Knee osteoarthritis induces atrophy and neuromuscular junction remodeling in the quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles of rats

Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 24;9(1):6366. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42546-7.

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is associated with muscle weakness, but it is unclear which structures are involved in the muscle changes. This study assessed morphological alterations and the expression of genes and proteins linked to muscular atrophy and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in KOA, induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) in rats. Two groups of rats were assessed: control (without intervention) and KOA (ACLT surgery in the right knee). After 8 weeks, quadriceps, tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius muscles were analyzed (area of muscle fibers, NMJ, gene and protein expression). KOA group showed atrophy in quadriceps (15.7%) and TA (33%), with an increase in atrogin-1 and muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF-1). KOA group showed quadriceps NMJ remodeling (reduction area and perimeter) and decrease in NMJ diameter in TA muscle. The expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) γ-nAChR increased and that of α-nAChR and muscle specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) declined in the quadriceps, with a decrease in ε-nAChR in TA. MuRF-1 protein expression increased in quadriceps and TA, with no changes in neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). In conclusion, ACLT-induced KOA promotes NMJ remodeling and atrophy in quadriceps and TA muscles, associated with inflammatory signs and changes in muscle gene and protein expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament / physiopathology
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament / surgery
  • Gene Expression
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics*
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism
  • Muscle Weakness / genetics
  • Muscle Weakness / metabolism
  • Muscle Weakness / physiopathology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology
  • Muscular Atrophy / genetics*
  • Muscular Atrophy / metabolism
  • Muscular Atrophy / physiopathology
  • Neuromuscular Junction / metabolism*
  • Neuromuscular Junction / physiopathology
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / genetics*
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / metabolism
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / physiopathology
  • Quadriceps Muscle / metabolism*
  • Quadriceps Muscle / physiopathology
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / genetics
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / metabolism
  • SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases / genetics
  • SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases / metabolism
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins / genetics
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism

Substances

  • Muscle Proteins
  • Receptors, Nicotinic
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins
  • Fbxo32 protein, rat
  • SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases
  • Trim63 protein, rat
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases