Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Suppresses Myogenic Differentiation through Negative Regulation of NFATc3.

J.L. van der Velden, A.M. Schols, J. Willems, M.C. Kelders, R.C. Langen*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    Skeletal muscle atrophy is a prominent and disabling feature in many chronic diseases. Prevention or reversal of muscle atrophy by stimulation of skeletal muscle growth could be an important therapeutic strategy. Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta) has been implicated in the negative regulation of skeletal muscle growth. Since myogenic differentiation is an essential part of muscle growth we investigated if inhibition of GSK-3beta is sufficient to stimulate myogenic differentiation, and whether this depended on regulation of the transcription factor Nuclear Factor of Activated T-cells (NFAT). In both, myogenically converted Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts (MEFs) or C2C12 myoblasts, deficiency of GSK-3beta protein (activity) resulted in enhanced myotube formation and muscle specific gene expression during differentiation, which was reversed by reintroduction of wt, but not kinase-inactive (K85R) GSK-3beta. In addition, GSK-3beta inhibition restored myogenic differentiation following Calcineurin blockade, which suggested the involvement of NFAT. GSK-3beta deficient MEFs or myoblasts displayed enhanced nuclear translocation of NFATc3, and elevated NFAT-sensitive promoter transactivation, which was reduced by re-introducing wt-, but not K85R-GSK-3beta. Over-expression of NFATc3 increased muscle gene promoter transactivation, which was abolished by co-expression of wt-GSK-3beta. Finally, stimulation of muscle gene expression observed following GSK-3beta inhibition was strongly attenuated in NFATc3-deficient myoblasts, indicating that this response requires NFATc3. Collectively, our data demonstrate negative regulation of myogenic differentiation by GSK-3beta through a transcriptional mechanism which depends on NFATc3. Inhibition of GSK-3beta may be a potential strategy in prevention or treatment of muscle atrophy.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)358-366
    JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
    Volume283
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2008

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