J Korean Neurol Assoc.  2003 Feb;21(1):89-96.

The Expression of Cytokines and Chemokine mRNA by Human Skeletal Muscle Cell Line (SKM14)

• Joo IS
• Huh K
• Lee YB
• Kim SU

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Muscle is a target of immunological injury in several muscle diseases, such as idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. However, it is also a target for gene therapy. Therefore, it is important to understand the immunological capabilities of muscle cells. To assess as to whether muscle cells are actively involved in the inflamed muscle tissue, a human skeletal muscle cell line was tested for the expression of several cytokines and chemokine at the mRNA level. METHODS: A human skeletal muscle cell line (SKM14) had been developed by a retroviral vector encoding v-myc transfection into a 12-week-old human fetal skeletal muscle tissue characterized by the immunostaining of several musclespecific markers. Human skeletal myoblasts of this cell line were tested for their capacity to express different cytokines (IL-1beta, -6, -10, -12, -15, and TNF-alpha) and chemokine (IL-8) mRNA levels at the basal state and in the presence of TNF-alpha(10 ng/ml). RESULTS: The SKM14 cell line was confirmed to be able to express various cytokines constitutively (IL-6, -8, -12, -15, and TNF-alpha) and in the presence of TNF-alpha(IL-1beta, -6, -8, -10, -12, -15, and TNF-alpha). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that muscle cells may play a role as immunocompetent cells.

Keyword

Human skeletal muscle cell line; Myoblast; Cytokine; Chemokine

MeSH Terms

Cell Line*
Cytokines*
Genetic Therapy
Humans*
Muscle Cells
Muscle, Skeletal*
Myoblasts
Myoblasts, Skeletal
Myositis
RNA, Messenger*
Transfection
Zidovudine
Cytokines
RNA, Messenger
Zidovudine