Skeletal muscle adapts to endurance exercise with increases in mitochondria and GLUT4. The goal of this research is to discover the mechanisms by which exercise induces these adaptations. We have found that intermittently increasing cytosolic Ca2+ in muscle cells stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and GLUT4 expression. This effect of Ca2+ is mediated by activation of Ca2+ calmodulin dependent protein kinases (CAMKs). We have also shown that activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has a similar effect. The transcription factors NRF-1 and NRF-2 activate nuclear genes that encode a number of mitochondrial respiratory chain proteins as well as mitochondrial transcription factor A mt(TFA), which activates mitochondrial DNA transcription and replication. PPARgamma coactivator 1alpha(PGC-1alpha) coactivates NRF-1 and PPARalpha, and induces increases in expression of NRF-1 and NRF-2. Overexpression of PGC-1alpha in myocytes greatly stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis. We have shown that a bout of exercise induces increases in PGC-1alpha protein expression and also of NRF-1 and NRF-2. We have also found that activation of CAMKs by raising cytosolic Ca2+, and of AMPK with AICAR induces rapid increases in PGC-1alpha, NRF-1, NRF-2 and mt(TFA) in L6 myotubes. One of our goals is to identify the steps leading from activation of CAMK and AMPK to increased mitochondrial biogenesis and GLUT4 expression. Relative to this goal our aims are to test the hypotheses that activation of p38 MAPK is the next step in the pathway leading from CAMK and AMPK to increased mitochondrial biogenesis and GLUT expression, that nitric oxide synthase is involved in this process, and that activation of p38 results in phosphorylation and activation of PGC-1alpha. A second goal is to determine whether phosphorylation and activation of PGC-1alpha initiates the stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and GLUT4 expression, and that this process is then amplified and maintained by an increase in PGC-1alpha protein. A third goal is to determine whether the initial, very rapid, increase in some mitochondrial proteins is mediated by increased translation of preexisting mRNAs. A fourth goal is to elucidate the role of calcineurin in the stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis by exercise and by raising cytosolic Ca2+. A fifth goal is to elucidate the role of free fatty acids in the stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, to determine whether or not their effect is limited to induction of increases in the fatty acid oxidation pathway enzymes, and to elucidate their mechanisms of action. Our sixth goal is to evaluate the possibility that treatment with metformin will stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis and GLUT4 expression in muscle. It is our hope that information obtained from this research may make it possible to mimic some of the beneficial effects of exercise by pharmacological or gene therapy interventions in individuals who are unable to exercise.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37AG000425-42
Application #
7388848
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SMB (01))
Program Officer
Williams, John
Project Start
1978-07-01
Project End
2009-03-31
Budget Start
2008-04-01
Budget End
2009-03-31
Support Year
42
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$284,340
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Koh, Jin-Ho; Hancock, Chad R; Terada, Shin et al. (2017) PPAR? Is Essential for Maintaining Normal Levels of PGC-1? and Mitochondria and for the Increase in Muscle Mitochondria Induced by Exercise. Cell Metab 25:1176-1185.e5
Leong, Josiah K; Pestilli, Franco; Wu, Charlene C et al. (2016) White-Matter Tract Connecting Anterior Insula to Nucleus Accumbens Correlates with Reduced Preference for Positively Skewed Gambles. Neuron 89:63-9
Kim, Sang Hyun; Koh, Jin Ho; Higashida, Kazuhiko et al. (2015) PGC-1? mediates a rapid, exercise-induced downregulation of glycogenolysis in rat skeletal muscle. J Physiol 593:635-43
Kim, Sang Hyun; Asaka, Meiko; Higashida, Kazuhiko et al. (2013) ?-Adrenergic stimulation does not activate p38 MAP kinase or induce PGC-1? in skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 304:E844-52
Higashida, Kazuhiko; Kim, Sang Hyun; Jung, Su Ryun et al. (2013) Effects of resveratrol and SIRT1 on PGC-1? activity and mitochondrial biogenesis: a reevaluation. PLoS Biol 11:e1001603
Holloszy, John O (2013) ""Deficiency"" of mitochondria in muscle does not cause insulin resistance. Diabetes 62:1036-40
Han, Dong-Ho; Kim, Sang Hyun; Higashida, Kazuhiko et al. (2012) Ginsenoside Re rapidly reverses insulin resistance in muscles of high-fat diet fed rats. Metabolism 61:1615-21
Gan, Zhenji; Burkart-Hartman, Eileen M; Han, Dong-Ho et al. (2011) The nuclear receptor PPAR?/? programs muscle glucose metabolism in cooperation with AMPK and MEF2. Genes Dev 25:2619-30
Han, Dong-Ho; Hancock, Chad R; Jung, Su Ryun et al. (2011) Deficiency of the mitochondrial electron transport chain in muscle does not cause insulin resistance. PLoS One 6:e19739
Higashida, Kazuhiko; Kim, Sang Hyun; Higuchi, Mitsuru et al. (2011) Normal adaptations to exercise despite protection against oxidative stress. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 301:E779-84

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