MRF4 protein expression in regenerating rat muscle

The myogenic transcription factors of the MyoD family are not expressed in normal adult skeletal muscle. They are upregulated at the transcript and protein levels in a precisely coordinated manner during regeneration. While the cellular distribution of MyoD, myf-5, and myogenin expression in regenerating muscle is well documented, little is known about the exact localization of MRF4. It was the aim of this study to monitor the cellular distribution of MRF4 protein during regeneration. The soleus muscle of 6-week-old male Wistar rats was devascularized and allowed to regenerate for 2, 5, 10 or 14 days. Immunostaining revealed the presence of MRF4 throughout the time periods studied. Expression was detected in the nuclei of myofibers which had survived the devascularization procedure 2 days after necrosis was induced. In nuclei of newly formed myotubes and young myofibers, MRF4 was co-expressed with MyoD and myogenin. MRF4 protein was absent from satellite cells (SC), with anti-M-cadherin being used as a SC marker. Taken together, our results demonstrate that MRF4 protein expression in regenerated fibers is restricted to the time around and after fusion. The absence of MRF4 protein in SC suggests that the role of MRF4 during regeneration is distinct from myf-5, MyoD, and myogenin.