D'Hulst, G. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2020

Exercise promotes satellite cell contribution to myofibers in a load-dependent manner

Satellite cells (SCs) are required for muscle repair following injury and are involved in muscle remodeling upon muscular contractions. Exercise stimulates SC accumulation and myonuclear accretion. To what extent exercise training at different mechanical loads drive SC contribution to myonuclei however is unknown. By performing SC fate tracing experiments, we show that 8-weeks of voluntary wheel running increased SC contribution to myonuclei in mouse plantar flexor muscles in a load-dependent but fiber type-independent manner. Increased SC fusion however was not exclusively linked to muscle hypertrophy as wheel running without external load substantially increased SC fusion in the absence of fiber hypertrophy. Due to nuclear propagation, nuclear fluorescent fate tracing mouse models were inadequate to quantify SC contribution to myonuclei. Ultimately, by performing fate tracing at the DNA level, we show that SC contribution mirrors myonuclear accretion during exercise. Collectively, these findings provide direct evidence that mechanical load during exercise independently promotes SC contribution to existing myofibers.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Hallmarks of frailty and osteosarcopenia in prematurely aged PolgAD257A/D257A mice: a preclinical model to test anabolic interventions

BackgroundFrailty is a geriatric syndrome characterized by increased susceptibility to adverse health outcomes. One major determinant thereof is the gradual weakening of the musculoskeletal system and the associated osteosarcopenia. To improve our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and, more importantly, to test potential interventions aimed at counteracting frailty suitable animal models are needed. MethodsTo evaluate the relevance of prematurely aged PolgA(D257A/D257A) mice as a model for frailty and osteosarcopenia, we quantified the clinical mouse frailty index in PolgA(D257A/D257A) and wild type littermates (PolgA(+/+), WT) with age and concertedly assessed the quantity and quality of bone and muscle tissue. Lastly, the anabolic responsiveness of skeletal muscle, muscle progenitors and bone was assessed. ResultsPolgA(D257A/D257A) accumulated health deficits at a higher rate compared to WT, resulting in a higher frailty index at 40 and 46 weeks of age (+166%, +278%, p<0.0001), respectively, with no differences between genotypes at 34 weeks. Concomitantly, PolgA(D257A/D257A) displayed progressive musculoskeletal deterioration such as reduced bone and muscle mass as well as impaired functionality thereof. In addition to lower muscle weights (-14%, p<0.05, -23%, p<0.0001) and fiber area (-20%, p<0.05, -22%, p<0.0001) at 40 and 46 weeks, respectively, PolgA(D257A/D257A) showed impairments in grip-strength and concentric muscle forces (p<0.05). PolgA(D257A/D257A) mutation altered the acute response to various anabolic stimuli in skeletal muscle and muscle progenitors. While PolgA(D257A/D257A) muscles were hypersensitive to eccentric contractions as well as leucine administration, shown by larger downstream signaling response of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), myogenic progenitors cultured in vitro showed severe anabolic resistance to leucine and robust impairments in cell proliferation. Longitudinal micro-CT analysis of the 6th caudal vertebrae showed that PolgA(D257A/D257A) had lower bone morphometric parameters (e.g. bone volume fraction, trabecular and cortical thickness, p<0.05) as well as reduced remodeling activities (e.g. bone formation and resorption rate, p<0.05) compared to WT. When subjected to 4 weeks of cyclic loading, young but not aged PolgA(D257A/D257A) caudal vertebrae showed load-induced bone adaptation suggesting reduced mechanosensitivity with age. ConclusionsPolgA(D257A/D257A) mutation leads to hallmarks of age-related frailty and osteosarcopenia and provides a powerful model to better understand the relationship between frailty and the aging musculoskeletal system.

physiology↗