We have examined the progression and regulation of myogenesis, cellular levels of IGFBP-4, -5, -6, and several extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (fibronectin, integrin α5, β1 subunits and a disintegrin metalloprotease ADAM12) in murine C2C12 myoblasts during 3-day differentiation under high glucose alone or combined with high insulin, factors characteristic for type 1 and 2 diabetes. High ambient glucose inhibited myogenesis of C2C12 myoblasts, an effect manifested by a twofold decrease in myoblast fusion, a drop in intracellular MyoD, myogenin and MHC levels, and increased cellular content of active myostatin isoform. Reduction in myogenesis by high glucose is accompanied by increase in cellular levels of IGFBP-4 and -6 and decrease in IGFBP-5. High glucose could modify ECM components assembly, by the increase in fibronectin levels and the decrease in metalloprotease ADAM12, without the effect on integrin α5 and β1 subunits. In contrast, high glucose and high insulin activate myoblast differentiation, manifested by an increase in fusion index and myogenin, as well as a drop in myostatin levels. The presence of high insulin prevented high-glucose-dependent changes in IGFBPs and ECM proteins. The data indicate the potential mechanisms of the influence of extracellular environment associated with maternal diabetes and insulin resistance on foetal myogenesis.

The aim of this study was to examine the potential interactions of IGF-I with TNF-α and IFN-γ with regard to regulation of the myogenesis and proliferative potential of mouse C2C12 myoblasts. The stimulation of myogenesis by IGF-I (30 nmol/l) was manifested by an enhanced myoblast fusion and expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC) during the first 3 days of differentiation. IGF-I-dependent fusion and MHC expression was reduced by TNF-α and IFN-γ. Both cytokines prevented the stimulatory effect of IGF-I on MyoD expression with minor modification of the myogenin level. Both TNF-α and IFN-γ activated the expression of cyclin A in myoblasts restimulated to proliferation; however, when used in combination with IGF-I these cytokines prevented the rise in cyclin A induced by growth factor. In conclusion: i) TNF-α and IFN-γ reduce IGF-I-dependent myogenesis which was manifested by the reduction of myoblast fusion and MHC cellular levels, ii) Molecular mechanisms of inhibitory action of TNF-α and IFN-γ on IGF-I-mediated differentiation involve a decrease in MyoD whereas myogenin level plays a minor role, iii) TNF-α and IFN-γ increase the proliferative potential of myoblasts; however, they reduced the mitogenic effect of IGF-I, manifested by a decrease of IGF-I-stimulated cyclin A expression in myoblasts reinduced to proliferation. Interactions among IGF-I and proinflammatory cytokines are therefore important to establish a number of myoblasts and the onset of myogenesis during muscle regeneration.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the potential effect of IFN-gamma (interferon-gamma) on the cellular content and phosphorylation of PKB (protein kinase B), p70S6k (p70 S6 kinase) and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), and on the ability of insulin to stimulate the glucose uptake and protein synthesis in mouse C2C12 myotubes. Insulin (100 nmol/l) stimulated glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes by 203.4%. Glucose uptake in cells differentiated in the presence of IFN-gamma (10 ng/ml) was increased by 165.8% and was not further significantly modified by the addition of insulin (183.4% of control value). Insulin increased the rate of protein synthesis by 198.8%. The basal rate of protein synthesis was not affected by IFN-gamma; however, this cytokine abolished the insulin effect. Cellular levels of PKB, p70S6k, p42MAPK and p44MAPK were not modified by IFN-gamma. Insulin caused the phosphorylation of PKB and the activation of p70S6k, but not p42MAPK and p44MAPK. In cells differentiated in the presence of IFN-gamma, the insulin-mediated PKB phosphorylation was significantly diminished, whereas the phosphorylation of p70S6k was completely prevented. Pretreatment of C2C12 myogenic cells with IFN-gamma led to the marked increase in p42MAPK phosphorylation. Exposure of C2C12 myoblasts to IFN-gamma impaired MyoD and myogenin expression and decreased the fusion index on the fifth day of differentiation. In conclusion, (i) IFN-gamma present in the extracellular environment during C2C12 myoblast differentiation prevents the stimulatory action of insulin on protein synthesis; (ii) IFN-gamma-induced insulin resistance of protein synthesis in myogenic cells can be associated with the decreased phosphorylation of PKB and p70S6k, as well as with the augmented basal phosphorylation of p42MAPK; (iii) this cytokine effect can be partly explained by alterations in the differentiation process.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ on the activation of protein kinase B (PKB), p70S6k, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p90rsk, and on IGF-I-stimulated glucose uptake and protein synthesis in mouse C2C12 myotubes. 100 nmol/l IGF-I stimulated glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes by 198.1% and 10 ng/ml TNF-α abolished this effect. Glucose uptake in cells differentiated in the presence of 10 ng/ml IFN-γ increased by 167.2% but did not undergo significant further modification upon the addition of IGF-I. IGF-I increased the rate of protein synthesis by 249.8%. Neither TNF-α nor IFN-γ influenced basal protein synthesis, but both cytokines prevented the IGF-I effect. 10 ng/ml IL-1β did not modify either the basal or IGF-I-dependent glucose uptake and protein synthesis. With the exception of TNF-α causing an 18% decrease in the level of PKB protein, the cellular levels of PKB, p70S6k, p42MAPK, p44MAPK and p90rsk were not affected by the cytokines. IGF-I caused the phosphorylation of PKB (an approximate 8-fold increase above the basal value after 40 min of IGF-I treatment), p42MAPK (a 2.81-fold increase after 50 min), and the activation of p70S6k and p90rsk, manifesting as gel mobility retardation. In cells differentiated in the presence of TNF-α or IFN-γ, this IGF-I-mediated PKB and p70S6k phosphorylation was significantly diminished, and the increase in p42MAPK and p90rsk phosphorylation was prevented. The basal p42MAPK phosphorylation in C2C12 cells treated with IFN-γ was high and comparable with the activation of this kinase by IGF-I. Pretreatment of myogenic cells with IL-1β did not modify the IGF-I-stimulated phosphorylation of PKB, p70S6k, p42MAPK and p90rsk. In conclusion: i) TNF-α and IFN-γ, but not IL-1β, if present in the extracellular environment during C2C12 myoblast differentiation, prevent the stimulatory action of IGF-I on protein synthesis. ii) TNF-α- and IFN-γ-induced IGF-I resistance of protein synthesis could be associated with the decreased phosphorylation of PKB and p70S6k. iii) The activation of glucose uptake in C2C12 myogenic cells treated with IFN-γ is PKB independent. iv) The similar effects of TNF-α and IFN-γ on the signalling and action of IGF-I on protein synthesis in myogenic cells could suggest the involvement of both of these cytokines in protein loss in skeletal muscle.

The aim of the study was to examine potential interactions among IGF-I and proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IFN-γ, in the regulation of local IGF-I bioavailability and cellular proteins mediating myogenic signals. We investigated levels of IGFBP-4, -5, -6, protein kinase Czeta (PKCζ), p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) in differentiating mouse C2C12 myoblasts. IGF-I significantly stimulated expression of IGFBP-5. TNF-α and IFN-γ attenuated the expression of IGFBP-4 and -6 under basal conditions and in the presence of IGF-I, and inhibited IGF-I-induced IGFBP-5 expression during 5-day myogenesis. TNF-α and IFN-γ markedly attenuated p38 expression in the presence of IGF-I on the 5th day of myogenesis. When combined with IGF-I the cytokines exerted opposite effects on the PKCζ level, i.e. TNF-α caused an increase, whereas IFN-γ reduced the cellular content of this kinase. Exposition of C2C12 myoblasts to IGF-I or cytokines led to the stimulation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation; however, both TNF-α and IFN-γ exerted an inhibitory effect on the activation of ERK1/2 in myoblasts cultured in the presence of IGF-I. We concluded as follows: i) TNF-α and IFN-γ present in the extracellular environment of differentiating C2C12 myoblasts can alter the local bioavailability of IGF-I by inhibiting the expression of IGFBP-4, -5, and -6, ii) the decrease in p38 expression and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in C2C12 myoblasts exposed to cytokines can lead to disturbances in IGF-I-regulated myogenesis.