Vitamin e blocks connexin hemichannels and prevents deleterious effects of glucocorticoid treatment on skeletal muscles

Elisa Balboa, Fujiko Saavedra, Luis A. Cea, Valeria Ramírez, Rosalba Escamilla, Aníbal A. Vargas, Tomás Regueira, Juan C. Sáez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Glucocorticoids are frequently used as anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents. However, high doses and/or prolonged use induce undesired secondary effects such as muscular atrophy. Recently, de novo expression of connexin43 and connexin45 hemichannels (Cx43 HCs and Cx45 HCs, respectively) has been proposed to play a critical role in the mechanism underlying myofiber atrophy induced by dexamethasone (Dex: a synthetic glucocorticoid), but their involvement in specific muscle changes promoted by Dex remains poorly understood. Moreover, treatments that could prevent the undesired effects of glucocorticoids on skeletal muscles remain unknown. In the present work, a 7-day Dex treatment in adult mice was found to induce weight loss and skeletal muscle changes including expression of functional Cx43/Cx45 HCs, elevated atrogin immunoreactivity, atrophy, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. All these undesired effects were absent in muscles of mice simultaneously treated with Dex and vitamin E (VitE). Moreover, VitE was found to rapidly inhibit the activity of Cx HCs in freshly isolated myofibers of Dex treated mice. Exposure to alkaline pH induced free radical generation only in HeLa cells expressing Cx43 or Cx45 where Ca2+ was present in the extracellular milieu, response that was prevented by VitE. Besides, VitE and two other anti-oxidant compounds, Tempol and Resveratrol, were found to inhibit Cx43 HCs in HeLa cells transfectants. Thus, we propose that in addition to their intrinsic anti-oxidant potency, some antioxidants could be used to reduce expression and/or opening of Cx HCs and consequently reduce the undesired effect of glucocorticoids on skeletal muscles.

Original languageEnglish
Article number4094
Pages (from-to)1-19
Number of pages19
JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume21
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Connexons
  • Dexamethasone
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction
  • Muscle atrophy
  • Oxidative stress

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