Transcriptome analysis of post-stroke skeletal muscle

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability in patients world-wide. Skeletal muscle is the primary systemic target organ of stroke that induces muscle wasting and weakness. However, the mechanisms underlying post-stroke muscle wasting remain poorly understood. The goal of this study is to understand the stroke-mediated molecular changes occurring at the transcriptional level in skeletal muscle. To do this, we performed the gene expression profiles and enrichment pathways in a mouse model of cerebral ischemic stroke, via high-throughput RNA sequencing and extensive bioinformatic analyses. RNA-seq revealed that the elevated muscle atrophy observed in response to stroke was associated with the altered expression of genes involved in proteolysis, cell cycle, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). These data will provide critical information to further elucidate specific gene(s) and pathway(s) that can be targeted to mitigate accountable for post-stroke muscle atrophy and related weakness.