As lesões dos nervos periféricos, que inervam os músculos esqueléticos, evoluem para perdas da propriocepção e alterações na morfologia e função das fibras musculares, causando um impacto negativo na qualidade de vidas dos indivíduos. Tais lesões implicam em alteração na expressão de genes específicos do músculo, como por exemplo, na MyoD e Miogenina, atuantes na ativação de células satélites e reguladores da massa muscular A técnica cirúrgica de tubulização é um recurso empregado na prática clínica para tratamento de músculos que sofreram desnervação. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar se a técnica de tubulização com o preenchimento de gordura altera a expressão de Myod e Miogenina, a morfometria do músculo sóleo de ratos e localização da Myod e Miogenina. Para isso, 57 ratos Wistar foram separados em grupos: controle inicial (GCI); final 45 (GCF45), final 150 (GCF150), desnervado 45 dias (GD45), desnervado 150 dias (GCD150) e grupos experimentais com veia vazia 45 dias (GESP45) e 150 dias (GESP150) e com veia preenchida de gordura 45 dias (GEG45) e 150 dias (GEG150). Para os procedimentos cirúrgicos de desnervação e reinervação e coleta do músculo os animais foram profundamente anestesiados. Após os devidos tempos experimentais, os animais foram sacrificados, o músculo sóleo foi dissecado, envolvido em meio de criopreservação e estocado a -80°C. A quantificação de mRNA do MyoD e Miogenina foi realizada por amplificação por reação em cadeia de polimerase (PCR) em tempo real (RealTimePCR) e a localização da produção de Myod e Miogenina foi realizada por microscopia confocal a laser e imunofluorescência. A morfometria foi realizada em lâminas coradas com HE, observadas em microscópio ótico e calculadas pelo software Image Pro-Plus 6.2. Os resultados do presente estudo mostraram que houve aumento da expressão do Myod e Miogenina nos grupos experimentais 45 dias quando comparados ao grupo controle inicial e um decréscimo da expressão de Myod e Miogenina para os grupos experimentais com 150 dias. A área da secção transversa nos grupos experimentais com 45 dias (GESP45 e GEG45) não apresentaram diferença estatística, quando comparado com grupo desnervado 45 dias (GCD45), enquanto que o grupo experimental com preenchimento de gordura 150 dias (GEG150) obteve os melhores resultados na medida da área da secção transversal do músculo sóleo. As lâminas observadas no microscópio confocal mostram a MyoD e Miogen localizadas no mionúcleo. Concluiu-se que o uso da gordura na técnica de tubulização do nervo ciático de ratos, interfere na regeneração do músculo sóleo. / Peripheral nerve injuries can result in the loss of propioception, morphological and functional alterations of muscle fibers which causes a negative impact on the quality of life. These injuries elicit an alteration on the expression of muscle specific genes, like MyoD and Myogenin, involved in the satellite cell activation and muscle mass regulation. The vein graft tubulization is a well known technique for treatment of denervated muscle. The aim of this work was to investigate if vein graf tubulization filled with fat tissue changes the expression and localization of MyoD and Myogenin and to study if it can modify the morphometry of soleus muscle. Fifty seven Wistar rats were divided in initial control group (ICG), final control group 45 days and 150 days (FCG45; FCG150), denervated 45 days and 150 days (D45; D150) and experimental groups with vein graft 45 days and 150 days (VG45; VG150). and vein graft filled with fat tissue 45 days and 150 days (VF45; VF150). For denervation and reinervation procedures and muscle biopsy the animals were submitted to anaesthesia and after the experimental time they were euthanized. Soleus muscle was dissected, involved in criopreservation medium and stored at -80oC. It was performed RealTime polymerase chain reaction (RealTimePCR) for MyoD and Myogenin mRNA quantification. The localization of its production was analysed by laser confocal microscopy and immunofluorescence staining. The morphometric analysis were done by Hematoxilin-Eosin staining and examined at optical microscopy using the Image ProPlus 6.2 software. There was an upregulation on the expression of MyoD and Myogenin for the experimental groups at 45 days when compared to the initial control group. On the other hand, we found a downregulation on the MyoD and Myogenin expression in the same groups with 150 days. The area of transversal section in the 45 days experimental groups (VF45, VG45) did not show statistical difference compared with denervated group with 45 days (D45). Moreover, the group filled with fat tissue at 150 days (VF150) presented the best results in the transversal section area of soleus muscle. In addition, the slides analysed under confocal microscopy showed the localization of MyoD and Myogenin in the mionuclei. In conclusion, the application of vein graft filled fat tissue improves the soleus muscle regeneration.

As lesões dos nervos periféricos, que inervam os músculos esqueléticos, evoluem para perdas da propriocepção e alterações na morfologia e função das fibras musculares, causando um impacto negativo na qualidade de vidas dos indivíduos. Tais lesões implicam em alteração na expressão de genes específicos do músculo, como por exemplo, na MyoD e Miogenina, atuantes na ativação de células satélites e reguladores da massa muscular A técnica cirúrgica de tubulização é um recurso empregado na prática clínica para tratamento de músculos que sofreram desnervação. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar se a técnica de tubulização com o preenchimento de gordura altera a expressão de Myod e Miogenina, a morfometria do músculo sóleo de ratos e localização da Myod e Miogenina. Para isso, 57 ratos Wistar foram separados em grupos: controle inicial (GCI); final 45 (GCF45), final 150 (GCF150), desnervado 45 dias (GD45), desnervado 150 dias (GCD150) e grupos experimentais com veia vazia 45 dias (GESP45) e 150 dias (GESP150) e com veia preenchida de gordura 45 dias (GEG45) e 150 dias (GEG150). Para os procedimentos cirúrgicos de desnervação e reinervação e coleta do músculo os animais foram profundamente anestesiados. Após os devidos tempos experimentais, os animais foram sacrificados, o músculo sóleo foi dissecado, envolvido em meio de criopreservação e estocado a -80°C. A quantificação de mRNA do MyoD e Miogenina foi realizada por amplificação por reação em cadeia de polimerase (PCR) em tempo real (RealTimePCR) e a localização da produção de Myod e Miogenina foi realizada por microscopia confocal a laser e imunofluorescência. A morfometria foi realizada em lâminas coradas com HE, observadas em microscópio ótico e calculadas pelo software Image Pro-Plus 6.2. Os resultados do presente estudo mostraram que houve aumento da expressão do Myod e Miogenina nos grupos experimentais 45 dias quando comparados ao grupo controle inicial e um decréscimo da expressão de Myod e Miogenina para os grupos experimentais com 150 dias. A área da secção transversa nos grupos experimentais com 45 dias (GESP45 e GEG45) não apresentaram diferença estatística, quando comparado com grupo desnervado 45 dias (GCD45), enquanto que o grupo experimental com preenchimento de gordura 150 dias (GEG150) obteve os melhores resultados na medida da área da secção transversal do músculo sóleo. As lâminas observadas no microscópio confocal mostram a MyoD e Miogen localizadas no mionúcleo. Concluiu-se que o uso da gordura na técnica de tubulização do nervo ciático de ratos, interfere na regeneração do músculo sóleo. / Peripheral nerve injuries can result in the loss of propioception, morphological and functional alterations of muscle fibers which causes a negative impact on the quality of life. These injuries elicit an alteration on the expression of muscle specific genes, like MyoD and Myogenin, involved in the satellite cell activation and muscle mass regulation. The vein graft tubulization is a well known technique for treatment of denervated muscle. The aim of this work was to investigate if vein graf tubulization filled with fat tissue changes the expression and localization of MyoD and Myogenin and to study if it can modify the morphometry of soleus muscle. Fifty seven Wistar rats were divided in initial control group (ICG), final control group 45 days and 150 days (FCG45; FCG150), denervated 45 days and 150 days (D45; D150) and experimental groups with vein graft 45 days and 150 days (VG45; VG150). and vein graft filled with fat tissue 45 days and 150 days (VF45; VF150). For denervation and reinervation procedures and muscle biopsy the animals were submitted to anaesthesia and after the experimental time they were euthanized. Soleus muscle was dissected, involved in criopreservation medium and stored at -80oC. It was performed RealTime polymerase chain reaction (RealTimePCR) for MyoD and Myogenin mRNA quantification. The localization of its production was analysed by laser confocal microscopy and immunofluorescence staining. The morphometric analysis were done by Hematoxilin-Eosin staining and examined at optical microscopy using the Image ProPlus 6.2 software. There was an upregulation on the expression of MyoD and Myogenin for the experimental groups at 45 days when compared to the initial control group. On the other hand, we found a downregulation on the MyoD and Myogenin expression in the same groups with 150 days. The area of transversal section in the 45 days experimental groups (VF45, VG45) did not show statistical difference compared with denervated group with 45 days (D45). Moreover, the group filled with fat tissue at 150 days (VF150) presented the best results in the transversal section area of soleus muscle. In addition, the slides analysed under confocal microscopy showed the localization of MyoD and Myogenin in the mionuclei. In conclusion, the application of vein graft filled fat tissue improves the soleus muscle regeneration.

Skeletal muscle is a complicated and heterogeneous striated muscle tissue that serves critical mechanical and metabolic functions in the organism. The process of generating skeletal muscle, myogenesis, is elaborately coordinated by members of the protein kinase family, which transmit diverse signals initiated by extracellular stimuli to myogenic transcriptional hierarchy in muscle cells. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including p38 MAPK, c-Jun N terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) are components of serine/threonine protein kinase cascades that play important roles in skeletal muscle differentiation. The exploration of MAPK upstream kinases identified mitogen activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 4 (MAP4K4), a serine/threonine protein kinase that modulates p38 MAPK, JNK and ERK activities in multiple cell lines. Our lab further discovered that Map4k4 regulates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) translation in cultured adipocytes through inactivating mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which controls skeletal muscle differentiation and hypotrophy in kinase-dependent and -independent manners. These findings suggest potential involvement of Map4k4 in skeletal myogenesis. Therefore, for the first part of my thesis, I characterize the role of Map4k4 in skeletal muscle differentiation in cultured muscle cells. Here I show that Map4k4 functions as a myogenic suppressor mainly at the early stage of skeletal myogenesis with a moderate effect on myoblast fusion during late-stage muscle differentiation. In agreement, Map4k4 expression and protein kinase activity are declined with myogenic differentiation. The inhibitory effect of Map4k4 on skeletal myogenesis requires its kinase activity. Surprisingly, none of the identified Map4k4 downstream effectors including p38 MAPK, JNK and ERK is involved in the Map4k4-mediated myogenic differentiation. Instead, expression of myogenic regulatory factor Myf5, a positive mediator of skeletal muscle differentiation is transiently regulated by Map4k4 to partially control skeletal myogenesis. Mechanisms by which Map4k4 modulates Myf5 amount have yet to be determined. In the second part of my thesis, I assess the relationship between Map4k4 and IGF-mediated signaling pathways. Although siRNA-mediated silencing of Map4k4 results in markedly enhanced myotube formation that is identical to the IGF-induced muscle hypertrophic phenotype, and Map4k4 regulates IGF/Akt signaling downstream effector mTOR in cultured adipocytes, Map4k4 appears not to be involved in the IGF-mediated ERK1/2 signaling axis and the IGF-mediated Akt signaling axis in C2C12 myoblasts. Furthermore, Map4k4 does not affect endogenous Akt signaling or mTOR activity during C2C12 myogenic differentiation. The results presented here not only identify Map4k4 as a novel suppressor of skeletal muscle differentiation, but also add to our knowledge of Map4k4 action on multiple signaling pathways in muscle cells during skeletal myogenesis. The effects that Map4k4 exerts on myoblast differentiation, fusion and Myf5 expression implicate Map4k4 as a potential drug target for muscle mass growth, skeletal muscle regeneration and muscular dystrophy.