• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.283-289
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• 2011

Our previous study demonstrated that the Korean traditional medicine Gyeongshingangjeehwan (GGEx) activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\alpha}$ ($PPAR{\alpha}$) critical for fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle and C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Thus, we examined whether GGEx can reduce lipid accumulation in these cells and tissues. After obese and type 2 diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats were treated with GGEx, we studied the effects of GGEx on skeletal muscle lipid accumulation. The effects of GGEx and/or the AMPK inhibitor compound C on lipid accumulation and expression of AMPK and $PPAR{\alpha}$ were measured in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Compared with lean Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka rats, obese OLETF rats had increased triglyceride droplets. However, administration of GGEx to OLETF rats for 8 weeks significantly decreased triglyceride droplets in skeletal muscle. Consistent with the $in$ $vivo$ data, GGEx inhibited lipid accumulation, the degree of which was comparable to Wy14,643, the potent activator of $PPAR{\alpha}$. GGEx also increased skeletal muscle mRNA levels of AMPK${\alpha}1$, AMPK${\alpha}2$, and $PPAR{\alpha}$. However, compound C inhibited these effects in C2C12 cells. These results suggest that GGEx suppresses skeletal muscle lipid accumulation and this process may be mediated by AMPK and $PPAR{\alpha}$ activation.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.28-33
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• 2019

[Purpose] Recent studies have shown that glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI)-which is a glycolysis interconversion enzyme-reduces oxidative stress. However, these studies are limited to tumors such as fibrosarcoma, and there are no studies that have examined the effects of exercise on GPI expression in mice skeletal muscle. Furthermore, GPI acts in an autocrine manner thorough its receptor, autocrine motility factor receptor (AMFR); therefore, we investigated expression level changes of secreted GPI from skeletal muscle in in vitro study to examine the potential role of GPI on skeletal muscle. [Methods] First, we performed an in vitro study, to identify the condition that upregulates GPI levels in skeletal muscle cells; we treated C2C12 muscle cells with an exercise-mimicking chemical, AICAR. AICAR treatment upregulated GPI expression level in C2C12 cell and its secretomes. To confirm the direct effect of GPI on skeletal muscle cells, we treated C2C12 cells with GPI recombinant protein. [Results] We found that GPI improved the viability of C2C12 cells. In the in vivo study, the exercise-treated mice group showed upregulated GPI expression in skeletal muscle. Based on the in vitro study results, we speculated that expression level of GPI in skeletal muscle might be associated with muscle function. We analyzed the association between GPI expression level and the grip strength of the all mice group. The mice group's grip strengths were upregulated after 2 weeks of treadmill exercise, and GPI expression level positively correlated with the grip strength. [Conclusion] These results suggested that the exercise-induced GPI expression in skeletal muscle might have a positive effect on skeletal muscle function.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.495-499
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• 2009

Although insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and androgen receptor (AR) are well known effectors of skeletal muscle, the molecular mechanism by which signaling pathways integrating AR and IGF-I in skeletal muscle cells has not been previously examined. In this study, the role of PI3K/Akt on IGF-I-induced gene expression and activation of AR in skeletal muscle cells was investigated. C2C12 cells were treated with IGF-I in the absence or presence of inhibitors of PI3K/Akt pathway (LY294002 and Wortmannin). Inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway with LY294002 or Wortmannin led to a significant decrease in IGF-I-induced AR phosphorylation and total AR protein expression. Furthermore, IGF-I-induced AR mRNA and skeletal ${\alpha}-actin$ mRNA were blocked by LY294002 or Wortmannin. Confocal images showed that IGF-I-induced AR translocation from cytosol to nucleus was inhibited significantly in response to treatment with LY294002 or Wortmannin. The present results suggest that modulating effect of IGF-I on AR gene expression and activation in C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cells is mediated at least in part by the PI3K/Akt pathway.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 2014

Simple formulas (單方) of muscle section in Donguibogam (東醫寶鑑) have long been prescribed for strengthening muscle and/or prevention of age-related muscle loss. However, biological activity and mechanisms by which they influence myoblast differentiation have not been studied. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effects of 14 simple formulas on myoblast differentiation in C2C12 myoblast cells under non-cytotoxic ($0.5mg/m{\ell}$) conditions. C2C12 cells were treated with water extracts of simple formulas for 72 h, and RT-PCR was performed to determine the gene expression levels of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), including myoD, myogenin, MRF4, myf5, and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Treatment with Colocasiae Rhizoma (CR), Pini Semen (PS), and Sesami Semen (SS) resulted in a significant increase in expression of myogenin in C2C12 cells. Treatment with Allii Macrostemi Bulbus (AM), Colocasiae Rhizoma (CR), and Pini Semen (PS) also resulted in increased expression of MRF4 in C2C12 cells. In addition, enhanced expression of IGF-1 was observed in treatment with Eucommiae cortex (EC), Dioscoreae Rhizoma (DR), Colocasiae Rhizoma (CR), Pini Semen (PS), and Sesami Semen (SS) in C2C12 cells. These results indicate that simple formulas of muscle section in Donguibogam could potentially enhance myoblast differentiation at least in part via increasing expression of myogenin, and/or MRF4 and/or IGF-1.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.362-372
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• 2015

Setdb1, an H3-K9 specific histone methyltransferase, is associated with transcriptional silencing of euchromatic genes through chromatin modification. Functions of Setdb1 during development have been extensively studied in embryonic and mesenchymal stem cells as well as neurogenic progenitor cells. But the role of Sedtdb1 in myogenic differentiation remains unknown. In this study, we report that Setdb1 is required for myogenic potential of C2C12 myoblast cells through maintaining the expressions of MyoD and muscle-specific genes. We find that reduced Setdb1 expression in C2C12 myoblast cells severely delayed differentiation of C2C12 myoblast cells, whereas exogenous Setdb1 expression had little effect on. Gene expression profiling analysis using oligonucleotide microarray and RNA-Seq technologies demonstrated that depletion of Setdb1 results in downregulation of MyoD as well as the components of muscle fiber in proliferating C2C12 cells. In addition, exogenous expression of MyoD reversed transcriptional repression of MyoD promoter-driven luciferase reporter by Setdb1 shRNA and rescued myogenic differentiation of C2C12 myoblast cells depleted of endogenous Setdb1. Taken together, these results provide new insights into how levels of key myogenic regulators are maintained prior to induction of differentiation.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.623-635
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• 2021

The effect of deer antler extract on muscle differentiation and muscle atrophy were evaluated to minimize muscle loss following aging. Various deer antler extracts (HWE, hot water extract of deer antler; FE, HWE of fermented deer antler; ET, enzyme-assisted extract of deer antler; UE, extract prepared by ultrasonication of deer antler) were evaluated for their effect on muscle differentiation and inhibition of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR)-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 cells. Morphological changes according to the effect of antler extracts on muscle differentiation were confirmed by Jenner-Giemsa staining. In addition, the expression levels of genes related to muscle differentiation and atrophy were confirmed through qRT-PCR. In the presence of antler extracts, the length and thickness of myotubes and myogenin differentiation 1 (MyoD1) and myogenic factor 5 (Myf5) gene expression were increased compared to those in the control group (CON). Gene expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), MyoD1, and myogenin, along with the muscle atrophy factors muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF-1) and forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) upon addition of deer antler extracts to muscle-atrophied C2C12 cells was determined by qRT-PCR after treatment with AICAR. The expression of MuRF-1 and FoxO3a decreased in the groups treated with antler extracts compared to that in the group treated with AICAR alone. In addition, gene expression of MyoD1 and myogenin in the muscle atrophy cell model was significantly increased compared that into the CON. Therefore, our findings indicate that antler extract can increase the expression of MyoD1, Myf5 and myogenin, inhibit muscle atrophy, and promote muscle differentiation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 2009

The modulating effect of IGF-I on the regulation of AR gene expression and activation in skeletal muscle cells remains poorly understood. In this study, the effects of IGF-I treatment on AR induction and activation in the absence of AR ligands were examined. Differentiating C2C12 cells were treated with different concentrations (0-250 ng/ml) of IGF-I or for various periods of time (0-60 min) of 250 ng/ml IGF-I. Treatment of C2C12 cells with IGF-I resulted in a dose- and time-dependent increase in total AR and phosphorylated AR (Ser 213). IGF-I treatment also led to significantly increased AR mRNA expression when compared with the control. The levels of skeletal ${\alpha}-actin$ and myogenin mRNA, known target genes of AR, were also significantly upregulated after 5 or 10 min of treatment with IGF-I. Confocal images revealed that IGF-I stimulated nuclear localization of AR in the absence of ligands. In addition, an electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that IGF-I stimulated the AR DNA binding activity in a time-dependent manner. The present results suggest that IGF-I stimulates the expression and activation of AR by ligand-independent mechanism in differentiating C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.758-763
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• 2016

Fatty acid transporters are key mediators of skeletal muscle lipid metabolism. Several protein groups have been implicated in cellular long-chain fatty acid uptake or oxidation, including fatty acid transporter proteins (FATPs), the plasma membrane fatty acid-binding protein (FABPpm), and the fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36). FAT/CD36 is highly expressed in skeletal muscle and known to be regulated by various factors such as exercise and hormones. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a well-known regulator of skeletal muscle cells. However, it has not been studied whether there is any interaction between IGF-I and FAT/CD36 in skeletal muscle cells. In this study, the effects of IGF-I treatment on FAT/CD36 induction were examined. Differentiated C2C12 cells were treated with 20 ng/ml of IGF-I at different time points. Treatment of C2C12 cells with IGF-I resulted in increased FAT/CD36 mRNA and protein expression. After 24 and 48 hr of IGF-I treatment, FAT/CD36 mRNA increased 89% and 24% respectively. The increase of both proteins returned to the control level after 72 hr of IGF-I treatment, suggesting that the FAT/CD36 gene is regulated pretranslationally by IGF-I in skeletal muscle cells. These results suggest that IGF-I can regulate the expression of FAT/CD36 in skeletal muscle cells. In conclusion, IGF-I induces a rapid transcriptional modification of the FAT/CD36 gene in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells and has modulating effects on fatty acid uptake proteins as well as oxidative proteins.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.53-59
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the GGEx18 ethyl acetate fraction (EF) on lipid accumulation and gene expression of fatty acid-oxidizing enzymes using 3T3-L1 adipocytes, C2C12 skeletal muscle cells, and NMu2Li liver cells. Methods : PPAR${\alpha}$, AMPK and UCPs transactivation was examined in NMu2Li hepatocytes, C2C12 myocytes, and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes using transient transfection assays. Results : 1. Compared with control, EF significantly increased the mRNA expression of VLCAD in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 2. Compared with control, EF (0.1 ${\mu}g/ml$) significantly inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 3. EF significantly increased the mRNA expression of AMPK${\alpha}$1, AMPK${\alpha}$2 and PPAR${\alpha}$ in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells compared with control. 4. EF significantly increased the mRNA expression of genes involved in fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation, such as thiolase, MCAD, and CPT-1 in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells compared with control. 5. EF significantly increased the mRNA expression of UCP2 involved in energy expenditure in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells compared with control. 6. Compared with control, EF (10 ${\mu}g/ml$) significantly inhibited lipid accumulation in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. 7. EF (10 ${\mu}g/ml$) significantly increased the mRNA expression of ACOX, HD, VLCAD and MCAD in NMu2Li liver cells compared with control. Conclusions : These results suggest that EF may prevent obesity by increasing the mRNA expression of mitochondrial fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidizing enzymes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, by not only regulating the fatty acid oxidation through activation of AMPK and PPAR${\alpha}$, but also increasing the UCP2 mRNA expression in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells, and by stimulating the mRNA expression of fatty acid-oxidizing enzymes in NMu2Li liver cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.879-887
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• 2017

It is well established that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is expressed not only in the brain but also in skeletal muscle, and is required for normal neuromuscular system function. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are potent regulators of skeletal muscle myogenesis and muscle gene expression, but the mechanisms of HDAC and IGF-I in skeletal muscle-derived BDNF expression have not been examined. In this study, we examined the effect of IGF-I and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a pan-HDAC inhibitor, on BDNF induction. Proliferating or differentiating C2C12 skeletal muscle cells were treated with increasing concentrations (0-50 ng/ml) of IGF-I in the absence or presence of $5{\mu}M$ SAHA for various time periods (3-24 hr). Treatment of C2C12 cells with IGF-I resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in BDNF mRNA expression. However, inhibition of HDAC led to a significant increase in the expression of BDNF mRNA levels. In addition, immunocytochemistry revealed high BDNF protein levels in undifferentiated C2C12 skeletal muscle cells, whether untreated, IGF-I-treated, or exposed to SAHA. These results represent the first evidence that IGF-I can suppress the mRNA and protein expression of BDNF; conversely, SAHA attenuates the effects of IGF-I. Consequently, SAHA upregulates BDNF expression in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells.