Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We examined whether skeletal muscle overexpression of PGC-1α1 or PGC-1α4 affected myokine secretion and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) formation.
METHODS: A microfluidic device was used to model endocrine signaling and NMJ formation between primary mouse myoblast-derived myotubes and embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons. Differences in hydrostatic pressure allowed for fluidic isolation of either cell type or unidirectional signaling in the fluid phase. Myotubes were transduced to overexpress PGC-1α1 or PGC-1α4, and myokine secretion was quantified using a proximity extension assay. Morphological and functional changes in NMJs were measured by fluorescent microscopy and by monitoring muscle contraction upon motor neuron stimulation.
RESULTS: Skeletal muscle transduction with PGC-1α1, but not PGC-1α4, increased NMJ formation and size. PGC-1α1 increased muscle secretion of neurturin, which was sufficient and necessary for the effects of muscle PGC-1α1 on NMJ formation.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that neurturin is a mediator of PGC-1α1-dependent retrograde signaling from muscle to motor neurons.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Journal | Molecular Metabolism |
Volume | 7 |
Pages (from-to) | 12-22 |
Number of pages | 11 |
ISSN | 2212-8778 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.Keywords
- Animals
- Cells, Cultured
- Mice
- Motor Neurons/cytology
- Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells/cytology
- Myoblasts/cytology
- Neural Stem Cells/cytology
- Neurogenesis
- Neuromuscular Junction/cytology
- Neurturin/metabolism
- Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha/metabolism
- Synaptic Transmission