title: Exercise stimulates Pgc-1alpha transcription in skeletal muscle through activation of the p38 MAPK pathway.
abstract: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha) promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and slow fiber formation in skeletal muscle. We hypothesized that activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in response to increased muscle activity stimulated Pgc-1alpha gene transcription as part of the mechanisms for skeletal muscle adaptation. Here we report that a single bout of voluntary running induced a transient increase of Pgc-1alpha mRNA expression in mouse plantaris muscle, concurrent with an activation of the p38 MAPK pathway. Activation of the p38 MAPK pathway in cultured C2C12 myocytes stimulated Pgc-1alpha promoter activity, which could be blocked by the specific inhibitors of p38, SB203580 and SB202190, or a dominant negative p38. Furthermore, the p38-mediated increase in Pgc-1alpha promoter activity was enhanced by increased expression of the downstream transcription factor ATF2 and completely blocked by ATF2DeltaN, a dominant negative ATF2. Skeletal muscle-specific expression of a constitutively active activator of p38, MKK6E, in transgenic mice resulted in enhanced Pgc-1alpha and cytochrome oxidase IV protein expression in fast-twitch skeletal muscles. These findings suggest that contractile activity-induced activation of the p38 MAPK pathway promotes Pgc-1alpha gene expression and skeletal muscle adaptation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akimoto
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pohnert
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gumbs
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: R Sanders
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D048669:MAP Kinase Kinase 6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008954:Models, Biological; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2; C497106:Atf2 protein, mouse; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; C485290:Ppargc1a protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048669:MAP Kinase Kinase 6; C482567:Map2k6 protein, mouse