The principal role of the heparan sulphate proteoglycan agrin in the formation of synapses at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has been clearly documented. Till now neural agrin has mainly been studied to be a synaptic organizer which induces acetylcholine receptor clustering. However, agrin function is not limited only to the NMJ, but is involved in a broader spectrum of signalling pathways in various tissues. Indeed, the latest studies revealed that agrin is directly implicated in the organization of the cytoskeleton in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, it has also been identified that agrin functions as a costimulatory molecule in Tcell activation and formation of an immunological synapse. Only recently it has come to the fore its possible involvement in satellite cells regeneration. Interestingly, in our work we have found out that agrin positively affects proliferation of human myoblasts. Growth curves data demonstrated that agrin enhances satellite cells proliferation. These results were confirmed by Bromodeoxyuridine assay. Desmin detection shows that agrin does not impare neither myogenicity nor myoblasts fusion. This is the first evidence for a function of agrin in myoblast proliferation. We will further attempt to identify the signalling pathway triggered by agrin and to investigate the possible involvement of musclespecific kinase (MuSK) in the proliferation process. The present observations indicate the important role of agrin in the regeneration of skeletal muscle and support its recently discovered therapeutic potential in muscle dystrophy. Therefore, the identification of the mechanisms underlying its proliferative activity are believed to contribute to therapeutic efficiency of muscle diseases.
B.06 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 30044633