GsMTx4-blocked PIEZO1 channel promotes myogenic differentiation and alleviates myofiber damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Abstract Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a debilitating disease characterized by progressive muscle-wasting and a lack of effective therapy. Although the application of GsMTx4 has been shown to reduce muscle mass loss in dystrophic mice, the mechanism of action remains unclear. Metho...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wengang Wang, Mingyang Huang, Xiusheng Huang, Ke Ma, Ming Luo, Ningning Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Skeletal Muscle
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13395-025-00383-5
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849309745513496576
author Wengang Wang
Mingyang Huang
Xiusheng Huang
Ke Ma
Ming Luo
Ningning Yang
author_facet Wengang Wang
Mingyang Huang
Xiusheng Huang
Ke Ma
Ming Luo
Ningning Yang
author_sort Wengang Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a debilitating disease characterized by progressive muscle-wasting and a lack of effective therapy. Although the application of GsMTx4 has been shown to reduce muscle mass loss in dystrophic mice, the mechanism of action remains unclear. Methods We employed single-nucleus RNA sequencing data to scrutinize the expression of mechanosensitive channels in skeletal muscle. The upregulation of PIEZO1 and its precise localization were corroborated in DMD patients, mdx mice, and activated satellite cells. To delve into the role of the GsMTx4-blocked PIEZO1 channel in the myogenic program, we conducted comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies encompassing the proliferation of satellite cells, differentiation of myoblasts, and calcium influx into myofibers. Utilizing both a PIEZO1 channel inhibitor, GsMTx4, and a PIEZO1 channel agonist, Yoda1, we explored the PIEZO1 channel’s impact on satellite cell proliferation and myogenic differentiation. Additionally, we explored the protective effect of the PIEZO1 channel on myofiber calcium influx using mdx mouse models and isolated single myofibers. Results PIEZO1 was upregulated in the muscle of DMD patients and was predominantly expressed in satellite cells and upregulated during satellite cell proliferation. Treatment with GsMTx4 increased the cross-sectional areas of myofibers and reduced the proportion of centrally nucleated fibers in mdx mice. GsMTx4 inhibited satellite cell proliferation while promoting myogenic differentiation. During myogenic differentiation, the YAP nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio increased in cells treated with GsMTx4 and showed a significant correlation with the nuclear localization of MyoG. In myofibers, GsMTx4 significantly reduced the level of p-CaMKII/CaMKII in muscle and calcium load. Conclusions PIEZO1 upregulation in DMD could potentially stem from an elevated proportion of proliferating satellite cells triggered by sarcolemma damage and muscle necrosis. The inhibition of the PIEZO1 channel by GsMTx4 plays a beneficial role in fostering myogenic differentiation and mitigating myofiber damage. The PIEZO1 channel emerges as a promising therapeutic target for addressing DMD.
format Article
id doaj-art-a353100f3aaa4e15bceb1f2a88b2f80a
institution Kabale University
issn 2044-5040
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Skeletal Muscle
spelling doaj-art-a353100f3aaa4e15bceb1f2a88b2f80a2025-08-20T03:54:00ZengBMCSkeletal Muscle2044-50402025-05-0115111710.1186/s13395-025-00383-5GsMTx4-blocked PIEZO1 channel promotes myogenic differentiation and alleviates myofiber damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophyWengang Wang0Mingyang Huang1Xiusheng Huang2Ke Ma3Ming Luo4Ningning Yang5Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Emergency Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Emergency Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityAbstract Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a debilitating disease characterized by progressive muscle-wasting and a lack of effective therapy. Although the application of GsMTx4 has been shown to reduce muscle mass loss in dystrophic mice, the mechanism of action remains unclear. Methods We employed single-nucleus RNA sequencing data to scrutinize the expression of mechanosensitive channels in skeletal muscle. The upregulation of PIEZO1 and its precise localization were corroborated in DMD patients, mdx mice, and activated satellite cells. To delve into the role of the GsMTx4-blocked PIEZO1 channel in the myogenic program, we conducted comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies encompassing the proliferation of satellite cells, differentiation of myoblasts, and calcium influx into myofibers. Utilizing both a PIEZO1 channel inhibitor, GsMTx4, and a PIEZO1 channel agonist, Yoda1, we explored the PIEZO1 channel’s impact on satellite cell proliferation and myogenic differentiation. Additionally, we explored the protective effect of the PIEZO1 channel on myofiber calcium influx using mdx mouse models and isolated single myofibers. Results PIEZO1 was upregulated in the muscle of DMD patients and was predominantly expressed in satellite cells and upregulated during satellite cell proliferation. Treatment with GsMTx4 increased the cross-sectional areas of myofibers and reduced the proportion of centrally nucleated fibers in mdx mice. GsMTx4 inhibited satellite cell proliferation while promoting myogenic differentiation. During myogenic differentiation, the YAP nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio increased in cells treated with GsMTx4 and showed a significant correlation with the nuclear localization of MyoG. In myofibers, GsMTx4 significantly reduced the level of p-CaMKII/CaMKII in muscle and calcium load. Conclusions PIEZO1 upregulation in DMD could potentially stem from an elevated proportion of proliferating satellite cells triggered by sarcolemma damage and muscle necrosis. The inhibition of the PIEZO1 channel by GsMTx4 plays a beneficial role in fostering myogenic differentiation and mitigating myofiber damage. The PIEZO1 channel emerges as a promising therapeutic target for addressing DMD.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13395-025-00383-5Duchenne muscular dystrophyPIEZO1GsMTx4Satellite cellsMyogenic differentiation
spellingShingle Wengang Wang
Mingyang Huang
Xiusheng Huang
Ke Ma
Ming Luo
Ningning Yang
GsMTx4-blocked PIEZO1 channel promotes myogenic differentiation and alleviates myofiber damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Skeletal Muscle
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
PIEZO1
GsMTx4
Satellite cells
Myogenic differentiation
title GsMTx4-blocked PIEZO1 channel promotes myogenic differentiation and alleviates myofiber damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
title_full GsMTx4-blocked PIEZO1 channel promotes myogenic differentiation and alleviates myofiber damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
title_fullStr GsMTx4-blocked PIEZO1 channel promotes myogenic differentiation and alleviates myofiber damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
title_full_unstemmed GsMTx4-blocked PIEZO1 channel promotes myogenic differentiation and alleviates myofiber damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
title_short GsMTx4-blocked PIEZO1 channel promotes myogenic differentiation and alleviates myofiber damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
title_sort gsmtx4 blocked piezo1 channel promotes myogenic differentiation and alleviates myofiber damage in duchenne muscular dystrophy
topic Duchenne muscular dystrophy
PIEZO1
GsMTx4
Satellite cells
Myogenic differentiation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13395-025-00383-5
work_keys_str_mv AT wengangwang gsmtx4blockedpiezo1channelpromotesmyogenicdifferentiationandalleviatesmyofiberdamageinduchennemusculardystrophy
AT mingyanghuang gsmtx4blockedpiezo1channelpromotesmyogenicdifferentiationandalleviatesmyofiberdamageinduchennemusculardystrophy
AT xiushenghuang gsmtx4blockedpiezo1channelpromotesmyogenicdifferentiationandalleviatesmyofiberdamageinduchennemusculardystrophy
AT kema gsmtx4blockedpiezo1channelpromotesmyogenicdifferentiationandalleviatesmyofiberdamageinduchennemusculardystrophy
AT mingluo gsmtx4blockedpiezo1channelpromotesmyogenicdifferentiationandalleviatesmyofiberdamageinduchennemusculardystrophy
AT ningningyang gsmtx4blockedpiezo1channelpromotesmyogenicdifferentiationandalleviatesmyofiberdamageinduchennemusculardystrophy