Neurturin is a PGC-1α1-controlled myokine that promotes motor neuron recruitment and neuromuscular junction formation

Richard Mills, Hermes Taylor-Weiner, Jorge C Correia, Leandro Z Agudelo, Ilary Allodi, Christina Kolonelou, Vicente Martinez-Redondo, Duarte M S Ferreira, Susanne Nichterwitz, Laura H Comley, Vanessa Lundin, Eva Hedlund, Jorge L Ruas, Ana I Teixeira

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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 languageEnglish
JournalMolecular Metabolism
Volume7
Pages (from-to)12-22
Number of pages11
ISSN2212-8778
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes

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

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