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Published on: December 12, 2016
Expression of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor mRNA in Mouse C2C12 Skeletal Muscle Cells
Jung Hun Ohn1, Sun Kyoung Han2, Do Joon Park1
1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Background:
We analyzed whether thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R) is expressed in a skeletal muscle cell line and if TSH has influence on the differentiation of muscle cells or on the determination of muscle fiber types.
Methods:
TSH-R gene expression was detected with nested real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in C2C12, a mouse skeletal muscle cell line. The effect of TSH on myotube differentiation was assessed by microscopic examination of myotube formation and through the measurement of expression of muscle differentiation markers, i.e., myogenin and myoD, and muscle type-specific genes, i.e., MyHC1, MyHC2a, and MyHC2b, with quantitative RT-PCR before and after incubation of C2C12 myotube with TSH.
Results:
TSH-R was expressed in the mouse skeletal muscle cell line. However, treatment with TSH had little effect on the differentiation of muscle cells, although the expression of the muscle differention marker myogenin was significantly increased after TSH treatment. Treatment of TSH did not affect the expression of muscle type-specific genes.
Conclusion:
TSH-R is expressed in a mouse skeletal muscle cell line, but the role of TSH receptor signaling in skeletal muscle needs further investigation.
Insights
Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R) is present in mouse skeletal muscle cells. While TSH slightly increased myogenin expression, it had minimal impact on muscle cell differentiation or fiber type determination.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Muscle Physiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Thyroid hormones play crucial roles in metabolism and development.
- The presence and function of the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R) in skeletal muscle are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate TSH-R expression in a mouse skeletal muscle cell line (C2C12).
- To determine the influence of TSH on skeletal muscle cell differentiation and muscle fiber type determination.
Main Methods:
- TSH-R gene expression was analyzed using nested real-time PCR in C2C12 cells.
- TSH treatment effects on myotube differentiation were assessed via microscopy and quantitative RT-PCR of differentiation markers (myogenin, myoD) and muscle type-specific genes (MyHC1, MyHC2a, MyHC2b).
Main Results:
- TSH-R gene expression was detected in the C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cell line.
- TSH treatment led to a significant increase in myogenin expression but had minimal effect on overall myotube differentiation.
- TSH did not alter the expression of muscle type-specific genes.
Conclusions:
- TSH-R is expressed in skeletal muscle cells.
- The functional role of TSH receptor signaling in skeletal muscle requires further investigation.
