Neuregulins increase mitochondrial oxidative capacity and insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle cells.
OBJECTIVE
Neuregulins are growth factors that are essential for myogenesis and regulate muscle metabolism. The addition of a recombinant neuregulin-1 isoform, heregulin-beta1(177-244) (Hrg), containing 3 nmol/l of the bioactive epidermal growth factor-like domain, to developing L6E9 myocytes has acute and chronic effects on glucose uptake and enhances myogenesis. Here, we studied the metabolic adaptation of myocytes to chronic treatments with Hrg.


METHODS
L6E9 and C2C12 myocytes were chronically treated with low concentrations of Hrg (3 pmol/l) that do not induce myogenesis. We analyzed the effects of Hrg on cellular oxidative metabolism and insulin sensitivity and explored the mechanisms of action.


RESULTS
Hrg increased the cell content of GLUT4 without affecting basal glucose uptake. Glucose and palmitate oxidation increased in Hrg-treated cells, whereas lactate release decreased. Hrg increased the abundance of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) subunits, enhanced mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma coactivator1alpha and PPARdelta. Furthermore, we identified PPARdelta as an essential mediator of the stimulatory effects of Hrg on the expression of OXPHOS subunits. The higher oxidative capacity of L6E9 myotubes after neuregulin treatment also paralleled an increase in insulin sensitivity and insulin signaling potency.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that neuregulins act as key modulators of oxidative capacity and insulin sensitivity in muscle cells.
Cantó
Carles
C
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Pich
Sara
S
Paz
José C
JC
Sanches
Rosario
R
Martínez
Vicente
V
Orpinell
Meritxell
M
Palacín
Manuel
M
Zorzano
Antonio
A
Gumà
Anna
A
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000502:physiology; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020880:Neuregulins / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
D007328:Insulin; D020890:Neuregulin-1; D020880:Neuregulins