SummaryMerosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy 1A (MDC1A) is a devastating neuromuscular disease that results in children being confined to a wheelchair, requiring ventilator assistance to breathe and premature death. MDC1A is caused by mutations in the LAMA2 gene, which results in the partial or complete loss of laminin-211 and laminin-221, the major laminin isoforms found in the basal lamina of skeletal muscle. MDC1A patients exhibit reduced 71 integrin; however, it is unclear how the secondary loss of 71 integrin contributes to MDC1A disease progression. To investigate whether restoring 7 integrin expression can alleviate the myopathic phenotype observed in MDC1A, we produced transgenic mice that overexpressed the 7 integrin in the skeletal muscle of the dy W-/-mouse model of MDC1A. Enhanced expression of the 7 integrin restored sarcolemmal localization of the 71 integrin to laminin-2-deficient myofibers, changed the composition of the muscle extracellular matrix, reduced muscle pathology, maintained muscle strength and function and improved the life expectancy of dy W-/-mice. Taken together, these results indicate that enhanced expression of 7 integrin prevents muscle disease progression through augmentation and/or stabilization of the existing extracellular matrix in laminin-2-deficient mice, and strategies that increase 7 integrin in muscle might provide an innovative approach for the treatment of MDC1A.
Peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase 2 (PTRH2) regulates integrin-mediated pro-survival and apoptotic signaling. PTRH2 is critical in muscle development and regulates myogenic differentiation. In humans a biallelic mutation in the PTRH2 gene causes infantile-onset multisystem disease with progressive muscle weakness. We report here that the Ptrh2 knockout mouse model recapitulates the progressive congenital muscle pathology observed in patients. Ptrh2 null mice demonstrate multiple degenerating and regenerating muscle fibers, increased central nuclei, elevated creatine kinase activity and endomysial fibrosis. This progressive muscle pathology resembles the muscular dystrophy phenotype in humans and mice lacking the α7 integrin. We demonstrate that in normal muscle Ptrh2 associates in a complex with the α7β1 integrin at the sarcolemma and Ptrh2 expression is decreased in α7 integrin null muscle. Furthermore, Ptrh2 expression is altered in skeletal muscle of classical congenital muscular dystrophy mouse models. Ptrh2 levels were up-regulated in dystrophin deficient mdx muscle, which correlates with the elevated levels of the α7β1 integrin observed in mdx muscle and Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients. Similar to the α7 integrin, Ptrh2 expression was decreased in laminin-α2 dyW null gastrocnemius muscle. Our data establishes a PTRH2 mutation as a novel driver of congenital muscle degeneration and identifies a potential novel target to treat muscle myopathies.
Muscle differentiation requires a complex signaling cascade that leads to the production of multinucleated myofibers. Genes regulating the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway also function in controlling cell differentiation. How such signaling pathways are regulated during differentiation is not fully understood. Bit-1 (also known as PTRH2) mutations in humans cause infantile-onset multisystem disease with muscle weakness. We demonstrate here that Bit-1 controls skeletal myogenesis through a caspase-mediated signaling pathway. Bit-1-null mice exhibit a myopathy with hypotrophic myofibers. Bit-1-null myoblasts prematurely express muscle-specific proteins. Similarly, knockdown of Bit-1 expression in C2C12 myoblasts promotes early differentiation, whereas overexpression delays differentiation. In wildtype mice, Bit-1 levels increase during differentiation. Bit-1-null myoblasts exhibited increased levels of caspase 9 and caspase 3 without increased apoptosis. Bit-1 re-expression partially rescued differentiation. In Bit-1-null muscle, Bcl-2 levels are reduced, suggesting that Bcl-2-mediated inhibition of caspase 9 and caspase 3 is decreased. Bcl-2 re-expression rescued Bit-1-mediated early differentiation in Bit-1-null myoblasts and C2C12 cells with knockdown of Bit-1 expression. These results support an unanticipated yet essential role for Bit-1 in controlling myogenesis through regulation of Bcl-2.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether extracellular matrix (ECM) composition through integrin receptors modulated the volume-sensitive osmolyte anion channels (VSOACs) in skeletal muscle-derived C2C12 cells. Cl(-) currents were recorded in whole cell voltage-clamped cells grown on laminin (LM), fibronectin (FN), or in the absence of a defined ECM (NM). Basal membrane currents recorded in isotonic media (300 mosmol/kg) were larger in cells grown on FN (3.8-fold at +100 mV) or LM (8.8-fold at +100 mV) when compared with NM. VSOAC currents activated by cell exposure to hypotonic solution were larger in cells grown on LM (1.72-fold at +100 mV) or FN (1.75-fold at +100 mV) compared with NM. Additionally, the kinetics of VSOAC activation was approximately 27% quicker on FN and LM. These currents were tamoxifen sensitive, displayed outward rectification, reversed at the equilibrium potential of Cl(-) and inactivated at potentials >+60 mV. Specific knockdown of beta(1)-integrin by short hairpin RNA interference strongly inhibited the VSOAC Cl(-) currents in cells plated on FN. In conclusion, ECM composition and integrins profoundly influence the biophysical properties and mechanisms of onset of VSOACs.
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