Regeneration of injured soleus muscle in heat shock transcription factor 1‐null mice

Abstract

Heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) mediates stress response, and up‐regulates heat shock proteins (HSPs) in mammalian skeletal muscles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of HSF1‐deficiency on the regeneration of inured skeletal muscle. Cardiotoxin was injected into the left soleus muscle of mice. Soleus muscles were dissected bilaterally 2 and 4 weeks after the treatment. HSF1‐deffiency retarded both the recovery of muscle protein content and fiber size, which were decreased by cardiotoxin injection. Injury‐related‐up‐regulation of HSPs in HSF1‐null mice was depressed, compared with wild type mice. HSF1‐associated stress response may play a key role in the regeneration of injured skeletal muscle. This study was supported, in part, by KAKENHI (22240071, 24650411, 24650407) from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the Science Research Promotion and the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan.