Serum Response Factor in muscle tissues: from development to ageing

Abstract

Skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle cells share various common characteristic features. During development the embryonic mesodermal layer contribute at different proportions to the formation of these tissues. At the functional level, contractility as well as its decline during ageing, are also common features. Cytoskeletal components of these tissues are characterized by various actin isoforms that govern through their status (polymerised versus monomeric) and their interaction with the myosins the contractile properties of these muscles. Finally, at the molecular level, a set of different transcription factors with the notable exception of Serum Response Factor SRF- which is commonly enriched in the 3 types of muscle- drive and maintain the differentiation of these cells (Myf5, MyoD, Myogenin for skeletal muscle; Nkx2.5, GATA4 for cardiomyocytes). In this review, we will focus on the transcription factor SRF and its role in the homeostasis of cardiac, smooth and skeletal muscle tissues as well as its behaviour during the age related remodelling process of these tissues with a specific emphasis on animal models and human data when available.

Displaced Myonuclei in Cancer Cachexia Suggest Altered Innervation

“…Since actin-binding protein Syne-1, which spans the nuclear membrane, is a nuclear anchor, its absence causes the dispersion of the nuclei clustered at the level of the NMJ [39]. In addition, the link between the nucleus and the cytoskeleton affects nuclear rotation, myogenesis and mechanotransduction [40], which, in its turn, activates transcription factors that are essential for muscle survival and healthy functioning (such as the Serum Response Factor) [41]. Consequently, nuclear mispositioning can cause muscle development defects and diseases.…”

Simultaneous Study of Mechanical Stretch-Induced Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis on C2C12 Myoblasts

“…Indeed, Carraro et al [2015] also stated that the protocol of functional electrical stimulation, including the pattern, amount, and intervals of a load, is important for an electrical stimulus to exert a positive effect on a denervated muscle. It may be worth mentioning that serum response factor (SRF) may play an important role in electrically stimulated myogenesis as SRF gene knockout mice failed to respond to overloadinduced hypertrophy [Coletti et al, 2016].…”

TBX2 and TBX3 act downstream of canonical WNT signaling in patterning and differentiation of the mouse ureteric mesenchyme

“…SMCs provide the main support for the structure and the contractile activity of many tubular organs. Expression of many of the genes that characterize the SMC phenotype is under control of serum response factor (SRF), which recognizes cognate binding sites in the promotors of these genes and activates gene expression in combination with strong transcriptional activators such as MYOCD (Coletti et al, 2016;Miano, 2015). Expression and activity of SRF and MYOCD is regulated by a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic signals that reflect the heterogeneous developmental origin of this cell population.…”