Autocrine growth hormone production prevents apoptosis and inhibits differentiation in C2C12 myoblasts

Although C2C12 myoblasts express low levels of growth hormone receptor (GHR), we failed to see any effect of exogenous growth hormone (GH) on cell proliferation or differentiation. C2C12 cells stably overexpressing (sixfold) more in GHR (C2C12(GHR)) grew faster than parental cells in media containing 2% serum, and proliferated while parental cells died, in the absence of serum. These effects were independent of exogenous GH but were inhibited by anti-GH and anti-insulin-like growth factor (anti-IGF-1) antibodies, consistent with a local production of GH, which we confirmed by RT-PCR and radioimmunoassay. In C2C12(GHR) cells, we observed an increased activation of the Janus kinase 2 (Jak2), signal transducers and activator of transcription 5 (Stat5), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase B (Akt) upon acute GH stimulation. GHR overexpression also inhibited the formation of myotubes and the expression of markers for myoblast differentiation. Taken together, our data suggest that GH acts as an autocrine factor in C2C12 cells, to enhance proliferation and to inhibit differentiation.