Although crucial roles for nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kB) signaling have been identified in diverse cell types, a role for NF-kB mediated transcription in skeletal muscle atrophy is just beginning to be revealed. The identification of a signaling pathway required for disuse atrophy, and of the genes targeted by this pathway have significant clinical implications for ameliorating muscle atrophy. NF-kB activity is induced in muscle atrophy due to unloading, and genetic evidence has shown important roles for Bcl3 (a NF-kB transcriptional co-activator), Nfkb1 (encodes p50), and the inhibitor of kB alpha (IkBa) in unloading atrophy. The upstream kinase (IKKb) of IkBa is therefore also likely involved. The most abundant Rel proteins that bind IkBa in muscle are p65 and p50, and while p50 is required for atrophy, a role for p65 is equivocal. The long term goal of this work is to identify further, the proteins in IKK-lkB-NF-kB signaling that are necessary and sufficient for muscle disuse atrophy and to identify direct NF-kB target genes.
The Specific Aims are to: 1) further elucidate the roles of p50 and Bcl-3 in disuse atrophy;2) determine if p65 is necessary or sufficient for disuse atrophy;3) test if IKKb, IKKa, and IKKg are required for disuse atrophy;4) determine if selected genes that are upregulated in unloaded muscle are bona fide NF-kB target genes. To achieve these aims, plasmids encoding dominant negative forms of the genes involved in IKK-lkB-NF-kB signaling will be injected into rodent skeletal muscle to determine if normal markers of unloading atrophy are blocked (NF-kB activation, increased ubiquitin conjugates, decreased fiber area, and atrophy gene expression). To test if a protein is sufficient for atrophy, wild type forms of proteins will be overexpressed. Concurrent with the identification of the NF-kB signaling proteins involved will be the discovery of NF-kB target genes by using in vivo promoter analysis. Understanding the molecular underpinnings of muscle atrophy due to inactivity is essential to develop rational pharmacological and/or nutritional compounds that can be used to attenuate muscle fatigue and loss of muscle strength that are symptoms of muscle atrophy. This work will identify proteins required for the progression of muscle atrophy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AR041705-18
Application #
8101830
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-MOSS-L (07))
Program Officer
Nuckolls, Glen H
Project Start
1992-06-25
Project End
2013-06-30
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
18
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$325,405
Indirect Cost
Name
Boston University
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Allied Health Profes
DUNS #
049435266
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02215
Wu, Chia-Ling; Cornwell, Evangeline W; Jackman, Robert W et al. (2014) NF-?B but not FoxO sites in the MuRF1 promoter are required for transcriptional activation in disuse muscle atrophy. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 306:C762-7
Jackman, Robert W; Cornwell, Evangeline W; Wu, Chia-Ling et al. (2013) Nuclear factor-?B signalling and transcriptional regulation in skeletal muscle atrophy. Exp Physiol 98:19-24
Wu, Chia-Ling; Kandarian, Susan C (2012) Protein overexpression in skeletal muscle using plasmid-based gene transfer to elucidate mechanisms controlling fiber size. Methods Mol Biol 798:231-43
Jackman, Robert W; Wu, Chia-Ling; Kandarian, Susan C (2012) The ChIP-seq-defined networks of Bcl-3 gene binding support its required role in skeletal muscle atrophy. PLoS One 7:e51478
Yamaki, Takuo; Wu, Chia-Ling; Gustin, Michael et al. (2012) Rel A/p65 is required for cytokine-induced myotube atrophy. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 303:C135-42
Wu, Chia-Ling; Kandarian, Susan C; Jackman, Robert W (2011) Identification of genes that elicit disuse muscle atrophy via the transcription factors p50 and Bcl-3. PLoS One 6:e16171
Reed, S A; Senf, S M; Cornwell, E W et al. (2011) Inhibition of IkappaB kinase alpha (IKK?) or IKKbeta (IKK?) plus forkhead box O (Foxo) abolishes skeletal muscle atrophy. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 405:491-6
Van Gammeren, Darin; Damrauer, Jeffrey S; Jackman, Robert W et al. (2009) The IkappaB kinases IKKalpha and IKKbeta are necessary and sufficient for skeletal muscle atrophy. FASEB J 23:362-70
Jackman, Robert W; Rhoads, Mary G; Cornwell, Evangeline et al. (2009) Microtubule-mediated NF-kappaB activation in the TNF-alpha signaling pathway. Exp Cell Res 315:3242-9
Koncarevic, Alan; Jackman, Robert W; Kandarian, Susan C (2007) The ubiquitin-protein ligase Nedd4 targets Notch1 in skeletal muscle and distinguishes the subset of atrophies caused by reduced muscle tension. FASEB J 21:427-37

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