title: α-Linolenic Acid Reduces TNF-Induced Apoptosis in C2C12 Myoblasts by Regulating Expression of Apoptotic Proteins.
abstract: Impaired regeneration and consequent muscle wasting is a major feature of muscle degenerative diseases. Nutritional interventions such as adjuvant strategy for preventing these conditions are recently gaining increasing attention. Ingestion of n3-polyunsaturated fatty acids has been suggested as having a positive impact on muscle diseases. We recently demonstrated that a diet enriched with plant derived n3-fatty acid, α-linolenic acid (ALA), exerts potent beneficial effects in preserving skeletal muscle regeneration in models of muscle dystrophy. To better elucidate the underlying mechanism we here investigate on the expression level of the anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins, as well as caspase-3 activity, in C2C12 myoblasts challenged with pathological levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF). The results demonstrated that ALA protective effect on C2C12 myoblasts was associated with a decrease in caspase-3 activity and an increase of the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Indeed, the effect of ALA was directed to rescuing Bcl-2 expression and to revert Bax translocation to mitochondria both affected in an opposite way by TNF, a major pro-inflammatory cytokine expressed in damaged skeletal muscle. Therefore, ALA counteracts inflammatory signals in the muscle microenvironment and may represent a valuable strategy for ameliorating skeletal muscle pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Diagnostics and Metrology Laboratory, FSN-TECFIS-DIM, ENEA-Frascati, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Felicia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carotenuto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Adaptation and Aging B2A, University Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 06, Paris, France; Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coletti
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata , Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Nardo
authors.affiliation: Diagnostics and Metrology Laboratory, FSN-TECFIS-DIM, ENEA-Frascati , Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teodori
keywords: apoptotic proteins; inflammation; muscle wasting; myoblasts; phytochemicals