title: Synergistic effect of beta-amyloid protein and interferon gamma on nitric oxide production by C2C12 muscle cells.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator of diverse physiological and pathological responses. NO-induced oxidative stress has been proposed in the pathogenesis of muscle tissue damage in inclusion-body myositis (IBM), which is characterized by deposition of beta-amyloid protein (Abeta) in vacuolated muscle fibres. To determine whether Abeta can induce NO production in skeletal muscle, we stimulated C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cells in vitro with Abeta[1-42] or Abeta[25-35] peptides in the presence or absence of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). Neither Abeta peptides nor IFN-gamma were able to stimulate nitrite (NO(2)(-)) production by C2C12 cells when given alone. However, combination of IFN-gamma with either Abeta[1-42] or Abeta[25-35] resulted in significant NO(2)(-) release into cell-free supernatants. Northern blot analysis of RNA obtained from Abeta/IFN-gamma-stimulated C2C12 cells revealed increased mRNA accumulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Moreover, approximately 4% of muscle cells incubated with Abeta peptides and IFN-gamma showed ultrastructural features of DNA fragmentation. These findings, taken together, indicate that the association of Abeta with IFN-gamma stimulates NO(2)(-) production via induction of iNOS gene expression in skeletal muscle cells, with occasional evidence for nuclear changes suggesting apoptotic morphology. These data further support a role for Abeta deposition in the pathogenesis of postulated oxidative damage in IBM.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, University of Milan, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galimberti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meda
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prat
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarpini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moggio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prelle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scarlato
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018979:Myositis, Inclusion Body / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma