TWEAK and cIAP1 regulate myoblast fusion through the noncanonical NF-κB signaling pathway

Sci Signal. 2012 Oct 16;5(246):ra75. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.2003086.

Abstract

The fusion of mononucleated muscle progenitor cells (myoblasts) into multinucleated muscle fibers is a critical aspect of muscle development and regeneration. We identified the noncanonical nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway as a signaling axis that drives the recruitment of myoblasts into new muscle fibers. Loss of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis 1 (cIAP1) protein led to constitutive activation of the noncanonical NF-κB pathway and an increase in the number of nuclei per myotube. Knockdown of essential mediators of NF-κB signaling, such as p100, RelB, inhibitor of κB kinase α, and NF-κB-inducing kinase, attenuated myoblast fusion in wild-type myoblasts. In contrast, the extent of myoblast fusion was increased when the activity of the noncanonical NF-κB pathway was enhanced by increasing the abundance of p52 and RelB or decreasing the abundance of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 3, an inhibitor of this pathway. Low concentrations of the cytokine TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), which preferentially activates the noncanonical NF-κB pathway, also increased myoblast fusion, without causing atrophy or impairing myogenesis. These results identify roles for TWEAK, cIAP1, and noncanonical NF-κB signaling in the regulation of myoblast fusion and highlight a role for cytokine signaling during adult skeletal myogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bromodeoxyuridine / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Cytokine TWEAK
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Genotype
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / genetics
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Models, Biological
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscles / metabolism
  • Myoblasts / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Necrosis Factors / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factors / physiology*

Substances

  • Cytokine TWEAK
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tnfsf12 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factors
  • Bromodeoxyuridine