Acetaminophen improves protein translational signaling in aged skeletal muscle.
BACKGROUND
Age-related muscle atrophy is characterized by increased oxidative stress, diminished Akt enzymatic function, and reduced phosphorylation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which can be attenuated by chronic acetaminophen ingestion. Here we hypothesize that age-related impairments in Akt/mTOR function are associated with reduced protein translational signaling, and that these changes, if present, can be attenuated by acetaminophen treatment.


RESULTS
Compared to 6- and 27-month old animals, the expression of the mTOR-complex proteins raptor and GβL and the phosphorylation of tuberin/TSC2 (Thr1462) were reduced in the soleus muscles of very aged rats (33 months old). These changes in Akt/mTOR pathway signaling proteins were in turn associated with decreased phosphorylation of S6 kinase p85S6K (Thr412) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor-4E (eIF4E) binding protein-1 (4EBP1, Thr37/46), reduced phosphorylation of S6 ribosomal protein (Ser235/236), and increased inhibition of eIF4E by binding to 4EBP1. Age-associated alterations in the Akt/mTOR pathway signaling and in the phosphorylation of the stress-responsive eIF2α protein were attenuated by chronic acetaminophen treatment (30 mg/kg body weight per day). Ex vivo incubation of adult muscles with hydrogen peroxide mimicked the age-related decreases seen in eIF4E and 4EBP1 phosphorylation, whereas the inclusion of acetaminophen in the muscle bath attenuated this effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Aging is associated with impairments in the regulation of proteins thought to be important in controlling mRNA translation, and acetaminophen may be useful for the treatment of age-related muscle atrophy by reducing oxidative stress.
Wu
Miaozong
M
Department of Biological Sciences, College of Education and Human Services, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia 25755-1090, USA.
Liu
Hua
H
Fannin
Jacqueline
J
Katta
Anjaiah
A
Wang
Yeling
Y
Arvapalli
Ravi Kumar
RK
Paturi
Satyanarayana
S
Karkala
Sunil K
SK
Rice
Kevin M
KM
Blough
Eric R
ER
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D038601:Ribosomal Protein S6 / Q000378:metabolism; D019893:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000077005:Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D002352:Carrier Proteins; C499526:Eif4ebp1 protein, rat; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D038601:Ribosomal Protein S6; C000624653:TSC2 protein, human; C000624655:Tsc2 protein, rat; D000077005:Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000082:Acetaminophen; D019893:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases