Rapid disuse and denervation atrophy involve transcriptional changes similar to those of muscle wasting during systemic diseases

Jennifer M. Sacheck, Jon Philippe K. Hyatt, Anna Raffaello, R. Thomas Jagoe, Roland R. Roy, V. Reggie Edgerton, Stewart H. Lecker, Alfred L. Goldberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

471 Scopus citations

Abstract

We previously identified a common set of genes, termed atrogenes, whose expression is coordinately induced or suppressed in muscle during systemic wasting states (fasting, cancer cachexia, renal failure, diabetes). To determine whether this transcriptional program also functions during atrophy resulting from loss of contractile activity and whether atrogene expression correlates with the rate of muscle weight loss, we used cDNA microarrays and RT-polymerase chain reaction to analyze changes in mRNA from rat gastrocnemius during disuse atrophy induced by denervation or spinal cord isolation. Three days after Den or SI, the rate of muscle weight loss was greatest, and 78% of the atrogenes identified during systemic catabolic states were induced or repressed. Of particular interest were the large inductions of key ubiquitin ligases, atrogin-1 (35- to 44-fold) and MuRF1 (12- to 22-fold), and the suppression of PGC-1α and PGC-1β coactivators (15-fold). When atrophy slowed (day 14), the expression of 92% of these atrogenes returned toward basal levels. At 28 days, the atrophy-inducing transcription factor, FoxO1, was still induced and may be important in maintaining the "atrophied" state. Thus, 1) the atrophy associated with systemic catabolic states and following disuse involves similar transcriptional adaptations; and 2) disuse atrophy proceeds through multiple phases corresponding to rapidly atrophying and atrophied muscles that involve distinct transcriptional patterns.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)140-155
Number of pages16
JournalFASEB Journal
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Atrogene
  • Inactivity
  • Muscle disease
  • Muscle wasting
  • PGC-1
  • Proteasome
  • Ubiquitin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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