Protein kinase C theta (PKCθ) modulates the ClC-1 chloride channel activity and skeletal muscle phenotype: a biophysical and gene expression study in mouse models lacking the PKCθ

Pflugers Arch. 2014 Dec;466(12):2215-28. doi: 10.1007/s00424-014-1495-1. Epub 2014 Mar 20.

Abstract

In skeletal muscle, the resting chloride conductance (gCl), due to the ClC-1 chloride channel, controls the sarcolemma electrical stability. Indeed, loss-of-function mutations in ClC-1 gene are responsible of myotonia congenita. The ClC-1 channel can be phosphorylated and inactivated by protein kinases C (PKC), but the relative contribution of each PKC isoforms is unknown. Here, we investigated on the role of PKCθ in the regulation of ClC-1 channel expression and activity in fast- and slow-twitch muscles of mouse models lacking PKCθ. Electrophysiological studies showed an increase of gCl in the PKCθ-null mice with respect to wild type. Muscle excitability was reduced accordingly. However, the expression of the ClC-1 channel, evaluated by qRT-PCR, was not modified in PKCθ-null muscles suggesting that PKCθ affects the ClC-1 activity. Pharmacological studies demonstrated that although PKCθ appreciably modulates gCl, other isoforms are still active and concur to this role. The modification of gCl in PKCθ-null muscles has caused adaptation of the expression of phenotype-specific genes, such as calcineurin and myocyte enhancer factor-2, supporting the role of PKCθ also in the settings of muscle phenotype. Importantly, the lack of PKCθ has prevented the aging-related reduction of gCl, suggesting that its modulation may represent a new strategy to contrast the aging process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials*
  • Animals
  • Calcineurin / genetics
  • Calcineurin / metabolism
  • Chloride Channels / metabolism*
  • Chlorides / metabolism
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism*
  • MEF2 Transcription Factors / genetics
  • MEF2 Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / metabolism*
  • Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / physiology
  • Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / metabolism*
  • Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / physiology
  • Phenotype*
  • Protein Kinase C / genetics
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinase C-theta

Substances

  • CLC-1 channel
  • Chloride Channels
  • Chlorides
  • Isoenzymes
  • MEF2 Transcription Factors
  • Prkcq protein, mouse
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Protein Kinase C-theta
  • Calcineurin