Gαi2 regulates the adult myogenesis of masticatory muscle satellite cells

Abstract Although similar to trunk and limb skeletal muscles, masticatory muscles are believed as unique in both developmental origins and myogenesis. Gαi2 has been demonstrated to promote muscle hypertrophy and muscle satellite cell differentiation in limb muscles. However, the effect of Gαi2 on masticatory muscles is still unexplored. This study aimed to identify the role of Gαi2 in the proliferation and differentiation of masticatory muscle satellite cells, further exploring the metabolic mechanism of masticatory muscles. The proliferation rate, myotube size, fusion index of masticatory muscle satellite cells and Pax7, Myf5, MyoD, Tcf21 and Musculin expressions were significantly decreased by Gαi2 knockdown, while in cells infected with AdV4‐Gαi2, the proliferation rate, myotube size, fusion index and Tbx1 expression were significantly increased. Masticatory muscle satellite cells also displayed phenotype transformation as Gαi2 changed. In addition, Gαi2 altered myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms of myotubes with less MyHC‐2A expression in siGαi2 group and more MyHC‐slow expression in AdV4‐Gαi2 group. In conclusion, Gαi2 could positively affect the adult myogenesis of masticatory muscle satellite cells and maintain the superiority of MyHC‐slow. Masticatory muscle satellite cells may have their unique Gαi2‐regulated myogenic transcriptional networks, although they may share some common characteristics with trunk and limb muscles.