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Contraction-induced changes in TNFα and Akt-mediated signalling are associated with increased myofibrillar protein in rat skeletal muscle

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Abstract

Resistance training results in skeletal muscle hypertrophy, but the molecular signalling mechanisms responsible for this altered phenotype are incompletely understood. We used a resistance training (RT) protocol consisting of three sessions [day 1 (d1), day 3 (d3), day 5 (d5)] separated by 48 h recovery (squat exercise, 4 sets × 10 repetitions, 3 min recovery) to determine early signalling responses to RT in rodent skeletal muscle. Six animals per group were killed 3 h after each resistance training session and 24 and 48 h after the last training session (d5). There was a robust increase in TNFα protein expression, and IKKSer180/181 and p38MAPKThr180/Tyr182 phosphorylation on d1 (P < 0.05), which abated with subsequent RT, returning to control levels by d5 for TNFα and IKKSer180/181. There was a trend for a decrease in MuRF-1 protein expression, 48 h following d5 of training (P = 0.08). Notably, muscle myofibrillar protein concentration was elevated compared to control 24 and 48 h following RT (P < 0.05). AktSer473 and mTORSer2448 phosphorylation were unchanged throughout RT. Phosphorylation of p70S6kThr389 increased 3 h post-exercise on d1, d3 and d5 (P < 0.05), whilst phosphorylation of S6Ser235/236 increased on d1 and d3 (P < 0.05). Our results show a rapid attenuation of inflammatory signalling with repeated bouts of resistance exercise, concomitant with summation in translation initiation signalling in skeletal muscle. Indeed, the cumulative effect of these signalling events was associated with myofibrillar protein accretion, which likely contributes to the early adaptations in response to resistance training overload in the skeletal muscle.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the Australian Sports Commission (to JAH and VGC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Innovations Research Institute (HIRi), School of Medical Science, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia

    Leonidas G. Karagounis, John A. Hawley & Vernon G. Coffey

  2. Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratories, California State University, Northridge, CA, USA

    Ben B. Yaspelkis III & Donald W. Reeder

  3. Cellular and Molecular Metabolism Laboratory, Division of Metabolism and Obesity, Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute, Prahran, VIC, Australia

    Graeme I. Lancaster

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  1. Leonidas G. Karagounis
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  2. Ben B. Yaspelkis III
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  3. Donald W. Reeder
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  4. Graeme I. Lancaster
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  5. John A. Hawley
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  6. Vernon G. Coffey
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Correspondence to Vernon G. Coffey.

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Communicated by Roberto Bottinelli.

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Karagounis, L.G., Yaspelkis, B.B., Reeder, D.W. et al. Contraction-induced changes in TNFα and Akt-mediated signalling are associated with increased myofibrillar protein in rat skeletal muscle. Eur J Appl Physiol 109, 839–848 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1427-5

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