Skeletal muscle atrophy is a pathological condition characterized by the loss of strength and muscle mass, an increase in myosin heavy chain (MHC) degradation and increase in the expression of two muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases: atrogin-1 and MuRF-1. Angiotensin II (AngII) induces muscle atrophy. Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)], through its receptor Mas, produces the opposite effects than AngII. We assessed the effects of Ang-(1-7) on the skeletal muscle atrophy induced by AngII. Our results show that Ang-(1-7), through Mas, prevents the effects induced by AngII in muscle gastrocnemius: the decrease in the fibre diameter, muscle strength and MHC levels and the increase in atrogin-1 and MuRF-1. Ang-(1-7) also induces AKT phosphorylation. In addition, our analysis in vitro using C2C12 myotubes shows that Ang-(1-7), through a mechanism dependent on Mas, prevents the decrease in the levels of MHC and the increase in the expression of the atrogin-1 and MuRF-1, both induced by AngII. Ang-(1-7) induces AKT phosphorylation in myotubes; additionally, we demonstrated that the inhibition of AKT with MK-2206 decreases the anti-atrophic effects of Ang-(1-7). Thus, we demonstrate for the first time that Ang-(1-7) counteracts the skeletal muscle atrophy induced by AngII through a mechanism dependent on the Mas receptor, which involves AKT activity. Our study indicates that Ang-(1-7) is novel molecule with a potential therapeutical use to improve muscle wasting associated, at least, with pathologies that present high levels of AngII.

AngII (angiotensin II) induces pathological conditions such as fibrosis in skeletal muscle. In this process, AngII increases ROS (reactive oxygen species) and induces a biphasic phosphorylation of p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase). In addition, AngII stimulates the expression and production of TGF (transforming growth factor)-β1 via a mechanism dependent on ROS production mediated by NADPH oxidase (NOX) and p38 MAPK activation. In the present study, we investigated whether Ang-(1-7) [angiotensin-(1-7)], through the Mas-1 receptor, can counteract the signalling induced by AngII in mouse skeletal muscle and cause a decrease in the expression and further activity of TGF-β1 in skeletal muscle cells. Our results show that Ang-(1-7) decreased the expression of TGF-β1 induced by AngII in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, we observed that Ang-(1-7) prevented the increase in TGF-β1 expression induced by AngII, ROS production dependent on NOX and the early phase of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Interestingly, Ang-(1-7) also prevented the late phase of p38 MAPK phosphorylation, Smad-2 phosphorylation and Smad-4 nuclear translocation, an increase in transcriptional activity, as determined using the p3TP-lux reporter, and fibronectin levels, all of which are dependent on the TGF-β1 levels induced by AngII. We also demonstrated that Ang-(1-7) prevented the increase in TGF-β1, fibronectin and collagen content in the diaphragm of mice infused with AngII. All of these effects were reversed by the administration of A779, indicating the participation of Mas-1. In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that Ang-(1-7) decreases the expression and further biological activity of TGF-β1 induced by AngII in vitro and in vivo.

Skeletal muscle atrophy during sepsis, immobilization, and chronic diseases is characterized by an increase in expression and activity of the muscle-specific ubiquitin 3 ligases atrogin-1 and MuRF-1. The classical renin-angiotensin system (RAS), by high level of circulating angiotensin II (AngII) is directly involved in skeletal muscle wasting associated with cardiac and renal failure. Ang (1-7), a peptide belonging to the non-classical RAS system, produces effects that are opposite to AngII. The actions of Ang (1-7) are mediated by its binding and signalling through the Mas receptor. Our purpose is to assess the effects of atrophic stimuli AngII, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and immobilization on the expression of the Mas receptor in skeletal muscle. For that we used gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles of C57BL10 mice treated with AngII, LPS or subjected to unilateral hindlimb immobilization by casting. In addition, we used C2C12 myotubes incubated with AngII or LPS. We evaluated Mas expression by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot immunohistochemical analysis. Skeletal muscle atrophy was corroborated by the expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 and the fibre diameter. Our results show that Mas receptor expression was increased by AngII or LPS in vitro and in vivo, and upregulated by immobilization. The increase of the Mas expression was concomitantly with the upregulation of atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 and the reduction of the fibre diameter. These results from studies in vitro and in vivo demonstrate for the first time that the Mas receptor is increased under atrophic stimulus and suggest that the non-classical RAS system could have an important role in muscle wasting.