title: Trophic effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor on denervated skeletal muscle.
abstract: The actions and receptor for ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) are largely restricted to cells of the nervous system, although one of the CNTF receptor components, CNTFR alpha, is expressed by skeletal muscle. Here we show that the other CNTF receptor components, LIFR beta and gp130, are also expressed by skeletal muscle and that expression of all three CNTF receptor components is greatly increased in denervated muscle. In vivo, administration of CNTF activates these receptors on skeletal muscle by inducing receptor phosphorylation and immediate-early gene responses. Furthermore, CNTF reduces the denervation-induced atrophy of muscle and attenuates the reduced twitch and tetanic tensions that result from muscle denervation. Our findings reveal that, in addition to its known neurotrophic actions, CNTF exerts myotrophic effects by attenuating the morphological and functional changes associated with denervation of rat skeletal muscle.
authors.affiliation: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated, Tarrytown, New York 10591.
authors.forename: Maureen E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Helgren
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Squinto
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: Teri G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Boulton
authors.forename: Carol S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Heck
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Yancopoulos
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: DiStefano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D020801:Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020801:Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins