Growth factor and cytokine interactions in myogenesis Part II Expression of IGF binding proteins and protein kinases essential for myogenesis in mouse C2C12 myogenic cells exposed to TNF- alpha and IFN- gamma

The aim of the study was to examine potential interactions among IGF-I and proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IFN-γ, in the regulation of local IGF-I bioavailability and cellular proteins mediating myogenic signals. We investigated levels of IGFBP-4, -5, -6, protein kinase Czeta (PKCζ), p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) in differentiating mouse C2C12 myoblasts. IGF-I significantly stimulated expression of IGFBP-5. TNF-α and IFN-γ attenuated the expression of IGFBP-4 and -6 under basal conditions and in the presence of IGF-I, and inhibited IGF-I-induced IGFBP-5 expression during 5-day myogenesis. TNF-α and IFN-γ markedly attenuated p38 expression in the presence of IGF-I on the 5th day of myogenesis. When combined with IGF-I the cytokines exerted opposite effects on the PKCζ level, i.e. TNF-α caused an increase, whereas IFN-γ reduced the cellular content of this kinase. Exposition of C2C12 myoblasts to IGF-I or cytokines led to the stimulation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation; however, both TNF-α and IFN-γ exerted an inhibitory effect on the activation of ERK1/2 in myoblasts cultured in the presence of IGF-I. We concluded as follows: i) TNF-α and IFN-γ present in the extracellular environment of differentiating C2C12 myoblasts can alter the local bioavailability of IGF-I by inhibiting the expression of IGFBP-4, -5, and -6, ii) the decrease in p38 expression and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in C2C12 myoblasts exposed to cytokines can lead to disturbances in IGF-I-regulated myogenesis.