; PPARGC1A/PGC1α: peroxisome proliferative activated receptor, gamma, coactivator 1 alpha; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SLC25A4/ANT1: solute carrier family 25 (mitochondrial carrier, adenine nucleotide translocator), member 4; SOD1: superoxide dismutase 1, soluble; SOD2: superoxide dismutase 2, mitochondrial; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; VDAC1: voltage-dependent anion channel 1.

High-intensity exercise training ameliorates aberrant expression of markers of mitochondrial turnover but not oxidative damage in skeletal muscle of men with essential hypertension

AIM

To examine whether hypertensive individuals exhibit altered muscle mitochondrial turnover and redox homeostasis compared with healthy normotensive counterparts, and whether the antihypertensive effect of high-intensity exercise training is associated with improved mitochondrial quality and enhanced anti-oxidant defence.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional and longitudinal parallel design, 24 essential hypertensive (HYP) and 13 healthy normotensive (NORM) men completed 6 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Twenty four-hour ambulatory blood pressure, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, exercise capacity and skeletal muscle characteristics were examined before and after HIIT. Expression of markers of mitochondrial turnover, anti-oxidant protection and oxidative damage was determined in vastus lateralis muscle biopsies. Muscle protein levels of eNOS and VEGF, and muscle capillarity were also evaluated.

RESULTS

At baseline, HYP exhibited lower expression of markers of mitochondrial volume/biogenesis, mitochondrial fusion/fission and autophagy along with depressed eNOS expression compared with NORM. Expression of markers of anti-oxidant protection was similar in HYP and NORM, whereas oxidative damage was higher in HYP than in NORM. In HYP, HIIT lowered blood pressure, improved body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise capacity, up-regulated markers of mitochondrial volume/biogenesis and autophagy and increased eNOS and VEGF protein content. Furthermore, in HYP, HIIT induced divergent responses in markers of mitochondrial fusion and anti-oxidant protection, did not affect markers of mitochondrial fission, and increased apoptotic susceptibility and oxidative damage.

CONCLUSION

The present results indicate aberrant muscle mitochondrial turnover and augmented oxidative damage in hypertensive individuals. High-intensity exercise training can partly reverse hypertension-related impairments in muscle mitochondrial turnover, but not redox imbalance.

Effect of acute and chronic autophagy deficiency on skeletal muscle apoptotic signaling, morphology, and function

Autophagy is a catabolic process that targets and degrades cytoplasmic materials. In skeletal muscle, autophagy is required for the control of mass under catabolic conditions, but is also basally active in the maintenance of myofiber homeostasis. In this study, we found that some specific autophagic markers (LC3-I, LC3-II, SQSTM1) were basally lower in glycolytic muscle compared to oxidative muscle of autophagy competent mice. In contrast, basal autophagic flux was higher in glycolytic muscle. In addition, we used several skeletal muscle-specific Atg7 transgenic mouse models to investigate the effect of acute (iAtg7^-/-) and chronic (cAtg7^-/-) autophagy deficiency on skeletal muscle morphology, contractility, and apoptotic signaling. While acute autophagy ablation (iAtg7^-/-) resulted in increased centralized nuclei in glycolytic muscle, it did not alter contractile properties or measures of apoptosis and proteolysis. In contrast, with chronic autophagy deficiency (cAtg7^-/-) there was an increased proportion of centralized nuclei, as well as reduced force and altered twitch kinetics in glycolytic muscle. Glycolytic muscle of cAtg7^-/- mice also displayed an increased level of the pro-apoptotic protein BAX, as well as calpain and proteasomal enzymatic activity. Collectively, our data demonstrate cumulative damage from chronic skeletal muscle-specific autophagy deficiency with associated apoptotic and proteasomal upregulation. These findings point towards the importance of investigating different muscle/fiber types when studying skeletal muscle autophagy, and the critical role of autophagy in the maintenance of myofiber function, integrity, and cellular health.

Targeting Mitochondria with Avocatin B Induces Selective Leukemia Cell Death

Treatment regimens for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) continue to offer weak clinical outcomes. Through a high-throughput cell-based screen, we identified avocatin B, a lipid derived from avocado fruit, as a novel compound with cytotoxic activity in AML. Avocatin B reduced human primary AML cell viability without effect on normal peripheral blood stem cells. Functional stem cell assays demonstrated selectivity toward AML progenitor and stem cells without effects on normal hematopoietic stem cells. Mechanistic investigations indicated that cytotoxicity relied on mitochondrial localization, as cells lacking functional mitochondria or CPT1, the enzyme that facilitates mitochondria lipid transport, were insensitive to avocatin B. Furthermore, avocatin B inhibited fatty acid oxidation and decreased NADPH levels, resulting in ROS-dependent leukemia cell death characterized by the release of mitochondrial proteins, apoptosis-inducing factor, and cytochrome c. This study reveals a novel strategy for selective leukemia cell eradication based on a specific difference in mitochondrial function.

Exercise and the Regulation of Mitochondrial Turnover

Exercise is a well-known stimulus for the expansion of the mitochondrial pool within skeletal muscle. Mitochondria have a remarkable ability to remodel their networks and can respond to an array of signaling stimuli following contractile activity to adapt to the metabolic demands of the tissue, synthesizing proteins to expand the mitochondrial reticulum. In addition, when they become dysfunctional, these organelles can be recycled by a specialized intracellular system. The signals regulating this mitochondrial life cycle of synthesis and degradation during exercise are still an area of great research interest. As mitochondrial turnover has valuable consequences in physical performance, in addition to metabolic health, disease, and aging, consideration of the signals which control this cycle is vital. This review focuses on the regulation of mitochondrial turnover in skeletal muscle and summarizes our current understanding of the impact that exercise has in modulating this process.

High-intensity interval and endurance training are associated with divergent skeletal muscle adaptations in a rodent model of hypertension

Skeletal muscle is extremely adaptable to a variety of metabolic challenges, as both traditional moderate-intensity endurance (ET) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) increases oxidative potential in a coordinated manner. Although these responses have been clearly demonstrated in healthy individuals, it remains to be determined whether both produce similar responses in the context of hypertension, one of the most prevalent and costly diseases worldwide. Therefore, in the current study, we used the Dahl sodium-sensitive rat, a model of hypertension, to determine the molecular responses to 4 wk of either ET or HIIT in the red (RG) and white gastrocnemius (WG) muscles. In the RG, both ET and HIIT increased the content of electron transport chain proteins and increased succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) content in type I fibers. Although both intensities of exercise shifted fiber type in RG (increased IIA, decreased IIX), only HIIT was associated with a reduction in endothelial nitric oxide synthase and an increase in HIF-1α proteins. In the WG, both ET and HIIT increased markers of the electron transport chain; however, HIIT decreased SDH content in a fiber-specific manner. ET increased type IIA, decreased IIB fibers, and increased capillarization, while, in contrast, HIIT increased the percentage of IIB fibers, decreased capillary-to-fiber ratios, decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and increased hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein. Altogether, these data show that unlike in healthy animals, ET and HIIT have divergent effects in the skeletal muscle of hypertensive rats. This suggests ET may be optimal at improving the oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle in animals with hypertension.

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.

Distinct muscle apoptotic pathways are activated in muscles with different fiber types in a rat model of critical illness myopathy

Critical illness myopathy (CIM) is associated with severe muscle atrophy and fatigue in affected patients. Apoptotic signaling is involved in atrophy and is elevated in muscles from patients with CIM. In this study we investigated underlying mechanisms of apoptosis-related pathways in muscles with different fiber type composition in a rat model of CIM using denervation and glucocorticoid administration (denervation and steroid-induced myopathy, DSIM). Soleus and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles showed severe muscle atrophy (40-60% of control muscle weight) and significant apoptosis in interstitial as well as myofiber nuclei that was similar between the two muscles with DSIM. Caspase-3 and -8 activities, but not caspase-9 and -12, were elevated in TA and not in soleus muscle, while the caspase-independent proteins endonuclease G (EndoG) and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) were not changed in abundance nor differentially localized in either muscle. Anti-apoptotic proteins HSP70, -27, and apoptosis repressor with a caspase recruitment domain (ARC) were elevated in soleus compared to TA muscle and ARC was significantly decreased with induction of DSIM in soleus. Results indicate that apoptosis is a significant process associated with DSIM in both soleus and TA muscles, and that apoptosis-associated processes are differentially regulated in muscles of different function and fiber type undergoing atrophy due to DSIM. We conclude that interventions combating apoptosis with CIM may need to be directed towards inhibiting caspase-dependent as well as -independent mechanisms to be able to affect muscles of all fiber types.

Calcium homeostasis is altered in skeletal muscle of spontaneously hypertensive rats: cytofluorimetric and gene expression analysis

Hypertension is often associated with skeletal muscle pathological conditions related to function and metabolism. The mechanisms underlying the development of these pathological conditions remain undefined. Because calcium homeostasis is a biomarker of muscle function, we assessed whether it is altered in hypertensive muscles. We measured resting intracellular calcium and store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) in fast- and slow-twitch muscle fibers from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) by cytofluorimetric technique and determined the expression of SOCE gene machinery by real-time PCR. Hypertension caused a phenotype-dependent dysregulation of calcium homeostasis; the resting intracellular calcium of extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles of SHRs were differently altered with respect to the related muscle of normotensive animals. In addition, soleus muscles of SHR showed reduced activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and decreased sarcolemmal calcium permeability at rest and after SOCE activation. Accordingly, we found an alteration of the expression levels of some SOCE components, such as stromal interaction molecule 1, calcium release-activated calcium modulator 1, and transient receptor potential canonical 1. The hypertension-induced alterations of calcium homeostasis in the soleus muscle of SHRs occurred with changes of some functional outcomes as excitability and resting chloride conductance. We provide suitable targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at counterbalancing muscle performance decline in hypertension, and propose the reported calcium-dependent parameters as indexes to predict how the antihypertensive drugs could influence muscle function.

Autophagy is altered in skeletal and cardiac muscle of spontaneously hypertensive rats

AIM

Autophagy is a subcellular degradation mechanism important for muscle maintenance. Hypertension induces well-characterized pathological changes to the heart and is associated with impaired function and increased apoptotic signalling in skeletal muscle. We examined whether essential hypertension affects several autophagy markers in skeletal and cardiac muscle.

METHODS

Immunoblotting and qRT-PCR were used to measure autophagy-related proteins/mRNA in multiple skeletal muscles as well as left ventricle (LV) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY).

RESULTS

Skeletal muscles of hypertensive rats had decreased (P < 0.01) cross-sectional area of type I fibres (e.g. soleus WKY: 2952.9 ± 64.4 μm(2) vs. SHR: 2579.9 ± 85.8 μm(2)) and a fibre redistribution towards a 'fast' phenotype. Immunoblot analysis revealed that some SHR skeletal muscles displayed a decreased LC3II/I ratio (P < 0.05), but none showed differences in p62 protein. LC3 and LAMP2 mRNA levels were increased approx. 2-3-fold in all skeletal muscles (P < 0.05), while cathepsin activity, cathepsin L mRNA and Atg7 protein were increased 16-17% (P < 0.01), 2-3-fold (P < 0.05) and 29-49% (P < 0.01), respectively, in fast muscles of hypertensive animals. Finally, protein levels of BAG3, a marker of chaperone-assisted selective autophagy, were 18-25% lower (P < 0.05) in SHR skeletal muscles. In the LV of SHR, LC3I and p62 protein were elevated 34% (P < 0.05) and 47% (P < 0.01), respectively. Furthermore, p62 mRNA was 68% higher (P < 0.05), while LAMP2 mRNA was 45% lower (P < 0.05), in SHR cardiac muscle. There was no difference in Beclin1, Atg7, Bnip3 or BAG3 protein in the LV between strains.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that autophagy is altered in skeletal and cardiac muscle during hypertension.

Induction of mitochondrial biogenesis protects against caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptosis in L6 myoblasts

Apoptotic signaling plays an important role in skeletal muscle degradation, atrophy, and dysfunction. Mitochondria are central executers of apoptosis by directly participating in caspase-dependent and caspase-independent cell death signaling. Given the important apoptotic role of mitochondria, altering mitochondrial content could influence apoptosis. Therefore, we examined the direct effect of modest, but physiological increases in mitochondrial biogenesis and content on skeletal muscle apoptosis using a cell culture approach. Treatment of L6 myoblasts with SNAP or AICAR (5h/day for 5days) significantly increased PGC-1, AIF, cytochrome c, and MnSOD protein content as well as MitoTracker staining. Following induction of mitochondrial biogenesis, L6 myoblasts displayed decreased sensitivity to apoptotic cell death as well as reduced caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation following exposure to staurosporine (STS) and C2-ceramide. L6 myoblasts with higher mitochondrial content also exhibited reduced apoptosis and AIF release following exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Analysis of several key apoptosis regulatory proteins (ARC, Bax, Bcl-2, XIAP), antioxidant proteins (catalase, MnSOD, CuZnSOD), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) measures (DCF and MitoSOX fluorescence) revealed that these mechanisms were not responsible for the observed cellular protection. However, myoblasts with higher mitochondrial content were less sensitive to Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial permeability transition pore formation (mPTP) and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Collectively, these data demonstrate that increased mitochondrial content at physiological levels provides protection against apoptotic cell death by decreasing caspase-dependent and caspase-independent signaling through influencing mitochondrial Ca(2+)-mediated apoptotic events. Therefore, increasing mitochondrial biogenesis/content may represent a potential therapeutic approach in skeletal muscle disorders displaying increased apoptosis.