Repetitive TLR3 activation in the lung induces skeletal muscle adaptations and cachexia

Ted G. Graber, Brandy L. Rawls, Bing Tian, William J. Durham, Camille R. Brightwell, Allan R. Brasier, Blake B. Rasmussen, Christopher S. Fry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Due to immunosenescence, older adults are particularly susceptible to lung-based viral infections, with increased severity of symptoms in those with underlying chronic lung disease. Repeated respiratory viral infections produce lung maladaptations, accelerating pulmonary dysfunction. Toll like 3 receptor (TLR3) is a membrane protein that senses exogenous double-stranded RNA to activate the innate immune response to a viral infection. Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)] mimics double stranded RNA and has been shown to activate TLR3. Utilizing an established mouse viral exacerbation model produced by repetitive intranasal poly(I:C) administration, we sought to determine whether repetitive poly(I:C) treatment induced negative muscle adaptations (i.e. atrophy, weakness, and loss of function). We determined skeletal muscle morphological properties (e.g. fiber-type, fiber cross-sectional area, muscle wet mass, etc.) from a treated group ((poly(I:C), n = 9) and a sham-treated control group (PBS, n = 9); age approximately 5 months. In a subset (n = 4 for both groups), we determined in vivo physical function (using grip test for strength, rotarod for overall motor function, and treadmill for endurance) and muscle contractile properties with in vitro physiology (in the EDL, soleus and diaphragm). Our findings demonstrate that poly(I:C)-treated mice exhibit both muscle morphological and functional deficits. Changes of note when comparing poly(I:C)-treated mice to PBS-treated controls include reductions in fiber cross-sectional area (−27% gastrocnemius, −25% soleus, −16% diaphragm), contractile dysfunction (soleus peak tetanic force, −26%), muscle mass (gastrocnemius −19%, soleus −23%), physical function (grip test −34%), body mass (−20%), and altered oxidative capacity (140% increase in succinate dehydrogenase activity in the diaphragm, but 66% lower in the gastrocnemius). Our data is supportive of a new model of cachexia/sarcopenia that has potential for future research into the mechanisms underlying muscle wasting.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)88-100
Number of pages13
JournalExperimental Gerontology
Volume106
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elsevier Inc.

Funding

NSF: DMS-1361411/DMS-1361318.

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)P30 AG024832, ES006676, TL1TR001440, UL1TR001439, AI062885, T32ES007254
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute on AgingR56AG051267
National Institute on Aging
National Stroke FoundationDMS-1361411, DMS-1361318
National Stroke Foundation

    Keywords

    • Ageing
    • COPD cachexia
    • Mouse models
    • Physical function
    • Skeletal muscle
    • TLR3

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biochemistry
    • Aging
    • Molecular Biology
    • Genetics
    • Endocrinology
    • Cell Biology

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