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J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 279, Issue 39, 41114-41123, September 24, 2004
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From the
PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency,
Division of Clinical Nutrition, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8636, ||Lead Generation Research Laboratory, Tanabe Seiyaku Co., Ltd., 3-16-89 Kashima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka 532-8505, **Bioresource Center, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, 3-1-1 Koyadai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-0074, the 
Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, 
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, and the ¶¶Department of Neuromuscular Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi-cho, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
Received for publication, January 21, 2004 , and in revised form, July 9, 2004.
| ABSTRACT |
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| INTRODUCTION |
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Skeletal muscle mass is positively regulated by hormones such as insulin-like growth factors (IGFs)1 and growth hormone (8). Induction of hypertrophy in adult skeletal muscle by increased load is accompanied by the increased expression of IGF-1 (9). Systemic administration of IGF-1 results in increased skeletal muscle protein and reduced protein degradation (10). In addition, overexpression of IGF-1 blocks the age-related loss of skeletal muscle (11). Supplementation of IGF-1 to muscle cells in vitro promotes myotube hypertrophy, suggesting that hypertrophy can be mediated by autocrine- or paracrine-produced IGF-1 (12). Thus, delivery of the IGF-1 gene specifically into skeletal muscle has been proposed as a genetic therapy for skeletal muscle disorders. A better understanding of the role of IGF-1 in skeletal muscle is therefore of great importance.
Specialized/differentiated myofiber phenotypes, including type I and type II fibers, are plastic and are physiologically controlled by variations in motor neuron activity. The influence of motor neuron activity on different types of skeletal muscle fibers is considered to be transduced via calcium signaling and downstream molecules such as calcineurin and the calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaMK) pathway (13). Signals generated by calcium/calcineurin/CaMK augment the transactivating function of Mef2 and/or NFAT and enhance type I fiber-specific gene expression (13-18). More recently, it has been shown that a nuclear receptor cofactor (19, 20), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-
coactivator-1
(PGC-1
) (21), drives the formation of type I fibers. Specifically, in transgenic mice expressing PGC-1
, type II fibers are red in color, and PGC-1
activates expression of type I fiber-specific genes (22). We also reproduced the PGC-1
-induced red appearance of skeletal muscle; both type I and type II fibers appear redder in transgenic mice overexpressing PGC-1
in skeletal muscle (23).
FOXO1 (FKHR), FOXO4 (AFX), and FOXO3a (FKHRL1) are a subfamily of the forkhead type transcription factors (24, 25). FOXO1 was originally cloned from a rhabdomyosarcoma because of its aberrant fusion with another transcription factor, PAX3, resulting from a chromosomal translocation (26). Recent studies have shown that the FOXO protein can also act as a cofactor of nuclear receptor activity (27-30). FOXO family members have been shown to regulate various cellular functions. FOXOs influence the transcription of genes involved in metabolism (31-34), the cell cycle (35, 36), and apoptosis (37, 38). In addition, FOXO1 can modulate cell differentiation; the constitutive active form of FOXO1 prevents the differentiation of preadipocytes (39) and stimulates myotube fusion of primary mouse myoblasts (40). Moreover, a FOXO1 knockout mouse has been reported; Foxo1 haploinsufficiency restores insulin sensitivity and rescues the diabetic phenotype in insulin-resistant mice by reducing the hepatic expression of glucogenetic genes and by increasing the adipocytic expression of insulin-sensitizing genes (41). We have shown that FOXO1 expression is increased in skeletal muscle in energy-deprived states, such as in fasting mice, in mice with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes, and in mice after treadmill running (42). However, the physiological role of FOXO1 in skeletal muscle is still unclear. Although many studies have been performed using cultured cells, studies using animals with genetic modifications focused to the skeletal muscle remain to be conducted in order to understand the function of the FOXO family proteins in vivo. Meanwhile, it has been reported that FOXO1 and PGC-1
can physically interact and regulate gene expression in the liver (43). Given that PGC-1
is important for the differentiation of type I fibers, FOXO1 might be involved in this process. (Here-after, we use "differentiation of muscle fiber" to mean "a switch from one fiber type to another fiber type.") On the other hand, a genetic study of Caenorhabditis elegans showed that DAF16, the worm counterpart of FOXO, functions as a suppressor of insulin receptor-like signaling (44). Thus, the FOXO family may act negatively in mammals as a downstream player in insulin or IGF signaling. As IGF-1 plays an important role in controlling skeletal muscle mass, FOXO1 might also be involved in this process.
To gain insight into the potential role of FOXO1 in skeletal muscle, including the control of skeletal muscle mass and the control of differentiation of muscle fiber type, we established transgenic mice specifically overexpressing FOXO1 in their skeletal muscle. Most interestingly, these mice showed reduced skeletal muscle mass, and the muscle was paler in color. Histochemical, physiological, and microarray analyses of these FOXO1 transgenic mice showed that FOXO1 is involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass and type I fiber gene expression. In addition, our results suggest that FOXO1 activation may play a role in the impairment of skeletal muscle function including glycemic control.
| EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES |
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(GenBankTM accession number, U00937
[GenBank]
), troponin C (slow) (M29793
[GenBank]
), troponin T (slow) (AV213431
[GenBank]
), myosin light chain (MLC) (slow) (M91602
[GenBank]
), myoglobin (X04405
[GenBank]
), mitochondrial creatine kinase (mtCK, AV250974
[GenBank]
), F0,F1-ATPase (AF030559
[GenBank]
), MLC (fast) (U77943
[GenBank]
), troponin I (fast) (J04992
[GenBank]
), troponin T (fast) (L48989
[GenBank]
), cathepsin L (X06086
[GenBank]
), IGF-binding protein 5 (IGFBP5) (L12447
[GenBank]
), MuRF1 (AF294790
[GenBank]
), and atrogin 1 (AF441120
[GenBank]
) were obtained by reverse transcription-PCR. The PCR primers used are as follows: Gadd45
, forward, 5'-TCGCACTTGCAATATGACTT-3', and reverse, 5'-CGGATGCCATCACCGTTCCG-3'; troponin C (slow), forward, 5'-AGCTGCGGTAGAACAGTTGA-3', and reverse, 5'-TCACCTGTGGCCTGCAGCAT-3'; troponin T (slow), forward, 5'-TTCTGTCCAACATGGGAGCT-3', and reverse, 5'-TCGGAATTTCTGGGCGTGGC-3'; MLC (slow), forward, 5'-GAGTTCAAGGAAGCCTTCAC-3', and reverse, 5'-CTGCGAACATCTGGTCGATC-3'; myoglobin, forward, 5'-CACCATGGGGCTCAGTGATG-3', and reverse, 5'-CTCAGCCCTGGAAGCCTAGC-3'; mtCK, forward, 5'-AAAGGAAGTGGAACGATTAA-3', and reverse, 5'-TTGATGTCTTGGCCTCTCTC-3',F0,F1-ATPase, forward, 5'-ACTGACCCTGCCCCTGCAAC-3', and reverse, 5'-CAAGGCTCTTGTGTGGCCTG-3', MLC (fast), forward, 5'-AGGGATGGCATTATCGACAA-3', and reverse, 5'-CAGATGTTCTTGTAGTCCAC-3'; troponin I, (fast), forward, 5'-AGGAAAGCCGCCGAGAATCT-3', and reverse, 5'-TACTGGGGAAGTGGGCAGTT-3'; troponin T (fast), forward, 5'-CAGCAAAGAATTCGCGCTGA-3', and reverse, 5'-GGCCTTCTTGCTGTGCTTCT-3'; cathepsin L, forward, 5'-CGGAGGAGTCTTACCCCTAT-3', and reverse, 5'-CTACCCATCAATTCACGACA-3'; IGFBP5, forward, 5'-GCCTATGCCGTACCGGCTCA-3', and reverse, 5'-CTTCACAGCCTCAGCCTTCA-3'; MuRF1, forward, 5'-ATGAACTTCACGGTGGGTTT-3', and reverse, 5'-TCAGTGCAGGCCTGAGCCTT-3'; and atrogin 1, forward, 5'-ATGCCGTTCCTTGGGCAGGA-3', and reverse, 5'-TCAGAACTTGAACAAATTGA-3'. FOXO1, FOXO3a, and FOXO4 cDNA probes were prepared as reported previously (42). COXII, COXIV, Mef2c, PGC-1
, and glucose transporter 4 cDNA probes were prepared as described previously (23). NFAT (IMAGE clone 4109469) and CaMK II
(IMAGE clone 5014712) cDNA probes were purchased from Invitrogen.
Generating Transgenic MiceThe human skeletal muscle
-actin promoter (45) was provided by Drs. E. D. Hardeman and K. Guven (Children's Medical Research Institute, Australia). The human FOXO1 cDNA was as described previously (42). The transgene (Fig. 1A) was excised from agarose gel and purified for injection (2 ng µl-1). Fertilized eggs were recovered from C57BL/6 females crossed with C57BL/6 males and microinjected at Japan SLC Inc. (Hamamatsu, Japan). The mice were maintained at a constant temperature of 22 °C with fixed artificial light (12-h light and 12-h dark cycle). Care of the mice was conducted in accordance with the institutional guidelines.
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ImmunoblottingProtein extracts from skeletal muscle were prepared by centrifugation of the tissue homogenates as described previously (47). Protein extracts (30 µg) separated by SDS-PAGE were electrophoretically transferred to Immobilon P membranes (Millipore, Bedford, MA). Immunoblotting was performed by using goat anti-FOXO1 IgG (N-18, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. Santa Cruz, CA), goat anti-troponin I (slow) (C-19, Santa Cruz Biotechnology), goat anti-troponin I (fast) (C-19, Santa Cruz Biotechnology), goat anti-myoglobin (M-109, Santa Cruz Biotechnology), or rabbit anti-PGC-1
(C terminus, Calbiochem) as primary antibodies (1:1000) and anti-goat IgG or anti-rabbit IgG conjugated with horseradish peroxidase as secondary antibodies (1:1000). Bands were visualized with the enhanced chemiluminescence system (Amersham Biosciences).
Histological AnalysesSkeletal muscle (soleus) samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen-cooled isopentane, and transverse serial sections were stained with ATPase at pH 4.3 to detect type I fibers and at pH 10.5 to detect type II fibers (48). The ratio of type I fibers to type II fibers and the size (area) of skeletal muscle cells were determined by counting cell numbers in six randomly selected cross-section areas (each 900 µm2) stained with ATPase at pH 4.3.
Blood AnalysisBlood samples were obtained from mice tail tips for hormone and metabolite determination under feeding conditions. Immunoreactive insulin was measured by an insulin assay kit (Morinaga, Kanagawa, Japan), free fatty acid by NEFA C-test Wako (Wako Biochemicals, Osaka, Japan), lactate by the lactate reagent (Sigma), and glucose by the TIDEX glucose analyzer (Sankyo, Tokyo, Japan).
Running Wheel ActivityMice were housed individually in cages (9 x 22 x 9 cm) equipped with a running wheel (20-cm in diameter, Shinano Co., Tokyo, Japan). Each wheel revolution was registered by a magnetic switch, which was connected to a counter. The number of revolutions was recorded daily for 6 days.
Oral Glucose and Insulin Tolerance TestFor the oral glucose tolerance test, D-glucose (1 mg/g of body weight, 10% (w/v) glucose solution) was administered with a stomach tube after an overnight fast. Blood samples were obtained by cutting the tail tip before and 30, 60, and 120 min after glucose administration. For the insulin tolerance test, human insulin (Humulin R; Lilly) was injected intraperitoneally (0.75 milliunits/g of body weight) into fed animals. Blood glucose concentrations were measured using a TIDEX glucose analyzer (Sankyo, Tokyo, Japan).
Microarray AnalysesRNA was isolated from skeletal muscle (quadriceps) of sex- and age-matched FOXO1 mice (A1 and A2 lines) and control mice (males at 4 months of age, RNA from three mice of each group were combined). Each of the combined samples was hybridized to the Affymetrix MGU74A microarray, which contains 12,489 genes including ESTs, and analyzed with the Affymetrix Gene Chip 3.1 software as described previously (49). Of the 12,489 genes including ESTs analyzed, 2500 (nontransgenic control mice), 2490 (line A1, transgenic), and 2510 (line A2, transgenic) genes were expressed at a substantial level (absolute call is present and average difference is above 150). Genes were classified on the basis of the biological function of the encoded protein, using a previously established classification scheme (50). The classification scheme was composed of seven major functional categories and several minor functional categories within the major categories.
Statistical AnalysesStatistical comparisons of data from the experimental groups were performed by the one-way analysis of variance, and groups were compared using the Fisher's protected least significant difference test (Statview 5.0, Abacus Concepts, Inc., Berkeley, CA). The glucose and insulin tolerance curves were compared by repeated measure analysis (Statview 5.0, Abacus Concepts). When significant, groups were compared by the Fisher's protected least significant difference test. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.
| RESULTS |
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-actin promoter (45) was used to drive the expression of the human FOXO1 transgene in mice (Fig. 1A). During development, cardiac muscle
-actin is the predominant isoform of sarcomeric
-actin in mice, and the switch to skeletal muscle
-actin occurs postpartum (45). Thus, by using the skeletal muscle
-actin promoter, the possibility that embryonic expression of FOXO1 might interfere with development was minimized. We obtained two independent lines of transgenic mice (lines A1 and A2). Southern blot analysis of DNA obtained from mouse tails was performed as shown in Fig. 1B. The transgene copy number of each animal was estimated by densitometric scanning of the autoradiographs from the Southern blots.
Expression of the FOXO1 transgene was evaluated by Northern blot analysis with RNA isolated from the tissues of FOXO1 mice and age-matched control mice at 8 weeks of age (Fig. 1C). The use of this promoter resulted in predominantly high expression levels of the FOXO1 transgene in skeletal muscle (about 3.5 kb). The A2 line showed expression levels of the FOXO1 transgene in skeletal muscle that were similar to or slightly higher than that in the A1 line. Transgene expression was observed not only in the gastrocnemius and quadriceps but also in other areas of skeletal muscle including the tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and soleus (not shown). The blot was then re-hybridized with a cDNA probe of Gadd45
, an authentic target gene of FOXO1 (51, 52). As expected, induction of the expression of Gadd45
was observed in skeletal muscle but not in other tissues in both FOXO1 transgenic mouse lines (Fig. 1C), indicating that the transgene expressed a functional FOXO1 protein. By using an antibody that recognizes both human and mouse FOXO1, we confirmed the presence of the FOXO1 protein in the skeletal muscle of FOXO1 mice (Fig. 1D). An
2.2-fold (line A1) and 3-fold (line A2) increase in FOXO1 protein levels was observed. These increases were at the physiological level, since 24-h fasting has been shown to increase FOXO1 protein content by 2.5-3-fold (Ref. 53 and data not shown).
FOXO1 Mice Are SmallThe apparent phenotype observed in FOXO1 mice was small stature and thinner legs than the control mice. Both male and female transgenic mice weighed about 10% less than the control mice at 5 weeks of age (not shown). We used DEXA to measure the lean body mass (body weight excluding fat weight) and the content of fat in the whole body of the A1 line (at 5 months of age) and the A2 line (at 4 months of age) in age- and sex-matched control mice (Table I). Both body weight and lean body mass were significantly lower in both male and female FOXO1 mice (both lines) than in control mice. However, the fat content per total body weight of both FOXO1 mouse lines was comparable with that of nontransgenic mice (Table I). Thus, the decrease in body weight of the FOXO1 mice is not caused by a decrease in body fat but by a decrease in lean body mass. Consistent with the data on decreased lean body mass, the skeletal muscles in FOXO1 mice were smaller in size and dry mass, as well as paler in color than those of control mice (Fig. 1E). Consumption of food per body weight was not significantly different between FOXO1 mice and control mice (Table I). Blood metabolite (free fatty acid, lactate, and glucose) and insulin levels did not differ significantly between FOXO1 mice and the controls (Table I).
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-tropomyosin slow type (Table II, line number 13), myoglobin (Table II, line number 12), and mtCK (Table II, line number 15), which are abundant in type I fibers (54). This is consistent with the observation that the skeletal muscles of FOXO1 mice are pale (Fig. 1E). In the microarray, the expression of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism genes, such as the electron transport system, did not differ between FOXO1 mice and controls (not shown). In large mammals such as humans, type I fibers are higher in mitochondrial content and more dependent on oxidative metabolism than type II fibers. In small mammals (e.g. mouse and rat), a large amount of mitochondria is seen in type II fibers as well as type I fibers (2). The large amount of mitochondria in both type I and type II fibers in mice would explain the unchanged gene expression of the mitochondrial electron transport system, although expression of type I fiber genes was markedly suppressed. In addition, the gene expression of type II fiber isoforms did not differ (not shown). Namely, expression of genes preferentially abundant in type I fibers appears to be suppressed in the skeletal muscle of FOXO1 mice.
Northern Blot Analysis of Representative GenesWe recognize the limitation of single microarray assays, as they can contain certain noise in the data. Thus, to verify the changes of gene expression found in the microarray analysis, we performed Northern blot analysis by using probes for several genes. In addition to representative genes in the list (Table II), we also analyzed several additionally selected genes of type I fiber or type II fiber markers or genes that may be involved in fiber differentiation. FOXO1 overexpression did not significantly affect mRNA levels of the other FOXO members, FOXO4 and FOXO3a (Fig. 2A). Consistent with the microarray data, a reduction in gene expression was confirmed for type I fiber proteins, such as troponin C (slow) (Table II, line number 2), MLC (slow) (Table II, line number 6), troponin T (slow) (Table II, line number 7), myoglobin (Table II, line number 12), and mtCK (Table II, line number 15) (Fig. 2A). On the other hand, expression levels of genes for components of the mitochondrial electron transport system, such as cytochrome c oxidase II and IV (COX II and IV), and the F0,F1-ATPase, were not markedly changed in the skeletal muscle of FOXO1 mice. Next, we examined type II fiber genes. The expression of genes for troponin I (fast), troponin T (fast), and MLC (fast) did not differ between FOXO1 mice and control mice. Thus, the results of the microarray analysis were confirmed by Northern blot analysis. In addition, given that Mef2, NFAT, CaMK, and PGC-1
have been implicated recently in regulating gene expression in type I fibers (14-18, 22), we also examined the level of their expression in skeletal muscle of control and FOXO1 mice. PGC-1
mRNA levels were slightly increased in the skeletal muscle of FOXO1 mice (line A2). Most interestingly, expression levels of Mef2c and CaMK were reduced in FOXO1 mice. FOXO1-mediated down-regulation of type I fiber genes may, in part, be regulated by Mef2c and CaMK.
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Western Blot Analysis of the Skeletal Muscle of FOXO1 Mice and PGC-1
MiceWe examined the expression of various gene products of FOXO1 mice at the protein level by Western blot analysis (Fig. 2B). Protein extracts from the skeletal muscle of FOXO1 mice (A1 and A2 lines) and wild-type control mice were used. For comparison, we analyzed protein extracts from the skeletal muscle of PGC-1
transgenic mice, which we previously analyzed (23). Protein levels of troponin I (slow) and myoglobin, which are rich in type I fibers, were increased in PGC-1
mice but decreased in FOXO1 mice (Fig. 2B). On the other hand, the protein level of troponin I (fast), which is rich in type II fibers, was decreased in PGC-1
mice but not in FOXO1 mice (Fig. 2B). Thus, Western blot analysis of the protein expression of genes for type I and type II fibers was consistent with the results of mRNA expression analysis.
Histological Analysis of Skeletal Muscle of FOXO1 MiceWe examined the relationship between the change in type I fiber gene expression and actual muscle fiber morphology in the skeletal muscle (soleus) of transgenic mice using light microscopy and histochemical procedures (A1 line, 4 months after birth; A2 line, 3 months after birth). Distinction between type I and type II fibers can be made by myosin ATPase staining at different pH values. Specifically, at pH 10.5, type II fibers are well stained but not type I fibers, and at pH 4.3, type I fibers are well stained but not type II fibers (2). ATPase staining revealed that skeletal muscle cells (both type I and type II fibers) in the FOXO1 mice are smaller than those of the control mice (average cross-sectional area of muscle fibers; A1 line, 11.5 ± 0.8 µm2 in FOXO1 mice and 20.0 ± 2.7 µm2 in control mice; A2 line, 9.8 ± 0.5 µm2 in FOXO1 mice and 14.1 ± 1.9 µm2 in control mice) and had fewer type I fibers than those in the control mice (average; A1 line, 28.6 ± 1.3% in FOXO1 mice and 37.8 ± 2.2% in control; A2 line, 20.2 ± 2.3% in FOXO1 mice and 40.4 ± 2.0% in control) (Fig. 3A). Immunohistochemistry with antibodies to myoglobin (present at high concentrations in type I fibers) confirmed the reduction in the number of type I fibers in the skeletal muscle of FOXO1 mice (not shown). Skeletal muscle samples from FOXO1 mice had no structural abnormalities such as mitochondrial abnormalities, glycogen accumulation, vacuolar formation, and muscle fiber degeneration (not shown).
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Oral Glucose Tolerance Test and Insulin Tolerance Test on FOXO1 MiceSkeletal muscle is important for glucose metabolism. To examine whether the decreased skeletal muscle mass of FOXO1 mice is affecting their systemic glucose homeostasis, we examined oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance in FOXO1 mice. Glucose tolerance was impaired in both lines of FOXO1 mice, namely peak blood glucose values in FOXO1 mice were elevated significantly above those of the control mice (Fig. 3C). The insulin tolerance test clearly demonstrated that the glucose-lowering effects of insulin were impaired in both the A1 and A2 lines of FOXO1 mice, compared with those in age- and sex-matched control mice (Fig. 3D). FOXO1 mice showed a low capacity for glucose metabolism and decreased insulin sensitivity. Adipose tissue, another organ playing a role in glucose metabolism, appears not to be involved in this impaired glycemic control because 1) body fat did not differ between FOXO1 mice and control mice (Table I), and 2) gene expression of glucose transporter 4, which is a rate-limiting molecule of insulin-dependent glucose intake (56), was not decreased in adipose tissue of FOXO1 mice (see Supplemental Material 2). FOXO1 mice may therefore represent a certain type of diabetic state in humans.
Change in Endogenous FOXO1 Expression by Physical InactivityWe performed Northern blot analysis with RNA from the skeletal muscle of mice maintained under a long period of physical inactivity. The right hindlimbs of wild-type mice were immobilized in plaster casts, and the left hindlimbs were left freely moving for the control sample. After 3 weeks in the plaster casts, skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius) weight of the right hindlimbs was significantly decreased compared with that in the controls (average, 88 ± 12 mg for immobilized and 149 ± 6 mg for freely moving controls, n = 3, p < 0.05). As shown in Fig. 4, the gene expression of troponin C (slow), myoglobin, and mtCK but not MLC (fast) and troponin T (fast) was markedly decreased in the plaster-casted muscle. At the same time, endogenous FOXO1 mRNA was increased in the immobilized muscle (Fig. 4). Furthermore, Gadd45
was increased in the same sample. In addition, cathepsin L, but not atrogin 1 and MuRF1, were increased (Fig. 4). Thus, mRNAs of endogenous FOXO1, Gadd45
, and cathepsin L were increased; skeletal muscle mass was decreased, and the expression of type I fiber genes but not type II fiber genes were decreased. The gene expression changes observed in the plaster-casted skeletal muscle were similar to the changes observed in the FOXO1 mice (Fig. 2A). These results further support the involvement of FOXO1 in the negative regulation of skeletal muscle mass and the expression of type I fiber genes.
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| DISCUSSION |
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How does FOXO1 affect the skeletal muscle, including the reduction of mass of both type I and type II fibers and the suppressed expression of type I fiber genes? In the following, we discuss the possibility of involvement of FOXO1 in 1) growth, 2) protein degradation, and 3) differentiation of skeletal muscle.
, an inhibitor of the cell cycle at the G2 stage (51, 52), in the skeletal muscle of FOXO1 mice (Figs. 1 and 2A). As a 0.7-kb stretch of the rat skeletal muscle
-actin promoter is active in skeletal muscle satellite cells (59), the FOXO1 transgene, driven by a 2-kb stretch of the human skeletal muscle
-actin promoter (45), is likely to be expressed in the skeletal muscle satellite cells of the FOXO1 mice. Thus, the increased amount of Gadd45
and possibly p27 Kip1 in the skeletal muscle satellite cells of FOXO1 mice may have suppressed the proliferation of satellite cells and caused a decrease in skeletal muscle mass (size).
, which is known to be preferentially expressed in type I fibers and enhances type I fiber gene expression (22). As the FOXO1 protein can interact with the PGC-1
protein (43), FOXO1 may affect certain functions of PGC-1
. FOXO1 may inhibit PGC-1
function via its binding to PGC-1
. FOXO1 itself is a transcription factor. In addition, several reports (27-30) have shown that FOXO1 acts as a corepressor of nuclear receptors, whereas PGC-1
can activate many nuclear receptors (21, 63). Although to our knowledge nuclear receptors have not been shown to be involved in type I fiber-specific gene expression, a certain nuclear receptor(s) and transcription factor(s), which can interact with both FOXO1 and PGC-1
, may be involved in a process positively and negatively regulated by PGC-1
and FOXO1, respectively. Further studies are required to examine this possibility. Besides, although PGC-1
stimulates the differentiation of type I fibers, in FOXO1 mice, gene expression was reduced in type I fibers but was not affected in type II fibers. Thus, fiber differentiation (switching) from type I to type II is not likely to occur in FOXO1 mice, and FOXO1 appears not to be involved in fiber differentiation.
Calcineurin (14, 17) and CaMK (15), downstream molecules of calcium signaling (13), the transcription factors Mef2c (14-16, 18) and NFAT (14, 15, 17), as well as the nuclear receptor coactivator PGC-1
(22) are known to promote type I fiber differentiation and type I fiber gene expression. In skeletal muscle of FOXO1 mice, mRNA levels of Mef2c and CaMK are significantly decreased (Fig. 2A). FOXO1 may reduce gene expression in type I fiber by suppressing gene expression of Mef2c and CaMK.
FOXO1 mice showed a clear phenotype related to the function of skeletal muscle. Specifically, spontaneous locomotor activity was lower in FOXO1 mice than in control mice (Fig. 3B). In addition, FOXO1 mice had impaired oral glucose tolerance and impaired insulin-mediated glucose-lowering effects (Fig. 3, C and D). Elderly humans have been reported to show a progressive loss of muscle fibers associated with diabetes, obesity, and decreased physical activity (sarcopenia). Overexpression of IGF-1 in skeletal muscle prevents the age-related decline in muscle mass (11, 57). As described above, the reduced skeletal muscle mass in FOXO1 mice may be caused by the suppression of IGF signaling during skeletal muscle formation, and FOXO1 may therefore be involved in age-related sarcopenia in humans. FOXO1 mice may be valuable as a model for human diseases related to loss of muscle fibers. Further analysis of the molecular mechanisms of FOXO1 action in skeletal muscle is important from a clinical as well as a sports science perspective.
| FOOTNOTES |
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The on-line version of this article (available at http://www.jbc.org) contains Information 1 and 2. ![]()
¶ To whom correspondence should be addressed: Division of Clinical Nutrition, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8636, Japan. Tel.: 81-3-3203-5725; Fax: 81-3-3207-3520; E-mail: ykamei{at}nih.go.jp.
1 The abbreviations used are: IGF, insulin-like growth factor; CaMK, calmodulin-dependent kinase; PGC-1
, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-
coactivator-1
; STZ, streptozotocin; MLC, myosin light chain; mtCK, mitochondrial creatine kinase; IGFBP, IGF-binding protein; COX, cytochrome c oxidase; DEXA, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; EDL, extensor digitorum longus. ![]()
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
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| REFERENCES |
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