1. Acetylcholine receptor-β inhibition by interleukin-6 in skeletal muscles contributes to modulating neuromuscular junction during aging.
- Author
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Zhao Y, Yan H, Liu K, Ma J, Sun W, Lai H, Li H, Gu J, and Huang H
- Subjects
- Animals, Male, Mice, Gene Expression Regulation drug effects, MEF2 Transcription Factors metabolism, MEF2 Transcription Factors genetics, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha metabolism, Receptors, Cholinergic metabolism, Receptors, Nicotinic metabolism, Receptors, Nicotinic genetics, Aging metabolism, Interleukin-6 metabolism, Muscle, Skeletal metabolism, Muscle, Skeletal drug effects, Neuromuscular Junction metabolism, Neuromuscular Junction drug effects
- Abstract
Background: Aging-related strength decline contributes to physiological deterioration and is a good predictor of poor prognosis. However, the mechanisms underlying neuromuscular junction disorders affecting contraction in aging are not well described. We hypothesized that the autocrine effect of interleukin (IL)-6 secreted by skeletal muscle inhibits acetylcholine receptor (AChR) expression, potentially causing aging-related strength decline. Therefore, we investigated IL-6 and AChR β-subunit (AChR-β) expression in the muscles and sera of aging C57BL/6J mice and verified the effect of IL-6 on AChR-β expression., Methods: Animal experiments, in vitro studies, bioinformatics, gene manipulation, dual luciferase reporter gene assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments were used to explore the role of the transcription cofactor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-α (PGC1α) and its interacting transcription factors in the IL-6-mediated regulation of AChR-β expression., Results: IL-6 expression gradually increased during aging, inhibiting AChR-β expression, which was reversed by tocilizumab. Both tocilizumab and the PGC1α agonist reversed the inhibiting effect of IL-6 expression on AChR-β. Compared to inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) inhibition suppressed the effects of IL-6 on AChR-β and PGC1α. In aging mouse muscles and myotubes, myocyte enhancer factor 2 C (MEF2C) was recruited by PGC1α, which directly binds to the AChR-β promoter to regulate its expression., Conclusions: This study verifies AChR-β regulation by the IL-6/IL-6R-ERK1/2-PGC1α/MEF2C pathway. Hence, evaluating muscle secretion, myokines, and AChRs at an earlier stage to determine pathological progression is important. Moreover, developing intervention strategies for monitoring, maintaining, and improving muscle structure and function is necessary., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2024
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