Heparan sulfate 6-O-endosulfatases (Sulfs) coordinate the Wnt signaling pathways to regulate myoblast fusion during skeletal muscle regeneration

J Biol Chem. 2012 Sep 21;287(39):32651-64. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.353243. Epub 2012 Aug 3.

Abstract

Skeletal muscle regeneration is mediated by satellite cells (SCs). Upon injury, SCs undergo self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation into myoblasts followed by myoblast fusion to form new myofibers. We previously showed that the heparan sulfate (HS) 6-O-endosulfatases (Sulf1 and -2) repress FGF signaling to induce SC differentiation during muscle regeneration. Here, we identify a novel role of Sulfs in myoblast fusion using a skeletal muscle-specific Sulf double null (Sulf(SK)-DN) mouse. Regenerating Sulf(SK)-DN muscles exhibit reduced canonical Wnt signaling and elevated non-canonical Wnt signaling. In addition, we show that Sulfs are required to repress non-canonical Wnt signaling to promote myoblast fusion. Notably, skeletal muscle-relevant non-canonical Wnt ligands lack HS binding capacity, suggesting that Sulfs indirectly repress this pathway. Mechanistically, we show that Sulfs reduce the canonical Wnt-HS binding and regulate colocalization of the co-receptor LRP5 with caveolin3. Therefore, Sulfs may increase the bioavailability of canonical Wnts for Frizzled receptor and LRP5/6 interaction in lipid raft, which may in turn antagonize non-canonical Wnt signaling. Furthermore, changes in subcellular distribution of active focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are associated with the fusion defect of Sulf-deficient myoblasts and upon non-canonical Wnt treatment. Together, our findings uncover a critical role of Sulfs in myoblast fusion by promoting antagonizing canonical Wnt signaling activities against the noncanonical Wnt pathway during skeletal muscle regeneration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Fusion
  • Heparitin Sulfate / genetics
  • Heparitin Sulfate / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Muscle, Skeletal / cytology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / enzymology*
  • Myoblasts, Skeletal / cytology
  • Myoblasts, Skeletal / enzymology*
  • Regeneration / physiology*
  • Sulfatases / genetics
  • Sulfatases / metabolism*
  • Sulfotransferases / genetics
  • Sulfotransferases / metabolism*
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / physiology*

Substances

  • Wnt Proteins
  • Heparitin Sulfate
  • Sulf1 protein, mouse
  • Sulfotransferases
  • Sulf2 protein, mouse
  • Sulfatases