Unknown,Transcriptomics,Genomics,Proteomics

Dataset Information

Transcriptional Alterations in Skeletal Muscle Following Desmin Deletion

ABSTRACT: Desmin is a cytoskeletal protein in muscle involved in integrating cellular space and transmitting forces. In this study we sought to determine the effects of desmin deletion on skeletal muscle at the transcriptional level across many pathways of muscle physiology. RNA was isolated from the TA muscle of mice of two genotypes (wildtype (WT) and desmin knockout (KO)) and two ages (7-9 weeks (Adult) and 12-14 months (Aged)). Numbers per group are as follows: WT_Adult (5), WT_Aged (5), KO_Adult (5), KO_Aged (4).

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

SUBMITTER: Gretchen Meyer

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-34388 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Skeletal muscle fibrosis develops in response to desmin deletion.

Meyer Gretchen A GA Lieber Richard L RL

American journal of physiology. Cell physiology 20120321 11

Skeletal muscle is a dynamic composite of proteins that responds to both internal and external cues to facilitate muscle adaptation. In cases of disease or altered use, these messages can be distorted resulting in myopathic conditions such as fibrosis. In this work, we describe a mild and progressive fibrotic adaptation in skeletal muscle lacking the cytoskeletal intermediate filament protein desmin. Muscles lacking desmin become progressively stiffer, accumulate increased collagen, and increase ...[more]

PMID: 22442138

Similar Datasets

Project description:Desmin, the major intermediate filament (IF) protein in muscle cells, interlinks neighboring myofibrils and connects the whole myofibrillar apparatus to myonuclei, mitochondria, and the sarcolemma. However, desmin is also known to be enriched at postsynaptic membranes of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). The pivotal role of the desmin IF cytoskeletal network is underscored by the fact that over 100 mutations of the human DES gene cause hereditary and sporadic myopathies and cardiomyopathies. A subgroup of human desminopathies comprises autosomal recessive cases resulting in complete abolition of desmin protein. In these patients, who display a more severe phenotype than the autosomal dominant cases, it has been reported that some individuals also suffer from a myasthenic syndrome in addition to the classical occurrence of myopathy and cardiomyopathy. Since further studies on the NMJ pathology is hampered by the lack of available human striated muscle biopsy specimens, we exploited homozygous desmin knock-out mice which closely mirror the striated muscle pathology of human patients lacking desmin protein. Here, we report on the impact of the lack of desmin on the structure and function of NMJs and on the transcription of genes coding for postsynaptic proteins. Desmin knock-out mice display a fragmentation of NMJs in soleus, but not in extensor digitorum longus muscle. Moreover, soleus muscle fibers show larger NMJs. Further, transcription levels of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) genes are increased in muscles from desmin knock-out mice, especially of the AChR subunit, which is known as a marker of muscle fiber regeneration. Electrophysiological recordings depicted a pathological decrement of nerve-dependent endplate potentials and a faster rise time of the nerve-independent miniature endplate potentials. The latter is indicating an enhanced opening time of the AChR channels. Our study highlights the essential role of desmin for the structural and functional integrity of mammalian neuromuscular junctions.

Project description:Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by impaired cytoskeleton organization, cytosolic calcium handling oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. This results in progressive and fatal muscle damage, wasting and weakness. The Striated Muscle activator of Rho signalling (STARS) is an actin binding protein that activates the myocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTFA)/serum response factor (SRF) transcriptional pathway; a pathway that regulates cytoskeletal structure, muscle function, growth and repair. Here we investigated the regulation of several members of the STARS signalling pathway in muscle from patients with DMD and the dystrophin-deficient mdx and dko (utrophin‐ and dystrophin‐null) mice. A reduction in protein levels of STARS, SRF and RHOA, and an increase in MRTFA were observed in quadriceps muscle of patients with DMD. STARS, SRF and MRTFA mRNA levels were also decreased in DMD muscle, while Stars mRNA levels were decreased in mdx tibialis anterior (TA) muscle and Srf and Mrtfa mRNAs were decreased in dko TA muscle. Overexpressing the human STARS (hSTARS) protein in mdx TA muscle increased maximal isometric specific force by 13%. This was not associated with changes in muscle mass, fibre cross-sectional area (CSA), fibre type, centralized nuclei or collagen deposition. Proteomics screening identified 31 upregulated and 22 downregulated proteins or individual peptides that were significantly regulated by hSTARS overexpression. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that hSTARS overexpression regulated the keratin, NRF2 and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathways. These pathways are impaired in dystrophic muscle and regulate cytoskeleton organization, oxidative stress and mitochondrial energy production; processes that are vital for muscle function. We conclude that increasing the STARS protein in dystrophic muscle improves muscle force production, potentially via its regulation of multiple pathways that positively influence cytoskeletal structure, oxidative stress and energy production.

Dataset Information

Transcriptional Alterations in Skeletal Muscle Following Desmin Deletion

Publications

Skeletal muscle fibrosis develops in response to desmin deletion.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets