Chemokine expression and control of muscle cell migration during myogenesis

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Christine A. Griffin, Emory University; Luciano H. Apponi, Emory University; Kimberly K. Long, Emory University; Grace K Pavlath, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2010-09-15
• Publisher: Company of Biologists
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2010.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://jcs.biologists.org/content/123/18/3052
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Cell Science
• ISSN: 0021-9533
• Volume: 123
• Issue: 18
• Start Page: 3052
• End Page: 3060
• Grant/Funding Information: L.H.A. and K.K.L. were supported by MDA Development grants.; C.A.G. was supported by National Institutes of Health training grant T32-GM08367; G.K.P. was supported by grants AR-047314, AR-051372, and AR- 052730 from the National Institutes of Health and the Muscular Dystrophy Association
• Keywords: Myoblast; Fusion; Regeneration; SDF-1α; Myocyte; CXCR4
• Research Categories: Chemistry, Biochemistry; Health Sciences, Pharmacology

Abstract

Adult regenerative myogenesis is vital for restoring normal tissue structure after muscle injury. Muscle regeneration is dependent on progenitor satellite cells, which proliferate in response to injury, and their progeny differentiate and undergo cell–cell fusion to form regenerating myofibers. Myogenic progenitor cells must be precisely regulated and positioned for proper cell fusion to occur. Chemokines are secreted proteins that share both leukocyte chemoattractant and cytokine-like behavior and affect the physiology of a number of cell types. We investigated the steady-state mRNA levels of 84 chemokines, chemokine receptors and signaling molecules, to obtain a comprehensive view of chemokine expression by muscle cells during myogenesis in vitro. A large number of chemokines and chemokine receptors were expressed by primary mouse muscle cells, especially during times of extensive cell–cell fusion. Furthermore, muscle cells exhibited different migratory behavior throughout myogenesis in vitro. One receptor–ligand pair, CXCR4–SDF-1α (CXCL12), regulated migration of both proliferating and terminally differentiated muscle cells, and was necessary for proper fusion of muscle cells. Given the large number of chemokines and chemokine receptors directly expressed by muscle cells, these proteins might have a greater role in myogenesis than previously appreciated.