Aim Overloading healthy skeletal muscle produces myofiber hypertrophy and extracellular matrix remodeling, and these processes are thought to be interdependent for producing muscle growth. Inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression is induced in overloaded skeletal muscle, and the loss of this IL-6 induction can attenuate the hypertrophic response to overload. Although the overload induction of IL-6 in skeletal muscle may be an important regulator of inflammatory processes and satellite cell proliferation, less is known about its role in the regulation of extracellular matrix remodeling. The purpose of the current study was to examine if overload-induced extracellular matrix remodeling, muscle growth, and associated gene expression were altered in mice that lack IL-6, when compared to wild-type mice. Methods Male C57/BL6 (WT) and C57/BL6 × IL-6-/- (IL-6-/-) mice (10 wks of age) were assigned to either a sham control or synergist ablation overload (OV) treatments for 3 or 21 days. Results Plantaris muscle mass increased 59% in WT and 116% in IL-6-/- mice after 21d OV. Myofiber CSA was also increased by 21d OV in both WT and IL-6-/- mice. Overload induced a 2-fold greater increase in the volume of non-contractile tissue in IL-6-/- muscle as compared to WT. Overload also induced a significantly greater accumulation of hydroxyproline and procollagen-1 mRNA in IL-6-/- muscle, when compared to WT muscle after 21d OV. TGF-β and IGF-1 mRNA expression were also induced to a greater extent in IL-6-/- muscle when compared to WT muscle after 21d OV. There was no effect of IL-6 loss on the induction of myogenin, and cyclin D1 mRNA expression after 3d OV. However, MyoD mRNA expression in 3d OV IL-6-/- muscle was attenuated when compared to WT overload mice. Conclusion IL-6 appears to be necessary for the normal regulation of extracellular matrix remodeling during overload-induced growth.

Background Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) is the most common form of syndromic orofacial cleft caused predominantly by mutations in Interferon Regulatory Factor 6 (IRF6). We previously reported that individuals with VWS have increased risk of wound healing complications following cleft repair compared with individuals with nonsyndromic orofacial clefts (nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate—NSCLP). In vitro, absence of IRF6 leads to impaired keratinocyte migration and embryonic wound healing. However, there is currently no data on tissue repair in adult animals and cells with reduced levels of IRF6 like in VWS. Results Excisional wounds of Irf6+/− and wild‐type animals were analyzed 4 and 7 days post‐wounding. Although all wounds were reepithelialized after 7 days, the epidermal and wound volume of repaired wounds was larger in Irf6+/−. These data were supported by increased keratinocyte proliferation in the neoformed epidermis and a less mature granulation tissue with increased cytokine levels. This effect was not cell autonomous, as Irf6+/− neonatal keratinocytes in vitro did not exhibit defects in scratch wound closure or proliferation. Keratinocytes from individuals with VWS also migrated similarly to keratinocytes from NSCLP individuals. Conclusions These data support a role for IRF6 in wound healing by regulating keratinocyte proliferation, granulation tissue maturation, and cytokine levels.