Gondin, J. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2018

Annexin A1 drives macrophage skewing towards a resolving phenotype to accelerate the regeneration of muscle injury through AMPK activation

Understanding the circuits that promote an efficient resolution of inflammation is crucial to deciphering the molecular and cellular processes required to promote tissue repair. Macrophages play a central role in the regulation of inflammation, resolution and repair/regeneration. Using a model of skeletal muscle injury and repair, herein we identify Annexin A1 (AnxA1) as the extracellular trigger of macrophage skewing towards a pro-reparative phenotype. Brought into the injured tissue initially by migrated neutrophils, and then over-expressed in infiltrating macrophages, AnxA1 activates FPR2/ALX receptors and the downstream AMPK signalling cascade leading to macrophage skewing, dampening of inflammation and regeneration of muscle fibres. Mice lacking AnxA1 in all cells or in myeloid cells only display a defect in this reparative process. In vitro experiments recapitulated these properties, with AMPK null macrophages lacking AnxA1-mediated polarization. Collectively, these data identify the AnxA1/FPR2/AMPK axis as a novel pathway in skeletal muscle injury regeneration.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2017

L-tyrosine supplementation is not therapeutic for skeletal muscle dysfunction in zebrafish and mouse models of dominant skeletal muscle α-actin nemaline myopathy.

Nemaline myopathy (NM) is a skeletal muscle disorder with no curative treatment. Although L-tyrosine administration has been indicated to provide benefit to patients, previous studies have been limited due to sample size or not testing for raised L-tyrosine levels. We evaluated the efficacy of L-tyrosine treatment to improve skeletal muscle function in three animal models of NM caused by skeletal muscle -actin (ACTA1) mutations. Firstly we determined the maximum safest L-tyrosine concentration for inclusion in the water of wildtype zebrafish. We then treated NM TgACTA1D286G-eGFP zebrafish from 24 hours post fertilization with the highest safe L-tyrosine dose (10 {micro}M). At 6 days post fertilization, no significant improvement was detected in skeletal muscle function (swimming distance). We also determined the highest safe L-tyrosine dose for dietary L-tyrosine supplementation to wildtype mice. Next we treated the NM TgACTA1D286G mouse model continuously from preconception with 2% L-tyrosine supplemented to regular feed. We examined skeletal muscles at 6-7 weeks using indicators of skeletal muscle integrity: bodyweight, voluntary running wheel and rotarod performance, all parameters previously shown to be reduced in TgACTA1D286G mice. The L-tyrosine treatment regime did not result in any improvement of these parameters, despite significant elevation of free L-tyrosine levels in sera (57%) and quadriceps muscle (45%) of treated TgACTA1D286G mice. Additionally, we assessed the effects of 4 weeks of 2% L-tyrosine dietary supplementation on skeletal muscle function of older (6-7 month old) NM TgACTA1D286G and KIActa1H40Y mice. This dosing regime did not improve decreased bodyweight, nor the mechanical properties, energy metabolism, or atrophy of skeletal muscles in these NM models. Together these findings demonstrate that with the treatment regimes and doses evaluated, L-tyrosine does not therapeutically modulate dysfunctional skeletal muscles in NM animal models with dominant ACTA1 mutations. Therefore this study yields important information on aspects of the clinical utility of L-tyrosine for ACTA1 NM.\n\nSummary statementDespite previous encouraging reports, this study utilising zebrafish and mouse models of nemaline myopathy shows no therapeutic benefit on skeletal muscle functionality in response to L-tyrosine supplementation.

neuroscience↗