Role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the sarcopenic-like phenotype induced by CCL5/RANTES

Eur J Transl Myol. 2024 Feb 15;34(1):12249. doi: 10.4081/ejtm.2024.12249.

Abstract

Sarcopenia is characterized by reduced muscle strength and mass and a decline in muscle fiber diameter and amount of sarcomeric proteins. Sarcopenia involves the activation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). MuRF-1 and atrogin-1 are E3 ubiquitin ligases belonging to UPS, leading to proteolysis mediated by the PSMB 5, 6, and 7 subunits of 20S proteasome. CCL5/RANTES induces a sarcopenic-like effect in muscle cells. The present work explored the impact of CCL5 on UPS components and the influence of UPS on its sarcopenic-like effect. We demonstrated that CCL5 increased MuRF-1 and atrogin-1 protein levels and mRNA levels of subunits PSMB 5, 6, and 7. We used the MG132 inhibitor to elucidate the role of the 20S proteasome in the CCL5-induced sarcopenic-like effect. This inhibitor prevented the decrease in troponin and MHC protein levels and partially prevented the reduction in the diameter of single-isolated FDB muscle fibers induced by CCL5. These findings indicate that CCL5 actively modulates the UPS. Moreover, our results show the direct participation of UPS in the sarcopenic-like phenotype induced by CCL5.

Grants and funding

Funding: The manuscript was supported by research grants from the National Fund for Science and Technological Development (FONDECYT 1200944 [CC-V], 1201039 [FS], 1211962 [LP], 1211879 [DC]); Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID) - Millennium Science Initiative Program - ICN09_016 / ICN 2021_045: Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy (ICN09_016 / ICN 2021_045; former P09/016-F) [CCV, FS]). The Millennium Nucleus of Ion Channel-Associated Diseases (MiNICAD) is supported by the Iniciativa Científica Milenio, ANID, Chile [FS]. Proyecto Núcleo UNAB (DI-03-23/NUC [CC-V, LP]). Beca Doctorado Nacional ANID (21201447 [FA]).