BCL9 is an essential component of canonical Wnt signaling that mediates the differentiation of myogenic progenitors during muscle regeneration

Dev Biol. 2009 Nov 1;335(1):93-105. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.08.014. Epub 2009 Aug 21.

Abstract

Muscle stem cells and their progeny play a fundamental role in the regeneration of adult skeletal muscle. We have previously shown that activation of the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway in adult myogenic progenitors is required for their transition from rapidly dividing transient amplifying cells to more differentiated progenitors. Whereas Wnt signaling in Drosophila is dependent on the presence of the co-regulator Legless, previous studies of the mammalian ortholog of Legless, BCL9 (and its homolog, BCL9-2), have not revealed an essential role of these proteins in Wnt signaling in specific tissues during development. Using Cre-lox technology to delete BCL9 and BCL9-2 in the myogenic lineage in vivo and RNAi technology to knockdown the protein levels in vitro, we show that BCL9 is required for activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin cascade in adult mammalian myogenic progenitors. We observed that the nuclear localization of beta-catenin and downstream TCF/LEF-mediated transcription, which are normally observed in myogenic progenitors upon addition of exogenous Wnt and during muscle regeneration, were abrogated when BCL9/9-2 levels were reduced. Furthermore, reductions of BCL9/9-2 inhibited the promotion of myogenic differentiation by Wnt and the normal regenerative response of skeletal muscle. These results suggest a critical role of BCL9/9-2 in the Wnt-mediated regulation of adult, as opposed to embryonic, myogenic progenitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology*
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Muscle Development / physiology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / cytology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • Regeneration / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • BCL9 protein, human
  • BCL9 protein, mouse
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lgs protein, Drosophila
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin