Genetic diversity modulates the physical and transcriptomic response of skeletal muscle to simulated microgravity in male mice

Abstract Developments in long-term space exploration necessitate advancements in countermeasures against microgravity-induced skeletal muscle loss. Astronaut data shows considerable variation in muscle loss in response to microgravity. Previous experiments suggest that genetic background influences...

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Main Authors: Yasmina Zeineddine, Michael A. Friedman, Evan G. Buettmann, Lovell B. Abraham, Gabriel A. Hoppock, Henry J. Donahue
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-12-01
Series:npj Microgravity
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-023-00334-8
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author Yasmina Zeineddine
Michael A. Friedman
Evan G. Buettmann
Lovell B. Abraham
Gabriel A. Hoppock
Henry J. Donahue
author_facet Yasmina Zeineddine
Michael A. Friedman
Evan G. Buettmann
Lovell B. Abraham
Gabriel A. Hoppock
Henry J. Donahue
author_sort Yasmina Zeineddine
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Developments in long-term space exploration necessitate advancements in countermeasures against microgravity-induced skeletal muscle loss. Astronaut data shows considerable variation in muscle loss in response to microgravity. Previous experiments suggest that genetic background influences the skeletal muscle response to unloading, but no in-depth analysis of genetic expression has been performed. Here, we placed eight, male, inbred founder strains of the diversity outbred mice (129S1/SvImJ, A/J, C57BL/6J, CAST/EiJ, NOD/ShiLtJ, NZO/HILtJ, PWK/PhJ, and WSB/EiJ) in simulated microgravity (SM) via hindlimb unloading for three weeks. Body weight, muscle morphology, muscle strength, protein synthesis marker expression, and RNA expression were collected. A/J and CAST/EiJ mice were most susceptible to SM-induced muscle loss, whereas NOD/ShiLtJ mice were the most protected. In response to SM, A/J and CAST/EiJ mice experienced reductions in body weight, muscle mass, muscle volume, and muscle cross-sectional area. A/J mice had the highest number of differentially expressed genes (68) and associated gene ontologies (328). Downregulation of immunological gene ontologies and genes encoding anabolic immune factors suggest that immune dysregulation contributes to the response of A/J mice to SM. Several muscle properties showed significant interactions between SM and mouse strain and a high degree of heritability. These data imply that genetic background plays a role in the degree of muscle loss in SM and that more individualized programs should be developed for astronauts to protect their skeletal muscles against microgravity on long-term missions.
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spelling doaj.art-0be255b2b307415eb55e8ce9e328748b2023-12-03T12:31:41ZengNature Portfolionpj Microgravity2373-80652023-12-019111210.1038/s41526-023-00334-8Genetic diversity modulates the physical and transcriptomic response of skeletal muscle to simulated microgravity in male miceYasmina Zeineddine0Michael A. Friedman1Evan G. Buettmann2Lovell B. Abraham3Gabriel A. Hoppock4Henry J. Donahue5Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityAbstract Developments in long-term space exploration necessitate advancements in countermeasures against microgravity-induced skeletal muscle loss. Astronaut data shows considerable variation in muscle loss in response to microgravity. Previous experiments suggest that genetic background influences the skeletal muscle response to unloading, but no in-depth analysis of genetic expression has been performed. Here, we placed eight, male, inbred founder strains of the diversity outbred mice (129S1/SvImJ, A/J, C57BL/6J, CAST/EiJ, NOD/ShiLtJ, NZO/HILtJ, PWK/PhJ, and WSB/EiJ) in simulated microgravity (SM) via hindlimb unloading for three weeks. Body weight, muscle morphology, muscle strength, protein synthesis marker expression, and RNA expression were collected. A/J and CAST/EiJ mice were most susceptible to SM-induced muscle loss, whereas NOD/ShiLtJ mice were the most protected. In response to SM, A/J and CAST/EiJ mice experienced reductions in body weight, muscle mass, muscle volume, and muscle cross-sectional area. A/J mice had the highest number of differentially expressed genes (68) and associated gene ontologies (328). Downregulation of immunological gene ontologies and genes encoding anabolic immune factors suggest that immune dysregulation contributes to the response of A/J mice to SM. Several muscle properties showed significant interactions between SM and mouse strain and a high degree of heritability. These data imply that genetic background plays a role in the degree of muscle loss in SM and that more individualized programs should be developed for astronauts to protect their skeletal muscles against microgravity on long-term missions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-023-00334-8
spellingShingle Yasmina Zeineddine
Michael A. Friedman
Evan G. Buettmann
Lovell B. Abraham
Gabriel A. Hoppock
Henry J. Donahue
Genetic diversity modulates the physical and transcriptomic response of skeletal muscle to simulated microgravity in male mice
npj Microgravity
title Genetic diversity modulates the physical and transcriptomic response of skeletal muscle to simulated microgravity in male mice
title_full Genetic diversity modulates the physical and transcriptomic response of skeletal muscle to simulated microgravity in male mice
title_fullStr Genetic diversity modulates the physical and transcriptomic response of skeletal muscle to simulated microgravity in male mice
title_full_unstemmed Genetic diversity modulates the physical and transcriptomic response of skeletal muscle to simulated microgravity in male mice
title_short Genetic diversity modulates the physical and transcriptomic response of skeletal muscle to simulated microgravity in male mice
title_sort genetic diversity modulates the physical and transcriptomic response of skeletal muscle to simulated microgravity in male mice
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-023-00334-8
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