The role of TGFβ1 in regulating MMP-9 and MMP-2 activity during myoblast differentiation in vitro

Although the role of TGFβ1 in the regulation of ECM protein synthesis is well established, its involvement in the regulation of enzymes, such as MMPs, is still not well understood. In this project, we investigated the relationship between TGFβ1 and MMP-9/MMP-2 in in vitro differentiating myoblasts isolated from rat slow-twitch Soleus or fast-twitch Extensor Digitorum Longus (EDL) muscles. Using siRNA to silence TβR1 expression, suramin as a competitive inhibitor of the TβR1 receptor, and inhibitors of both the canonical and non-canonical TGFβ signaling pathways, we characterized the role of TGFβ1 in regulating MMP-9 and MMP-2 during differentiation of myoblasts derived from slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscles in vitro.