Dataset Information

Diaphragm assessment in mice overexpressing phospholamban in slow-twitch type I muscle fibers.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Phospholamban (PLN) and sarcolipin (SLN) are small inhibitory proteins that regulate the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) pump. Previous work from our laboratory revealed that in the soleus and gluteus minimus muscles of mice overexpressing PLN (Pln (OE)), SERCA function was impaired, dynamin 2 (3-5 fold) and SLN (7-9 fold) were upregulated, and features of human centronuclear myopathy (CNM) were observed. Here, we performed structural and functional experiments to evaluate whether the diaphragm muscles of the Pln (OE) mouse would exhibit CNM pathology and muscle weakness.

Methods

Diaphragm muscles from Pln (OE) and WT mice were subjected to histological/histochemical/immunofluorescent staining, Ca(2+)-ATPase and Ca(2+) uptake assays, Western blotting, and in vitro electrical stimulation.

Results

Our results demonstrate that PLN overexpression reduced SERCA's apparent affinity for Ca(2+) but did not reduce maximal SERCA activity or rates of Ca(2+) uptake. SLN was upregulated 2.5-fold, whereas no changes in dynamin 2 expression were found. With respect to CNM, we did not observe type I fiber predominance, central nuclei, or central aggregation of oxidative activity in diaphragm, although type I fiber hypotrophy was present. Furthermore, in vitro contractility assessment of Pln (OE) diaphragm strips revealed no reductions in force-generating capacity, maximal rates of relaxation or force development, but did indicate that ½ relaxation time was prolonged.

Conclusions

Therefore, the effects of PLN overexpression on skeletal muscle phenotype differ between diaphragm and the postural soleus and gluteus minimus muscles. Our findings here point to differences in SLN expression and type I fiber distribution as potential contributing factors.

SUBMITTER: Fajardo VA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4842933 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:It has been shown that not only calcium but also strong binding myosin heads contribute to thin filament activation in isometrically contracting animal fast-twitch and cardiac muscle preparations. This behavior has not been studied in human muscle fibers or animal slow-twitch fibers. Human slow-twitch fibers are interesting since they contain the same myosin heavy chain isoform as the human heart. To explore myosin-induced activation of the thin filament in isometrically contracting human slow-twitch fibers, the endogenous troponin complex was exchanged for a well-characterized fast-twitch skeletal troponin complex labeled with the fluorescent dye N-((2-(Iodoacetoxy)ethyl)-N-methyl)amino-7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (fsTn-IANBD). The exchange was ?70% complete (n = 8). The relative contributions of calcium and strong binding cross-bridges to thin filament activation were dissected by increasing the concentration of calcium from relaxing (pCa 7.5) to saturating levels (pCa 4.5) before and after incubating the exchanged fibers in the myosin inhibitor para-aminoblebbistatin (AmBleb). At pCa 4.5, the relative contributions of calcium and strong binding cross-bridges to thin filament activation were ?69 and ?31%, respectively. Additionally, switching from isometric to isotonic contraction at pCa 4.5 revealed that strong binding cross-bridges contributed ?29% to thin filament activation (i.e., virtually the same magnitude obtained with AmBleb). Thus, we showed through two different approaches that lowering the number of strong binding cross-bridges, at saturating calcium, significantly reduced the activation of the thin filament in human slow-twitch fibers. The contribution of myosin to activation resembled that which was previously reported in rat cardiac and rabbit fast-twitch muscle preparations. This method could be applied to slow-twitch human fibers obtained from the soleus muscle of cardiomyopathy patients. Such studies could lead to a better understanding of the effect of point mutations of the cardiac myosin head on the regulation of muscle contraction and could lead to better management by pharmacological approaches.