Myogenic induction activity and mechanism of rhein in aged mouse myoblasts C2C12 cell line

doi:10.19439/j.sjos.2026.01.004

Abstract

Abstract: PURPOSE: To establish an in vitro model of aged murine myogenic cell line C2C12, clarify rhein's anti-inflammatory function, and explore its effects on myogenic induction activity and related immunomodulatory mechanisms in aged C2C12 cells. METHODS: CCK-8 assay was used to assess cell proliferation rates of C2C12 cells pretreated with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide(H₂O₂) for varying duration. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) was employed to observe myogenic and aged-related gene expression changes. The expression of reactive oxygen species(ROS) and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) was measured. Immunofluorescence was used to compare the diameter of the formed myotubes. The effects of different concentrations of rhein(0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 μmol/L) on the proliferation of murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 over 3 days were measured using CCK-8 assay. The expression of polarization-related factors in RAW264.7 cells was detected by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence. The effects of macrophage-conditioned medium(CM) induced by rhein on myogenic function and age-related phenotypes in aged C2C12 cells were explored through experiments including RT-qPCR to detect relevant gene expression, ROS and SA-β-gal staining, and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, treatment of C2C12 cells with 200 and 400 μmol/L H₂O₂ for 24 hours significantly reduced the proliferation ability of C2C12 without causing apoptosis, increased the expression of age-related genes, ROS, and SA-β-gal, decreased the expression of myogenic genes, and inhibited myotube formation, with more pronounced effects at 400 μmol/L(P<0.05). Rhein at a concentration of 1 μmol/L was non-cytotoxic to RAW264.7 cells, reduced the expression of M1-related phenotypes (TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, IL-6), and promoted the expression of M2-related phenotypes (IL-1Ra, CD206)(P<0.05). Macrophage-conditioned medium (CM) induced by rhein enhanced the expression of myogenic genes in aged C2C12 cells, increased the diameter of myotube, and reduced the expression of age-related genes, ROS, and SA-β-gal(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An in vitro model of aged muscle stem cells can be established using H₂O₂. Rhein can enhance the myogenic capacity of aged muscle, likely through the regulation of macrophage M2 polarization.

Key words: Rhein, Aged, Skeletal muscle regeneration, Macrophages, M1/M2 polarization

CLC Number:

R739.8

Pan Cancan, Qi Lei, Si Jiawen, Shen Guofang. Myogenic induction activity and mechanism of rhein in aged mouse myoblasts C2C12 cell line[J]. Shanghai Journal of Stomatology, 2026, 35(1): 19-28.

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