Extracellular matrix remodelling is associated with muscle force increase in overloaded mouse plantaris muscle

Aims: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signalling is thought to contribute to the remodelling of extracellular matrix (ECM) of skeletal muscle and to functional decline in patients with muscular dystrophies. We wanted to determine the role of TGF-beta-induced ECM remodelling in dystrophic muscle. Methods: experimentally induced the pathological hallmarks of severe muscular dystrophy by mechanically overloading theplantarismuscle in mice. Furthermore, we determined the role of TGF-beta signalling on dystrophic tissue modulation and on muscle function by (i) overloading myostatin knockout (Mstn(-/-)) mice and (ii) by additional pharmacological TGF-beta inhibitionviahalofuginone. Results Transcriptome analysis of overloaded muscles revealed upregulation predominantly of genes associated with ECM, inflammation and metalloproteinase activity. Histology revealed in wild-type mice signs of severe muscular dystrophy including myofibres with large variation in size and internalized myonuclei, as well as increased ECM deposition. At the same time, muscle weight had increased by 208% and muscle force by 234%. Myostatin deficiency blunted the effect of overload on muscle mass (59% increase) and force (76% increase), while having no effect on ECM deposition. Concomitant treatment with halofuginone blunted overload-induced muscle hypertrophy and muscle force increase, while reducing ECM deposition and increasing myofibre size. Conclusions: ECM remodelling is associated with an increase in muscle mass and force in overload-modelled dystrophic muscle. Lack of myostatin is not advantageous and inhibition of ECM deposition by halofuginone is disadvantageous for muscle plasticity in response to stimuli that induce dystrophic muscle.

Automated summary

TGF-beta signaling contributes to ECM remodeling in dystrophic muscle, leading to increased muscle mass and force. Lack of myostatin is not advantageous, and inhibition of ECM deposition by halofuginone is disadvantageous for muscle plasticity in response to stimuli that induce dystrophic muscle.