Human skeletal muscle fibre type variations correlate with PPARα, PPARδ and PGC-1α mRNA

  1. D. K. Krämer1,
  2. M. Ahlsén2,
  3. J. Norrbom2,3,
  4. E. Jansson3,
  5. N. Hjeltnes4,
  6. T. Gustafsson2,3,
  7. A. Krook2

Article first published online: 20 OCT 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2006.01620.x

Issue

Acta Physiologica

Acta Physiologica

Volume 188, Issue 3-4, pages 207–216, November/December 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Krämer, D. K., Ahlsén, M., Norrbom, J., Jansson, E., Hjeltnes, N., Gustafsson, T. and Krook, A. (2006), Human skeletal muscle fibre type variations correlate with PPARα, PPARδ and PGC-1α mRNA. Acta Physiologica, 188: 207–216. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2006.01620.x

Author Information

  1. 1

     Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

  2. 2

     Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

  3. 3

     Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

  4. 4

     Sunnaas Hospital, Nesoddtangen, Norway

*A. Krook, Integrative Physiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail: anna.krook@ki.se

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 OCT 2006
  2. Article first published online: 20 OCT 2006
  3. Received 24 May 2006, revision requested 27 June 2006, final revision received 1 August 2006, accepted 5 August 2006
Corrected by:

Erratum

Vol. 189, Issue 1, 101, Article first published online: 16 JAN 2007

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Keywords:

  • exercise training;
  • fibre type;
  • gene expression;
  • spinal cord injury

Abstract

Aims:  Studies from genetically modified animals have been instrumental in highlighting genes and their products involved in the regulation of muscle fibre type and oxidative phenotypes; however, evidence in humans is limited. Our aim was therefore to investigate expression of those genes implicated in the regulation of oxidative fibre phenotypes in humans.

Methods:  Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction we determined mRNA expression of selected genes in skeletal muscle from three different groups, displaying physiological and pathological variations in muscle fibre type, activity and skeletal muscle metabolism respectively: (i) elite athletes (cyclists), with an increased proportion of type I slow twitch, oxidative fibres, (ii) normally active subjects with an average fibre type distribution, and (iii) spinal cord-injured subjects with a low proportion of type I fibres.

Results:  Skeletal muscle mRNA expression of calcineurin Aα and Aβ, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α and -δ, and PPAR gamma coactivator (PGC)-1α and -1β was determined. Calcineurin Aα and calcineurin Aβ mRNA expression was similar between groups. In contrast, mRNA expression of PPARα, PPARδ, PGC-1α and -1β was increased in athletes, when compared with normally active subjects. Furthermore, mRNA expression of PPARα, PPARδ, PGC-1α and -1β was reduced in spinal cord-injured subjects. Additionally, PPARα, PPARδ and PGC-1α correlated with oxidative fibre content.

Conclusion:  Skeletal muscle mRNA expression of PPARα, PPARδ, PGC-1α and -1β reflects differences in type I muscle fibres associated with pathologically and physiologically induced skeletal muscle fibre type differences.

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