Role of SIRT2 in regulating the dexamethasone-activated autophagy pathway in skeletal muscle atrophy

The proteolytic autophagy system is involved in a major regulatory pathway in dexamethasone (Dex)-induced muscle atrophy. Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is known to participate in modulating autophagy signaling, exerting effects in skeletal muscle atrophy. We aimed to determine the effects of SIRT2 on autophagy in Dex-induced myoatrophy. Mice were randomly divided into the normal, Dex, and sirtinol groups. C2C12 cells were differentiated into myotubes and transfected with short hairpin (sh)-Sirt2-green fluorescent protein (GFP) or Sirt2-GFP lentivirus. To evaluate the mass and function of skeletal muscles, we measured the myofiber cross-sectional area, myotube size, gastrocnemius muscle wet weight/body weight ratio (%), and time-to-exhaustion. The SIRT2, myosin heavy chain (MyHC), LC3, and Beclin-1 expression levels were detected by western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Inhibition of SIRT2 markedly attenuated the muscle mass and endurance capacity. The same phenotype was observed in Sirt2-shRNA-treated myotubes, as evidenced by their decreased size. Conversely, SIRT2 overexpression alleviated Dex-induced myoatrophy in vitro. Moreover, SIRT2 negatively regulated the expression of the LC3b and Beclin-1 in skeletal muscles. These findings suggested that SIRT2 activation protects myotubes against Dex-induced atrophy through the inhibition of the autophagy system; this phenomenon may potentially serve as a target for treating glucocorticoid-induced myopathy.