Suppression of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 Prevents Dexamethasone-induced Atrophy of Cultured Myotubes

Objective: The mechanistic role of the ubiquitin ligases atrogin-1 and MuRF1 in glucocorticoid-induced muscle wasting is not fully understood. Here, we tested the hypothesis that glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy is at least in part linked to atrogin-1 and MuRF1 expression and that the ubiquitin ligases are regulated by compensatory mechanisms.

Methods: The expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 was suppressed individually or in combination in cultured L6 myotubes by using siRNA technique. Myotubes were treated with dexamethasone followed by determination of mRNA and protein levels for atrogin-1 and MuRF1, protein synthesis and degradation rates, and myotube morphology.

Results: Suppression of atrogin-1 resulted in increased expression of MuRF1 and vice versa, suggesting that the ubiquitin ligases are regulated by compensatory mechanisms. Simultaneous suppression of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 resulted in myotube hypertrophy, mainly reflecting stimulated protein synthesis, and prevented dexamethasone-induced myotube atrophy, mainly reflecting inhibited protein degradation.

Conclusions: The results provide evidence for a link between upregulated atrogin-1 and MuRF1 expression and glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy. The study also suggests that atrogin-1 and MuRF1 levels are regulated by compensatory mechanisms and that inhibition of both ubiquitin ligases may be needed to prevent glucocorticoid-induced muscle proteolysis and atrophy.