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Type beta transforming growth factor is an inhibitor of myogenic differentiation

J Massagué, S Cheifetz, T Endo

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
    |November 1, 1986
    PubMed

    Insights

    Type beta transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) strongly inhibits skeletal muscle cell differentiation. Muscle cells can resume differentiation after TGF-beta removal, independent of receptor changes.

    Area of Science:

    • Cell Biology
    • Developmental Biology
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Skeletal muscle development involves myoblast differentiation and fusion.
    • Growth factors play critical roles in regulating cell differentiation processes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the effect of type beta transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) on skeletal muscle myoblast differentiation.
    • To understand the mechanism and timing of TGF-beta's action on myogenesis.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized established cell lines and primary cultures of rat and chicken embryo myoblasts.
    • Assessed myoblast fusion, expression of muscle-specific mRNAs and proteins, and extracellular matrix production.
    • Examined the impact of TGF-beta removal and the timing of its inhibitory action.

    Main Results:

    • TGF-beta potently inhibited myoblast fusion into multinucleated myotubes (ID50 ~10 pM).
    • Inhibition correlated with reduced muscle-specific gene expression and increased collagen/fibronectin.
    • Myoblasts became refractory to TGF-beta inhibition at a specific differentiation point, independent of receptor levels.

    Conclusions:

    • TGF-beta is a potent inhibitor of myogenesis.
    • TGF-beta may play a significant role in regulating muscle development in vivo.
    • Myoblast commitment confers resistance to TGF-beta's inhibitory effects.

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