[MAFbx and MuRF1 mRNA expression and its relationship with muscular contractility following free muscle transfer].
OBJECTIVE
To study muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx) and muscle ring finger 1 (MuRF1) mRNA expression and its relationship with muscular contraction following free muscle transfer.


METHODS
The gracilis muscle was orthotopic transferred in adult rat to establish the animal model. The muscle at the unoperated side was used as control. The expression of MAFbx and MuRF1 mRNA, the muscle contraction and muscle function were measured by real-time PCR and multiple function physiological device. The relationship among the expression of MAFbx and MuRF1 mRNA, the muscle contraction and muscle function was analyzed.


RESULTS
After muscle free transfer, muscle wet weight reservation, the maximum contraction and tetanus strength reduce first and increased later, but still lower than those at control side. The expression of MAFbx and MuRF1 mRNA reached peak level 3 - 4 weeks after muscle transfer which was 7.1 and 4.1 times as that at control side. It decreased later, but still higher than that at control side, showing a significant difference between them (P< 0. 05).


CONCLUSIONS
Persistent over-expression of MAFbx and MuRF1 mRNA after muscle transfer has a close relationship with muscle atrophy and muscle dysfunction. MAFbx and MuRF1 can be used as markers for early muscle atrophy, and also as potential target for drug treatment of muscle atrophy.
Department of Plastic Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China.
An-Tang
AT
Liu
Da-Zhi
DZ
Yu
Ying-Fan
YF
Zhang
Wen-Jun
WJ
Zhang
Wei-Jin
WJ
Ding
An-Jing
AJ
Ren
Chao-Ping
CP
Fang
Hua
H
Jiang
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D054829:RING Finger Domains; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044843:SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics*; D000070584:Tripartite Motif Proteins; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics*
D009124:Muscle Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000070584:Tripartite Motif Proteins; C486692:Fbxo32 protein, rat; D044843:SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases; C499086:Trim63 protein, rat; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases