Cited by 153Muscle Physiology and DisordersMuscle metabolism and nutritionPI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cancer

Differential response of skeletal muscles to mTORC1 signaling during atrophy and hypertrophy

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Bentzinger, C Florian, Lin, Shuo, Romanino, Klaas, Castets, Perrine, Guridi, Maitea, Summermatter, Serge, Handschin, Christoph, Tintignac, Lionel A +2 more·2013·Skeletal Muscle

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle mass is determined by the balance between protein synthesis and degradation. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a master regulator of protein translation and has been implicated in the control of muscle mass. Inactivation of mTORC1 by skeletal muscle-specific deletion of its obligatory component raptor results in smaller muscles and a lethal dystrophy. Moreover, raptor-deficient muscles are less oxidative through changes in the expression PGC-1α, a critical determinant of mitochondrial biogenesis. These results suggest that activation of mTORC1 might be beneficial to skeletal muscle by providing resistance to muscle atrophy and increasing oxidative function. Here, we tested this hypothesis by deletion of the mTORC1 inhibitor tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in muscle fibers. METHOD: Skeletal muscles of mice with an acute or a permanent deletion of raptor or TSC1 were examined using histological, biochemical and molecular biological methods. Response of the muscles to changes in mechanical load and nerve input was investigated by ablation of synergistic muscles or by denervation . RESULTS: Genetic deletion or knockdown of raptor, causing inactivation of mTORC1, was sufficient to prevent muscle growth and enhance muscle atrophy. Conversely, short-term activation of mTORC1 by knockdown of TSC induced muscle fiber hypertrophy and atrophy-resistance upon denervation, in both fast tibialis anterior (TA) and slow soleus muscles. Surprisingly, however, sustained activation of mTORC1 by genetic deletion of Tsc1 caused muscle atrophy in all but soleus muscles. In contrast, oxidative capacity was increased in all muscles examined. Consistently, TSC1-deficient soleus muscle was atrophy-resistant whereas TA underwent normal atrophy upon denervation. Moreover, upon overloading, plantaris muscle did not display enhanced hypertrophy compared to controls. Biochemical analysis indicated that the atrophy response of muscles was based on the suppressed phosphorylation of PKB/Akt via feedback inhibition by mTORC1 and subsequent increased expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligases MuRF1 and atrogin-1/MAFbx. In contrast, expression of both E3 ligases was not increased in soleus muscle suggesting the presence of compensatory mechanisms in this muscle. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the mTORC1- and the PKB/Akt-FoxO pathways are tightly interconnected and differentially regulated depending on the muscle type. These results indicate that long-term activation of the mTORC1 signaling axis is not a therapeutic option to promote muscle growth because of its strong feedback induction of the E3 ubiquitin ligases involved in protein degradation.

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Crossref · 10.1186/2044-5040-3-6

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Authors
Bentzinger, C. F., Lin, S., Romanino, K., Castets, P., Guridi, M., Summermatter, S., Handschin, C., Tintignac, L. A., Hall, M. N., & Rüegg, M. A.
Affiliations
University of Basel (CH)
Corresponding author
Rüegg, Markus A
Venue
Skeletal Muscle
Published
2013-03-06
Volume
3
Issue
1
Pages
6-6
ISSN
2044-5040 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2149451793
Cited by
153
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 8
FWCI
6.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Skeletal Muscle (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • edoc (University of Basel) (acceptedVersion)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • edoc (University of Basel)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cancer
Keywords
mTORC1 signaling, skeletal muscle atrophy, muscle hypertrophy, raptors, tuberous sclerosis complex 1, denervation, muscle overload, oxidative capacity, PGC-1α, mitochondrial biogenesis, Akt signaling, FOXO, MuRF1, atrogin-1/MAFbx, E3 ubiquitin ligase, muscle fiber type, soleus muscle

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