The Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ Coactivator 1α/β (PGC-1) Coactivators Repress the Transcriptional Activity of NF-κB in Skeletal Muscle Cells

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry 2013-01, Vol.288 (4), p.2246-2260
• Main Authors: Eisele, Petra S., Salatino, Silvia, Sobek, Jens, Hottiger, Michael O., Handschin, Christoph
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Biology; Cell Line; Chronic Disease; Coactivator Transcription; Cytokines - metabolism; Disease Progression; Exercise; Gene Expression Regulation; Inflammation; Mice; Muscle; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - cytology; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscles - metabolism; NF-kappa B - metabolism; NF-κB Transcription Factor; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; PGC-1α; PGC-1β; Physical Conditioning, Animal; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Transcription Factors; Transcription Regulation
• ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X
• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M112.375253

A persistent, low-grade inflammation accompanies many chronic diseases that are promoted by physical inactivity and improved by exercise. The beneficial effects of exercise are mediated in large part by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator (PGC) 1α, whereas its loss correlates with propagation of local and systemic inflammatory markers. We examined the influence of PGC-1α and the related PGC-1β on inflammatory cytokines upon stimulation of muscle cells with TNFα, Toll-like receptor agonists, and free fatty acids. PGC-1s differentially repressed expression of proinflammatory cytokines by targeting NF-κB signaling. Interestingly, PGC-1α and PGC-1β both reduced phoshorylation of the NF-κB family member p65 and thereby its transcriptional activation potential. Taken together, the data presented here show that the PGC-1 coactivators are able to constrain inflammatory events in muscle cells and provide a molecular link between metabolic and immune pathways. The PGC-1s therefore represent attractive targets to not only improve metabolic health in diseases like type 2 diabetes but also to limit the detrimental, low-grade inflammation in these patients. Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1 (PGC) α and PGC-1β are metabolic coactivators that are dysregulated in muscle in many chronic diseases. Results: PGC-1α and PGC-1β differentially suppress expression of proinflammatory cytokines induced by various stimuli. Conclusion: In muscle cells, PGC-1α and PGC-1β modulate the NF-κB pathway thus profoundly affecting inflammatory processes. Significance: Targeting PGC-1α and PGC-1β in chronic diseases might reduce inflammation and thereby reverse disease progression.