Spatial and temporal expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α during myogenesis in vivo and in vitro

We investigated the spatial and temporal expression patterns of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) during muscle regeneration and myogenesis in a C2C12 cell culture system. The expression of HIF-1α synchronized with that of myogenic regulatory genes during muscle regeneration at both the mRNA and protein levels. The HIF-1α protein was localized in the nuclei of newly formed regenerating myofibers in three different muscle injury models, including freezing, bupivacaine injection, and muscular dystrophy. In myogenic cell culture, the HIF-1α protein was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the majority of myoblasts and myotubes. HIF-1α protein expression decreased concomitant with the increased expression of MyoD and myogenin proteins after the induction of myogenic differentiation. We investigated the adaptive response of myoblasts to hypoxia-like conditions induced by treatment of cobalt chloride. This treatment allowed HIF-1α to accumulate and translocate to the nucleus to activate transcription of its target genes, suggesting that myoblasts adapted to acute hypoxia-like conditions through enhancing an HIF-1-dependent pathway. Our results provide insight into the possible involvement of HIF-1α in myogenesis in vivo and in vitro.