Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone and its metabolites in the absence or presence of IGF-1 on regulation of skeletal muscle cell growth

Kanokwan Suhatcho¹, Boon-ek Yingyongnarongkul², Saowanee Kumpun³, Ratchakrit Srikuea¹

¹Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; ²Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok 10240, Thailand; ³Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Bangkok 10300, Thailand.

For correspondence:- Ratchakrit Srikuea Email: ratchakrit.sri@mahidol.ac.th Tel:+6622015518

Accepted: Mar 17 2020 Published: 31 October 2023

Citation: Suhatcho K, Yingyongnarongkul B, Kumpun S, Srikuea R. Effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone and its metabolites in the absence or presence of IGF-1 on regulation of skeletal muscle cell growth. Trop J Pharm Res 2023; 22(10):2099-2110 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v22i10.11

© 2023 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and its metabolites and their synergistic effect with IGF-1 on regulation of skeletal muscle cell growth.

Methods: Mouse skeletal muscle cell line (C2C12) was solely treated with 20E and its metabolites (14-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone, poststerone, and 14-deoxypoststerone) at doses of 0.1, 1, and 10 µM or co-treated with IGF-1 (10 ng/ml). Cell viability and proliferative capacity were evaluated using MTT and BrdU incorporation assays, respectively. Myogenic differentiation proteins [embryonic myosin heavy chain (EbMHC) and MHC], androgen receptor (AR), and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) protein expression were investigated using immunocytochemistry.

Results: Treatments of 20E and its metabolites had no toxicity on skeletal muscle cells or induced AR/IGF-1R expression. In addition, solely treatment of 20E and its metabolites or co-treatment with IGF-1 had no significant effect on cell proliferation and myogenic differentiation capacity. In contrast, IGF-1 treatment alone significantly increased EbMHC expression (p<0.0001), MHC expression (p<0.05), and myotube number (p<0.05).

Conclusion: These results indicate that 20E and its metabolites have no direct or synergistic effect with IGF-1 on skeletal muscle cell growth. Nevertheless, the pharmacological effects of 20E on skeletal muscle mass and strength in vivo that raises its therapeutic potential may associate with its indirect action.

Keywords: 20-hydroxyecdysone, androgen receptor, C2C12, IGF-1, metabolite, skeletal muscle, Vitex glabrata