Ros‐mediated activation of NF‐κB and Foxo during muscle disuse

Abstract

We examined reactive oxygen species as upstream activators of nuclear factor κB; (NF‐κB) and forkhead box O (Foxo) in skeletal muscle during disuse atrophy. Catalase, an enzyme that degrades H₂O₂, was overexpressed in soleus muscles via plasmid injection prior to 7 days of hindlimb immobilization. The increased catalase activity abolished immobilization‐induced transactivation of both NF‐κB and Foxo and attenuated the loss of muscle mass. Thus, H₂O₂ may be an important initiator of these signaling pathways that lead to muscle atrophy. Muscle Nerve, 2010