Deficits in skeletal muscle mitochondrial metabolism are associated with a wide variety of chronic skeletal muscle and metabolic-related diseases, including diabetes and sarcopenia. Even in patients with advanced skeletal muscle-related diseases, exercise is a well-established method to improve skeletal muscle mitochondrial metabolism, culminating in enhanced whole-body metabolism and decreased disease severity. In response to exercise, there is an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Historically, ROS were solely considered to drive disease development. However, ROS are also required for physiological adaptation and many questions still remain regarding their downstream pathways. One significant producer of skeletal muscle ROS with exercise is Nadph oxidase 4 (Nox4). Nox4 is unique compared to other Nox members as it predominantly produces hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an effective signaling molecule. Here we demonstrate an essential role for Nox4 in mediating the beneficial effects of exercise. This work will contribute to our understanding of physiological ROS and their downstream targets by identifying a novel role for Nox4 in exercise adaptation. Further defining the molecular events that promote exercise adaptation will be essential for formulating new treatment strategies for patients with chronic metabolic diseases. / Doctor of Philosophy / Exercise is a widely effective tool for both preventing and reversing disease. Even patients with advanced skeletal muscle and metabolic-related diseases can benefit from continual and repeated exercise training. While decades of work have supported the effectiveness of exercise as a therapeutic intervention, the mechanistic understanding of what occurs at the cellular level remains incomplete. Here, we elucidate a novel pathway mediating important metabolic adaptations to exercise. In response to exercise stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in skeletal muscle. ROS facilitate metabolic adaptations to meet the body's need for increased energy. One significant source of ROS comes from Nadph oxidase 4 (Nox4) which plays an essential role in metabolic regulation. The skeletal muscle metabolic response to stress is largely dependent on adaptations that include changes in gene expression, substrate oxidation, and mitochondrial metabolic adaptations. These mitochondrial adaptations include mitochondrial recycling after exercise in skeletal muscle (referred to as mitophagy). We have shown that Nox4 increases the expression of a subset of metabolic genes, is required for substrate oxidation after exercise, and is important for exercise-induced mitophagy.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between metabolic adaptive response to 5 days of high SFA feeding, independent of positive energy balance, and diet-induced agonism of pro-inflammatory pathways. A secondary aim was to determine if the metabolic adaptive response in skeletal muscle to a single, high fat meal was altered by 5 days of high saturated fat feeding. Twelve college-age, non-obese males were studied and skeletal muscle samples were obtained prior to and concluding the consumption of a high SFA diet. In a subset of volunteers (N=6), we fed participants a high fat meal after the initial skeletal muscle biopsy and measured changes in postprandial endotoxin concentrations for four hours following the meal challenge. A second biopsy was obtained four hours after the meal challenge. Skeletal muscle samples were used to measure fatty acid oxidation, glucose oxidation, oxidative enzyme activities, mRNA expression of metabolic targets, and phosphorylation and total content of inflammatory proteins. In response to five days of high SFA feeding, skeletal muscle glucose and complete palmitate oxidation were significantly reduced as was the ratio of complete to incomplete fatty acid oxidation. Five days of high SFA feeding also attenuated the meal challenge-induced up-regulation of oxidative genes while augmenting postprandial increases in plasma endotoxin concentrations. To assess the relationship between metabolic adaptability and diet-induced inflammatory response we categorized volunteers by the diet induced percent change in fatty acid oxidation. Volunteers who were the least capable to adapt to high SFA feeding displayed the most robust increases in phosphorylation of inflammatory proteins. Lastly, we measured the correlation between the meal challenge associated percent change in oxidative and inflammatory markers in samples obtained prior to and following five days of high SFA feeding. We observed positive associations between the percent change in oxidative and inflammatory markers in samples obtained prior to the high SFA diet that were not observed following five days of high SFA feeding. These findings suggest that diet induced inflammatory response is involved in the regulation of adaptive response to high SFA feeding and that this relationship becomes dysregulated with chronic high SFA intake. / Ph. D.

The main goal for my research was to challenge the long held belief that the mechanical properties of maturing dystrophic compared to control skeletal muscle membranes are weaker, leading to onset of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We built on a previous report from our lab that suggested sarcolemmal membranes from dystrophic mice are not more susceptible to damage early in maturation (i.e., age 9-12 days) and determined if and when muscle mechanical properties change as the mice mature. Across four studies, I have helped define the role of dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle membranes in the onset of DMD. A linear viscoelastic muscle model was used to determine passive stiffness and damping in control and dystrophic muscles from maturing mice aged 14-35 days. Results confirmed my hypothesis that there are no differences in passive mechanical properties between normal and dystrophic mice. Recognizing the limitations of the linear model, a nonlinear model was developed to determine the stiffness and damping of active and passive dystrophic muscles from maturing mice aged 21 and 35 days. The nonlinear model achieved a significantly better fit to experimental data than the linear model when muscles were stretched to 15% strain beyond resting length. Active and passive mechanical properties of dystrophic mice were not different than control at 14 and 28 days of age. The previously developed nonlinear model was used to determine a more complete time-course (14-100 days of age) of dystrophic muscle mechanical properties. There was no difference in passive stiffness between mdx and control muscles at each age. However, the mdx:utrn-/- muscles showed increased stiffness compared to control and mdx muscles at 21 and 28 days, suggesting a temporary change within the muscle that only occurs with a lack of both utrophin and dystrophin. Fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle mechanical properties were compared in control and dystrophic mice aged 3, 5, and 9 weeks of age. Dystrophic and control slow-twitch muscles did not have different mechanical properties, suggesting that a lack of dystrophin does not affect slow-twitch muscles during maturation (3-5 weeks) or well after maturation (9 weeks). / Ph. D.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a transmembrane receptor, which upon activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria, plays an important role in the induction of the innate immune response. Our lab has previously demonstrated that activation of TLR4 in skeletal muscle results in the preferential oxidation of glucose for ATP production over that of fatty acids. Currently, the exact mechanism(s) for TLR4-induced modulation of metabolism are not known. The purpose of this project was to test the hypothesis that activation of TLR4 pathway causes increased ROS production, which contributes to deceased fatty acid oxidation and altered mitochondrial respiration in skeletal muscle. To this end, skeletal muscle cells were studied following acute and chronic treatments with LPS, and a mouse model with muscle-specific over expression of TLR4 (mTLR4) was studied under chow fed conditions and following 16 weeks of high fat feeding. Acute LPS treatment of C2C12 cells resulted in mitochondrial uncoupling as evidenced by higher levels of state IV respiration, reduced maximally simulated respiration, and a robust induction of uncoupling protein 3. These observations occurred in conjunction with increased pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. The LPS-induced changes in substrate preferences and maximally-stimulated mitochondrial respiration were prevented in the presence of the antioxidants, N-acetyl-L-cyteine (NAC) and catalase. Using isolated flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) muscle fibers from C57BL/6J mice, we showed that LPS treatment results in significant increases in ROS production that are evident at 15 min and still increasing at 45 min following the addition of LPS to incubation media. Hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential was also evident at 15 min post LPS treatment in FDB fibers. Fatty acid oxidation measured in skeletal muscle whole homogenates from the mTLR4 mice was significantly reduced compared to wild-type littermates on a standard chow diet. Following a 16 week high fat diet, the mTLR4, compared to wild-type mice, gained more weight and fat mass, were glucose intolerant, and displayed elevated production of mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) from complex III. In conclusion, these data show that TLR4 activation elicits a change in mitochondrial substrate preference in that acetyl-CoA derived from pyruvate oxidation is the preferred substrate for the TCA cycle over that derived from β-oxidation of fatty acids. These data also lend strong support to the idea that the TLR4-mediated change in substrate preference is dependent on the production of ROS. / Ph. D.

Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal X-linked disease that afflicts approximately 1 in 3500 newborn males. Boys with DMD will become progressively weaker causing wheelchair dependence by their early teens and death by their mid to late twenties. Currently there is no cure for DMD, the exact mechanism of disease action remains elusive, and treatments to improve quality of life are limited. Two areas of DMD research that could begin to fill this void and provide simple, cost effective therapy aimed to improve quality of life are neutriceutical and exercise therapies. We hypothesized that leucine, a branched chain amino acid (BCAA) with anabolic properties, given to sedentary and exercised x-linked dystrophic mice (mdx) over 4 weeks would improve skeletal muscle function and decrease markers of skeletal muscle degradation. In sedentary mdx mice, leucine improved tetanic extensor digitorum longus (EDL) stress (p < 0.05), gastrocnemius mammalian target or rapamycin (mTOR) phosphorylation (p < 0.05), while decreasing the rate of real-time calpain activity in flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) fibers (p < 0.05) compared to sedentary mice given no leucine. In exercised mdx mice, leucine improved total running distance over the 4 week testing period by 40% (p < 0.02) and increased EDL stress at every frequency recorded (p < 0.05). Our data lead us to the conclusion that the BCAA leucine can increase EDL muscle stress in dystrophic animals, and that the effects of leucine treatment are enhanced when leucine supplementation is combined with exercise. Leucine supplementation should be explored further and in higher order species of muscular dystrophy to determine if its use could provide clinical improvements in DMD patients. / Ph. D.

The overall objective of this dissertation project was to identify factors and mechanisms that control bovine myoblast proliferation, differentiation, and fusion. Three studies were conducted during this project. The objective of the first study was to determine the effect of oxytocin (OXT) on myoblast proliferation, differentiation and fusion. Treating primary bovine myoblasts in culture with 10 nM and 100 nM OXT for 24 h increased their proliferation rate by 7% (P < 0.05) and 10% (P < 0.05), respectively. Treating bovine myoblasts with either concentration of OXT for 48 h had no effect on their differentiation and fusion, as indicated by no changes in mRNA expression of selected myoblast differentiation markers and fusion index. The objective of the second study was to determine the effects of arachidonic acid (AA) and its major metabolites prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), PGF2a, and PGI2 on myoblast proliferation, differentiation and fusion. Treating myoblasts with 10 μM AA, 1 μM PGE2, 1 μM PGF2α, and 1 μM PGI2 for 24 h each increased the number of proliferating cells by 13%, 24%, 16%, and 16%, respectively, compared to the control (P < 0.05). At the same concentrations, AA, PGE2, and PGF2a stimulated myoblast differentiation and PGE2 improved myoblast fusion (P < 0.05). Treating myoblasts with AA and the cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 inhibitor indomethacin or the COX-2-specific inhibitor NS-398 reversed the stimulatory effect of AA on myoblast proliferation (P < 0.05). The objective of the third study was to determine the role of the proteasome in bovine myoblast differentiation and fusion. It was found that the proteasome activity increased (P < 0.05) during myoblast differentiation and fusion. Adding 5 μM lactacystin, a specific inhibitor of the proteasome, to the differentiation medium nearly completely blocked myoblast differentiation and fusion. Inhibitor of DNA-binding 1 (ID1) is known to inhibit myoblast differentiation and to be degraded by the proteasome in some cells. Both ID1 protein and mRNA expression were found to decrease during myoblast differentiation and fusion, and the decrease in ID1 protein but not ID1 mRNA was reversed (P < 0.05) by treating the cells with lactacystin. In summary, this project reveals that OXT and AA are stimulators of bovine myoblast proliferation and that AA is a stimulator of bovine myoblast differentiation. This project also indicates that the proteasome plays a positive role in bovine myoblast differentiation and fusion, and that it does so perhaps by reducing the accumulation of the ID1 protein. / Ph. D.

Keratins are a family of proteins found within human hair, skin and nails, as well as a broad variety of animal tissue. Prior research suggests hydrogel constructs of keratin and keratin derivatives exhibit several mechanical and biological properties that support their use for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Microparticle formulations of these hydrogels are an intriguing delivery vehicle for drugs and cellular payloads for tissue engineering purposes due to the ability to exploit size, surface area, loading potential and importantly, non-invasive delivery (i.e. injection) of cells and biologics. Here we examine the water-in-oil emulsion synthesis procedure to produce keratin microparticles using an oxidized keratin derivative, keratose (KOS). Analyses of particle size, microstructure, and other characterization techniques were performed. Drug loading characteristics, release kinetics, and feasibility of use in two different microparticles was subsequently investigated, first using a model-drug and later testing an antibiotic payload on bacterial cultures to validate antibacterial applications. A suspension culture technique was developed to load bone marrow-derived mesenchymyal stromal cells (BM-MSCs), testing the capacity to maintain viability and express key protein-based factors in cell growth and development. Finally, we tested the in vitro effects of cell-loaded microparticles on the L6 skeletal muscle cell line to determine potentially beneficial outcomes for skeletal muscle tissue regeneration. Largely spherical particles with a porous internal structure were obtained, displaying hydrogel properties and forming viscoelastic gels with small differences between synthesis components (solvents, crosslinkers), generating tailorable properties. The uniquely fibrous microstructure of KOS particles may lend them to applications in rapid drug release or other payload delivery wherein a high level of biocompatibility is desired. Data showed an ability to inhibit bacterial growth in the emulsion-generated system, and thereby demonstrated the potential for a keratin-based microparticle construct to be used in wound healing applications. Dense cell populations were loaded onto particles. Particles maintained cell viability, even after freeze-thaw cycling, and provided a material substrate that supported cell attachment through the formation of focal adhesions. Finally, in vitro studies show that both KOS and BM-MSCs support varying aspects of skeletal muscle development, with combinatorial treatments of cell-loaded particles conferring the greatest growth responses. / Doctor of Philosophy / Keratins and keratin hydrogels may exhibit several properties that support their use for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Microparticle formulations of these hydrogels are an intriguing delivery vehicle for payloads for tissue engineering purposes. Here we examine the water-in-oil emulsion synthesis procedure to produce keratin microparticles that were analyzed based on drug loading characteristics. A suspension culture technique was developed to load bone marrow-derived mesenchymyal stromal cells (BM-MSCs). Finally, we tested these products to determine potentially beneficial outcomes for skeletal muscle tissue regeneration. Particles with a porous structure were obtained. The microstructure of these particles may lend them to applications in drug release or other payload delivery. Data showed an ability to load and unload specific drug payloads. Dense cell populations were loaded onto particles. Finally, studies show that both keratin and BM-MSCs support skeletal muscle development, with combinatorial treatments of cell-loaded particles conferring the greatest growth responses.

The past thirty years have seen a dramatic rise in obesity worldwide owing to a change in dietary composition, quantity of food consumed- positive energy balance, and a more sedentary life style. Accompanied with obesity is a chronic low grade inflammatory state defined by increased circulating cytokines and an increase in gene expression promoting inflammation. Multiple health risks are associated with obesity such as cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and type II diabetes. Advances in mass spectrometry have made wide scale proteomic studies possible and are redefining cell and molecular biology. One such area of that has become of considerable interest is protein acetylation which is observed in most cellular processes such as cell cycle regulation, gene expression, subcellular localization, metabolism, muscle contraction, protein stability, apoptosis, and more. Metabolic proteins are highly susceptible to acetylation with almost all showing the capacity to be acetylated. Our research, using an obese mouse model fed a chronic high fat diet and a lean control mouse model fed a standard chow diet, showed numerous differences in the acetylome between obese and lean animals in a fasted state. As well as, differences in the acetylome's of both animal models upon receiving a high fat meal. We showed that almost every mitochondrially located metabolic protein in obese animals is hyper-acetylated in a fasted state compared to lean animals and that upon feeding lean animals have a greater response in the change to their metabolic acetylome. We show that in the fed state lean and obese mice have almost completely different acetylomic profiles of mitochondrial and glycolytic metabolic proteins. Furthermore, we have observed possible new regulatory mechanisms utilizing acetylation to 1) determine the fate of the co-factor NADH in glycolysis and 2) control an ATP producing reaction in glycolysis. / Ph. D.

Diabetes mellitus is a growing public health concern, presently affecting 25.8 million or 8.3% of the American population. While the availability of novel drugs, techniques, and surgical intervention has improved the survival rate of individuals with diabetes, the prevalence of diabetes is still rising. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a result of chronic insulin resistance and loss of -cell mass and function, and it is is always associated with the impairment in energy metabolism, causing increased intracellular fat content in skeletal muscle (SkM), liver, fat, as well as pancreatic islets. As such, the search for novel agents that simultaneously promotes insulin sensitivity and 𝜷-cell survival may provide a more effective strategy to prevent the onset and progression of this disease. Kaempferol is a flavonol that has been identified in many plants and used in traditional medicine. It has been shown to elicit various pharmacological activities in epidemiological and preclinical studies. However, to date, the studies regarding its effect on the pathogenesis of diabetes are very limited. In this dissertation, I explored the anti-diabetic potential of the dietary intake of kaempferol in diet-induced obese mice and insulin-deficient diabetic mice. For the first animal study, kaempferol was supplemented in the diet to determine whether it can prevent insulin resistance and hyperglycemia in high fat (HF) diet-induced obese mice or STZ-induced obese diabetic mice. For the second animal study, kaempferol was administrated once daily via oral gavage to diet-induced obese and insulin-resistant mice or lean STZ-induced diabetic mice to evaluate its efficacy for treating diabetes and further determining the underlying mechanism. The results demonstrated that dietary intake of kaempferol for 5 months (mo) improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerances, which were associated with increased Glut4 and AMPKα expression in muscle and adipose tissues in middle-aged mice fed a high-fat (HF) diet. In vitro, kaempferol increased lipolysis and restored chronic high fatty acid-impaired glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in SkM cells, which were associated with improved AMPKα activity and Glut4 expression. In addition, dietary kaempferol treatment preserved functional pancreatic 𝜷-cell mass and prevented hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Data from the second study show that oral administration of kaempferol significantly improved blood glucose control in obese mice, which was associated with reduced hepatic glucose production and improved whole body insulin sensitivity without altering body weight gain, food consumption, or the adiposity. In addition, kaempferol treatment increased Akt and hexokinase activity, but decreased pyruvate carboxylase and glucose-6 phosphatase activity in the liver homogenate without altering their protein expression. Consistently, kaempferol decreased pyruvate carboxylase activity and suppressed gluconeogenesis in HepG2 cells as well as primary hepatocytes isolated from the livers of obese mice. Kaempferol directly blunted the activity of purified pyruvate carboxylase. In the last study, we found that kaempferol stimulates basal glucose uptake in primary human SkM. In C2C12 mouse myotubes, kaempferol also increased insulin stimulated glycogen synthesis and preserved insulin dependent glycogen synthesis and glucose uptake in the presence of fatty acids. Kaempferol stimulated Akt phosphorylation in a similar time-dependent manner as insulin in human SkM cells. Consistent with this, kaempferol increased Akt and AMPK phosphorylation in isolated murine red SkM tissue. The effect of kaempferol on glucose uptake was blunted in the presence of chemical inhibitors of glucose transporter 4 (Glut4), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), glucose transporter 1 (Glut1), and AMPK. The AMPK inhibitor also prevented kaempferol-stimulated Akt phosphorylation. Further, kaempferol improved the stability of insulin receptor substrate-1. Taken together, these studies suggest that the kaempferol is a naturally occurring compound that may be of use in the regulation of glucose homeostasis and diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, as well as by preserving functional 𝜷-cell mass. / Ph. D.

The STAC3 gene is a functionally undefined gene predicted to encode a protein containing two SH3 domains and one cysteine-rich domain. In this study, we determined the potential role of the STAC3 gene in proliferation and differentiation of bovine satellite cells. We isolated satellite cells from skeletal muscle of adult cattle and transfected them with STAC3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) or scrambled siRNA. Cell proliferation assays revealed that STAC3 knockdown had no effect on the proliferation rate of bovine satellite cells. We assessed the differentiation status of bovine satellite cells by quantifying the expression levels of myogenin and myosin heavy chain genes, and by quantifying fusion index. STAC3 knockdown stimulated mRNA and protein expression of myogenin, and myosin heavy chain 3 and 7, and increased fusion index of bovine satellite cells. These data together suggest that STAC3 inhibits differentiation of bovine satellite cells into myotubes. To determine the underlying mechanism, we identified and validated AP1?1 as a STAC3-interacting protein by yeast two-hybrid screening and co-immunoprecipitation. In C2C12 cells, STAC3 knockdown decreased the expression level of AP1?1 protein. In bovine satellite cells, STAC3 knockdown increased the membrane localization of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and glucose uptake. These data together suggest the following mechanism by which STAC3 inhibits differentiation of bovine satellite cells: STAC3 increases AP1?1 stability in cells; a high level of AP1?1 keeps GLUT4 from translocating to the plasma membrane; reduced membrane localization of GLUT4 impedes glucose uptake; and restricted glucose uptake inhibits differentiation of satellite cells into myotubes. / Master of Science