Molecular regulation of apoptosis in fast plantaris muscles of aged rats.
This study tested the hypothesis that aging exacerbates apoptotic signaling in rat fast plantaris muscle during muscle unloading. Plantaris muscle mass was 22% lower in aged animals and the apoptotic index was 600% higher, when compared to those in young adult animals. Following 14 days of hind-limb unloading, absolute plantaris muscle mass was 20% lower in young adult animals with a corresponding 200% higher elevation of the apoptotic index. Unloading had no affect on muscle weight or apoptotic index of aged plantaris muscles. The changes in pro-apoptotic messenger RNA (mRNA) for apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), Bax, and inhibitor of differentiation protein-2 (Id2) were exacerbated with aging. Bax and Bcl-2 protein levels were also altered differently in aged muscle, compared to young. Significant positive correlations were observed between the changes in Id2 and Bax mRNA, and Id2 and caspase-9 mRNA. These data suggest that a pro-apoptotic environment may contribute to aging-associated atrophy in fast skeletal muscle, but apoptotic signaling differs by age.
Laboratory of Muscle biology and Sarcopenia, Division of Exercise Physiology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506-9227, USA.
Emidio E
EE
Pistilli
Parco M
PM
Siu
Stephen E
SE
Alway
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006614:Hindlimb; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D051797:Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; C000606778:Bcl2l11 protein, rat; D051797:Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein