EFFECTS OF LINCRNA-P21 INHIBITION ON MYOGENESIS AND SKELETAL MUSCLE MORPHOLOGY IN VITRO.

• Grant number: 23/13642-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Tiago Fernandes
• Grantee: Andre Felipe Martins de Oliveira Santos
• Host Institution: Escola de Educação Física e Esporte (EEFE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/03138-2 - Functions and regulatory mechanisms of lincRNA-p21 in skeletal muscle: role on stem cell fate, myogenesis, trophism, contractility, exercise performance and injury repair, AP.PNGP.PI

Abstract

Skeletal muscle is the most abundant tissue with vital functions in the body. Myoblast proliferation and differentiation are key steps during skeletal muscle development, also contributing to muscle regeneration and growth in adults. Therefore, changes in the formation process of this tissue may be related to many muscular disorders, in which changes in regenerative capacity play a crucial role in the progression of diseases. Therefore, the identification of new components that control myogenesis can contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of muscle development and potentially allow the identification of new therapeutic targets. The discovery that 98% of the human genome, although transcribed, does not encode proteins, was crucial to recognizing the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as critical regulators of cellular function at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels. Although studies indicate that lncRNAs play key roles in tissue structure and function, their role in myogenic regulation, mass control, and muscle regeneration remain poorly understood. Furthermore, abnormalities in lncRNAs expression have been directly linked to skeletal muscle biology and disease. LincRNA-p21 is involved in diverse cellular processes via regulating the expression of multiple target genes; however, its expression and effects in skeletal muscle are unknown. Therefore, the main objective of the study is to investigate the impact of the deletion of lincRNA-p21 on the morphology and metabolism of myogenic cells in vitro during the myogenic process. As well as to provide additional knowledge about the transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes of lncRNA-p21 in this muscular process. These findings will provide insights that can assist in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the homeostasis and development of skeletal muscle, offering potential new therapeutic interventions for muscle diseases.