Influenza Infection has Fiber Type-Specific Effects on Cellular and Molecular Skeletal Muscle Function in Aged Mice

Skeletal muscle myopathies represent a common non-pulmonary manifestation of influenza infection, leading to reduced physical function and hospitalization in older adults. However, underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our study examined the effects of influenza virus A pulmonary infection on contractile function at the cellular (single fiber) and molecular (myosin-actin interactions and myofilament properties) levels in soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles of aged (20 months) C57BL/6 male mice that were healthy or flu-infected for 7 (7-days post-infection; 7-DPI) or 12 days (12-DPI). Cross-sectional area (CSA) of myosin heavy chain (MHC) IIA and IIB fibers was reduced at 12-DPI relative to 7-DPI and healthy. Maximal isometric force in MHC IIA fibers was also reduced at 12-DPI relative to 7-DPI and healthy, resulting in no change in specific force (maximal isometric force divided by CSA). In contrast, MHC IIB fibers produced greater isometric force and specific force at 7-DPI compared to 12-DPI or healthy. The increased specific force in MHC IIB fibers was likely due to greater myofilament lattice stiffness and/or an increased number or stiffness of strongly bound myosin-actin cross-bridges. At the molecular level, cross-bridge kinetics were slower in MHC IIA fibers with infection, while changes in MHC IIB fibers were largely absent. In both fiber types, greater myofilament lattice stiffness was positively related to specific force. This study provides novel evidence that cellular and molecular contractile function is impacted by influenza infection in a fiber type-specific manner, suggesting potential molecular mechanisms to help explain the impact of flu-induced myopathies.