The extracellular matrix (ECM) of the skeletal muscle provides the framework for the muscle structure and plays a key role in the repair and maintenance of myofibers through the resident fibroblasts and muscle satellite cells. However, excessive production of ECM components, notably collagen, leads to fibrosis which impedes muscle function, impairs the natural repair process, and leads to muscle weakness. Fibrosis is a hallmark of muscular dystrophies, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a terminal, x-linked disorder characterized by progressive muscle wasting as muscle fibers are replaced by fibrosis and fat. There are approximately 300,000 DMD patients worldwide, and the few disease modifying treatments are genotype specific, only helping a small percentage of the patient population. Myostatin is a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) family of ligands, is a negative regulator of muscle mass, and may also contribute to the fibrotic environment in dystrophic muscle through myofibroblast proliferation and survival. Therefore, myostatin blockade could potentially ameliorate muscle weakness in DMD patients by increasing skeletal mass and function while also reducing the accumulation of fibrosis. A murine anti-myostatin antibody, mRK35, and its humanized analogue, domagrozumab, are specific and potent inhibitors of myostatin. mRK35 was tested in multiple mouse models, from healthy C57Bl/6 and C57Bl/10, mildly dystrophic C57Bl/10.mdx, and severely dystrophic D2.mdx mice, for changes in muscle mass, muscle function, and fibrotic content. Additionally, inflammatory, fibrotic, and myogenic gene expression changes were analyzed in the severely dystrophic animals treated with mRK35. Domagrozumab was tested in non-human primates (NHPs) for changes in skeletal muscle mass. Myostatin blockade with mRK35 resulted in muscle anabolic and functional improvements in healthy murine models and NHPs treated with domagrozumab demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in lean mass and muscle volume. However, as mice age or as the dystrophic severity of the model increases, the anabolic effect of myostatin inhibition is diminished. The extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle escapes this trend and is the most responsive to myostatin inhibition across all mouse strains and disease severities. However, analysis of the fibrotic content in the triceps and diaphragms of D2.mdx mice treated with mRK35 for 8 weeks does not reveal any change in fibrotic content. Gene expression changes in the muscles within these mice appear to be tightly tied to their healthy or dystrophic state and myostatin inhibition has minimal effect. In sum, while specific myostatin inhibition with mRK35 increases muscle weight and function in mice, there is no conclusive evidence of reduced muscle fibrosis. / 2023-06-22T00:00:00Z

RNA interference (RNAi) is an important pathway that regulates gene expression in several organisms. The role of RNAi in post-transcriptional gene silencing in the cytoplasm is well characterized. In contrast, the role of RNAi components in the nucleus remains to be elucidated. Previous reports have indicated that RNAi components (Dicer and Argonaute proteins) and small RNAs act in the nucleus to regulate various pathways including heterochromatin formation, transposable elements repression, RNA Pol II processivity and alternative splicing. Nuclear Ago1 and Dicer have also been found to associate with active promoters and enhancers in mammalian cells, however their functional roles and mechanisms remain elusive. In this work, I investigated the functional role of nuclear RNAi components in gene expression regulation during skeletal muscle differentiation. To address this question, I undertook genomic and biochemical approaches applied to myogenic cells (C2C12) as a model system. I found that Ago1 and Dicer are present in the nucleus of C2C12 cells and expressed during differentiation. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) coupled with high throughput sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR indicate that Ago1 and Dicer are enriched at promoters and enhancer regions of myogenic genes. Interestingly, I found that depletion of Ago1 and Dicer reduces enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) levels at enhancer regions and expression of MyoD during differentiation. I observed that loss of Ago1 impacts differentiation, whereas, loss of Dicer leads to cell death and has severe effects on C2C12 cells. Moreover, using Chromosome Conformation Capture (3C), I revealed that Ago1 is involved in enhancer-promoter interaction at MyoD locus. The knockdown of Ago1 destabilizes these interactions and decreases the expression of MyoD. Finally, I demonstrated that Ago1 binds to eRNAs and interacts with CBP Acetyl-transferase in the nucleus of myotube cells. Ago1 depletion leads to loss of eRNA-CBP interaction and consequent impairment of CBP acetyltransferase activity and failure of MyoD mediated activation of the myogenic program. Taken together, these finding indicate that nuclear Ago1 together with eRNAs and CBP regulates MyoD expression by stimulating histone acetylation during differentiation. This study uncovered a novel function of chromatin associated Ago1 in gene expression regulation during mammalian skeletal muscle differentiation.

Caspase-3 has demonstrated a non-apoptotic function in several developmental programs including skeletal muscle differentiation, yet the mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. Under apoptotic conditions Caspase-3 induces DNA fragmentation through activation of CAD. Recent observations have demonstrated CAD activity and the resulting DNA strand breaks are also vital for skeletal muscle differentiation. These breaks are transient in nature, suggesting an active DNA repair program to maintain genomic integrity. The aim of this study was to delineate the DNA repair mechanism coordinated with caspase/CAD mediated DNA damage. It was found that XRCC1 formed punctate nuclear foci early in myoblast differentiation concurrent to the induction of DNA damage. Caspase-3 inhibition caused attenuation of the formation of DNA lesions and XRCC1 foci in differentiating myoblasts. Targeted reduction in XRCC1 expression impaired myoblast differentiation. These results suggest that XRCC1 may play a role in repairing the DNA damage associated with myoblast differentiation.

No description available.

Skeletal muscle satellite cells (myoblasts) are the primary stem cells of skeletal muscle which contribute to growth, maintenance, and repair of the muscles. Satellite cells are the first stem cells used for cellular cardiomyoplasty more than 20 years ago. The isolation, culture, labeling, and identification of satellite cells are described in detail here. The implantation and outcomes of cellular cardiomyoplasty using satellite cells have been summarized in the previous chapter (Chapter 1).

Skeletal muscle satellite cells (myoblasts) are the primary stem cells of skeletal muscle which contribute to growth, maintenance, and repair of the muscles. Satellite cells are the first stem cells used for cellular cardiomyoplasty more than 20 years ago. The isolation, culture, labeling, and identification of satellite cells are described in detail here. The implantation and outcomes of cellular cardiomyoplasty using satellite cells have been summarized in the previous chapter (Chapter 1).

Skeletal muscle metastasis from breast carcinoma is a relatively rare clinical entity. We report two cases of breast cancer metastatic to the skeletal muscle, diagnosed by ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (US-FNA) biopsy done by interventional cytopathologists at an outpatient cytopathology center. Our two patients presented with lower anterior neck firmness and chest wall mass, respectively. Ultrasound evaluation of our first case demonstrated hypo-echoic thickened anterior strap muscles while in the second case there was significant distortion of the anatomy from previous surgeries. It was necessary to proceed with FNA biopsy even when their ultrasound findings were equivocal, to establish a definite rapid diagnosis. The immediate onsite evaluation findings were suggestive of malignancy in both cases with subsequent core biopsy confirming the diagnosis of metastatic breast carcinoma. In cytopathology, point-of-care (POC) ultrasound is used as an adjunct tool that offers visual guidance during FNA of nonpalpable masses and enables sampling of lesional “hot” spots to ensure specimen adequacy. Studies have demonstrated a reduction in FNA nondiagnostic rates with the use of ultrasound-guidance consequently reducing health care costs associated with nondiagnostic FNAs. US-FNA also provides adequate samples for cell block preparations. Metastatic lobular carcinoma of the breast has a wide range of clinical presentations and a high level of suspicion is advised. Cytopathologists-performed US-FNA is a proven, less-invasive, cost-effective tool that provides timely cytologic diagnosis.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(農学) / 乙第12877号 / 論農博第2804号 / 新制||農||1028(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H26||N4876(農学部図書室) / 31595 / (主査)教授 伏木 亨, 教授 保川 清, 教授 安達 修二 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(人間・環境学) / 乙第12883号 / 論人博第40号 / 新制||人||169(附属図書館) / 26||論人博||40(吉田南総合図書館) / 31601 / (主査)教授 石原 昭彦, 教授 船橋 新太郎, 教授 林 達也, 准教授 神﨑 素樹, 准教授 久代 恵介 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Human and Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(人間・環境学) / 甲第19057号 / 人博第710号 / 新制||人||171(附属図書館) / 26||人博||710(吉田南総合図書館) / 32008 / 京都大学大学院人間・環境学研究科共生人間学専攻 / (主査)教授 林 達也, 教授 森谷 敏夫, 教授 石原 昭彦 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Human and Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DGAM