Cell death-resistance of differentiated myotubes is associated with enhanced anti-apoptotic mechanisms compared to myoblasts

Rijin Xiao, Amy L. Ferry, Esther E. Dupont-Versteegden

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

Skeletal muscle atrophy is associated with elevated apoptosis while muscle differentiation results in apoptosis resistance, indicating that the role of apoptosis in skeletal muscle is multifaceted. The objective of this study was to investigate mechanisms underlying apoptosis susceptibility in proliferating myoblasts compared to differentiated myotubes and we hypothesized that cell death-resistance in differentiated myotubes is mediated by enhanced anti-apoptotic pathways. C2C12 myoblasts and myotubes were treated with H2O2 or staurosporine (Stsp) to induce cell death. H2O2 and Stsp induced DNA fragmentation in more than 50% of myoblasts, but in myotubes less than 10% of nuclei showed apoptotic changes. Mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation was detected with H 2O2 and Stsp in myoblasts, while this response was greatly diminished in myotubes. Caspase-3 activity was 10-fold higher in myotubes compared to myoblasts, and Stsp caused a significant caspase-3 induction in both. However, exposure to H2O2 did not lead to caspase-3 activation in myoblasts, and only to a modest induction in myotubes. A similar response was observed for caspase-2, -8 and -9. Abundance of caspase-inhibitors (apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC), and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and -25 was significantly higher in myotubes compared to myoblasts, and in addition ARC was suppressed in response to Stsp in myotubes. Moreover, increased expression of HSPs in myoblasts attenuated cell death in response to H2O2 and Stsp. Protein abundance of the pro-apoptotic protein endonuclease G (EndoG) and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was higher in myotubes compared to myoblasts. These results show that resistance to apoptosis in myotubes is increased despite high levels of pro-apoptotic signaling mechanisms, and we suggest that this protective effect is mediated by enhanced anti-caspase mechanisms.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)221-234
Number of pages14
JournalApoptosis
Volume16
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2011

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgment This research was supported by National Institute on Health grant # AG028925 and AR053967.

Funding

Acknowledgment This research was supported by National Institute on Health grant # AG028925 and AR053967.

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)AR053967
National Institute on AgingR01AG028925

    Keywords

    • ARC
    • Caspase
    • Differentiation
    • HSP
    • Myoblast
    • Myotube

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Pharmacology
    • Pharmaceutical Science
    • Clinical Biochemistry
    • Cell Biology
    • Biochemistry, medical
    • Cancer Research

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