Effect of dexamethasone on the expression of atrogin-1/MAFbx in chick skeletal muscle

Expression of atrogin-1/MAFbx, a muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase, is high under catabolic conditions, that result in muscle atrophy. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of atrogin-1/MAFbx is increased by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone in mammalian skeletal muscle. This study investigated the effects of dexamethasone on expression of atrogin-1/MAFbx in skeletal muscle of neonatal chicks and in chick myotubes. Chicks were given a single intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone at a concentration of 10 mg/kg body weight. Twenty-four hours after dexamethasone administration, the Pectoralis muscle weight of chicks was decreased. mRNA expression of atrogin-1/MAFbx in skeletal muscle of chicks was significantly increased by dexamethasone administration. Expression of other proteolytic-related genes (20S proteasome C2 subunit, m-calpain large subunit, and cathepsin B) in skeletal muscle of chicks was not increased by dexamethasone administration. Chick myotubes were incubated with dexamethasone (1, 10 or 100 µmol/L) for 6 h. Expression of atrogin-1/MAFbx mRNA in chick myotubes was increased in the presence of all concentrations of dexamethasone. However, expression of other proteolytic-related genes (20S proteasome C2 subunit, m-calpain large subunit and cathepsin B) in chick myotubes was not affected by dexamethasone treatment. These results indicate that dexamethasone enhances atrogin-1/MAFbx expression in chick skeletal muscle, resulting in increased muscle atrophy.