Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (NR_113332.1) on Creatine Kinase and Lactate Dehydrogenase Levels in Orthrotopically Transplanted EDL Muscle of Mice

Shamsa Jabeen and Javed Iqbal Qazi*

Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

ABSTRACT

Creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) are myosin heavy chain associated molecules which do not have the capacity to cross muscle cell membrane under normal conditions. Their increase in serum concentration have been used as indicators for muscle damage. The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus administration on CK and LDH levels in the serum of mice following extensor digitorium longus (EDL) muscle grafting. Blood from the intact control as well as experimental and EDL muscle grafted mice was secured on day 3, 5, 7 and 14 post-transplantations. CK activity of control and EDL muscle grafted mice with probiotics showed 157% and 130% increase, respectively on day 5, whereas on 14th days post-transplantation CK values showed 45.6% and 4%, respectively increase compared with the values of intact control. The LDH activity increase 52.27% and 19.46%, respectively on day 7 when compared with intact control. On 14th days post-transplantation corresponding values for control and probiotics were 23.0% and 1.7 %, respectively increase when compared with the value of intact control. Current study revealed that probiotic administration in orthotropic-transplanted EDL muscle reduce CK and LDH activities in mice, which is positive indication for increase in muscle regeneration.

Article Information

Received 04 August 2022

Revised 18 November 2022

Accepted 16 January 2023

Available online 14 February 2023

(early access)

Published 20 February 2024

Authors’ Contribution

SJ experimental work, collection of results, analysis and conclusion, graphs and tables preparation. Analytical discussion of the results, guideline and recommendation. JIQ supervised the research. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Key words

Creatine kinase, Lactate dehydrogenase, Lactobacillus, Regeneration, Grafting

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20220804040846

* Corresponding author: qazi.zool@pu.edu.pk

0030-9923/2024/0002-0989 $ 9.00/0

Copyright 2024 by the authors. Licensee Zoological Society of Pakistan.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Process of skeletal muscle regeneration and its complexity starting from the muscle tissue damage, going through repairing and consequent development of new muscle fibres has been carefully explored (Charge and Rudnicki, 2004). A mature muscle will have long cells that encompass numerous nuclei. In order to recover from a trauma or during the process of re-growth, division is not possible for mature nuclei of the syncytium. Satellite cells, which are located in close proximity to the mature cells perform this function whenever needed. In reaction to trauma, surgeries, or high-strain incidents, these cells swiftly reproduce and work as an active agent for the formation of new myotubes which than mature to myofibres. The inflammatory phase and the regeneration process begin concurrently with satellite cells stimulation. The process of regeneration of muscle is recognizable into four stages, which are (1) activation of satellite cell (2) formation of myoblasts (3) process of differentiation (4) finally the resting state (Wozniak and Kong, 2005). Further, optimal recovery of contractile function is achieved through development of scar tissue and consequent nerve innervation (Jarvinen and Javinen, 2005). Regeneration capacity in skeletal muscle after an injury represents a self-sustained system. However, in cases where there is severe damage and where there is great muscle loss, the process of regeneration of skeletal muscle would need extra support. Hence, there is an ongoing challenge regarding regenerative and constructive effort in clinical practice especially for cases of large muscle losses. Different strategies have been adopted to promote muscle repair and regeneration since last century and has excelled in past few decades due to advancement in technology and support. Physical therapies, surgical techniques, cell therapy, application of biomaterials, and muscular tissue engineering are all part of that advancement. Despite all these advancements, there is need to develop new methods which must aid in regeneration functions and promote skeletal muscle repair (Liu et al., 2018; Cezar and Mooney, 2015).

Both in experimental work as well as in clinical cases of skeletal muscle translation/ damage it is pertinent to assess level of damage and repair/ regeneration at various time intervals. Biopsies cannot be afforded frequently. Myosin heavy chain fragments, such as creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), are linked to muscle injury. However, because they are cytoplasmic, they are unable to cross the sarcoplasmic membrane and access the damaged muscle tissue on the other side (Brown et al., 1997; Willoughby et al., 2003). Because of this, muscle membrane and other tissue structural damage is measured by measuring elevated blood quantities of these substances (Foschini and Prestes, 2007). Consequently, their regression towards normal level is considered a sign of muscle repair/regeneration (Baird et al., 2012).

Probiotics are responsible in changing the nutritional status of the host such as maturation of the immune system and epithelial cells (Mach and Fuster-Botella, 2017; Shreiner et al., 2015). Skeletal muscles changes involve hyper mitochondrial biogenesis improving their functioning. These include the concentration levels in the proteins responsible for substrate transportation, storage capacity in the muscle tissues and change in enzyme activity responsible for metabolic pathways (Atherton and Smith, 2012). Mitochondrial biogenesis has been proven to be affected by an individual’s ability to store carbohydrates as glycogens (Philp et al., 2012; Spriet, 2014). Mitochondrial biogenesis and its functions are also influenced by microbiome which impacts over the muscle protein synthesis and storage of glycogen. Increased inflammatory markers, reduced physiological adaption, as well as free radical macromolecules devastation are caused by dysbiosis which results in skeletal muscle atrophy. Conversely, the anaerobic and aerobic performance in athletes is enhanced due to the probiotics supplementation (Przewlocka et al., 2020). To authors knowledge, this is the first report to show effect of probiotic on creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase levels in EDL muscle transplanted mice.

During the period of recovery different treatments are used to boost the process of regeneration. It is important to monitor effects of such interval during the course of skeletal muscle regeneration to predict the outcomes of ongoing treatments on the final recovery of the grafted muscle. Biopsies may damage the regenerating muscle as well as involve extensive process. The present study was aimed to monitor the level of CK and LDH in EDL muscle transplanted control as well as probiotics administrated.

Materials and methods

Male albino mice were purchased and housed 15 days before the experiment at 25±5 oC with a roughly light and dark cycle of 12:12h. They were provided free access to water and pelleted food to minimise the cage effect. After adopting the local environmental condition animals were randomly divided into three groups (Intact control, Control, Probiotic), each containing 6 animals. EDL muscle were orthrotransplant in right legs of the mice in groups 2 and 3 under ether anesthesia.

After surgeries, probiotic (Lactobacillus rhamnosus NR_113332.1) dose was administered orally via a gavage method on daily basis. Each animal in control group was given a dose of 200µL of saline on daily basis for 3, 5, 7 and 14 days. Whereas probiotic group was given a dose of 1x108 C.F.U. of the probiotic (NR_113332.1)/200ul/animal/day for 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after surgeries.

For preparation of probiotic dose ten autoclaved vials containing 9 mL of sterile MRS broth (Biolife, Italiana), and added 1 mL of cultural broth of Lactobacillus rhamnosus in vial label as one, and then serially diluted to vial labelled as ten. Then 1mL was taken from each serially diluted broth vials to measure its optical density and 0.1mL was taken from each vial and spread over MRS agar plates. Lactobacillus rhamnosus showed 1 × 108 C.F.U. mL−1 at 0.5 optical density when measured at 600nm using spectrophotometer (V-M5). Every time culture broth was diluted with un-inoculated broth until obtained 0.5 optical density. Diluted broth with optical density 0.5 was centrifuged to have C.F.U. 1× 108 mL−1 following the procedure by Hasan et al. (2022).

For collection of blood and tissue samples, animals were killed with overdose of ether. Grafted as well as non-grafted EDL muscles were recovered. Blood was collected from each mouse by direct puncturing of the heart.

Serum was seperated from the blood and used for the estimation of CK and LDH activities with the help of commercially available bio-kits (Merck, Pvt, Ltd) in automatic bioanalyzer (Erba Chem 5 V3, Germany).

The data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using MINITAB-16 software. The mean was compared by using Tukey multiple range test. Differences between means ± SEM were considered significant at P < 0.05.

Results and discussion

Following the grafting of EDL muscles there were no signs of sickness, diarrhea and aggressive behavior for both in the control as well as probiotic supplemented groups throughout the experimental period. All the experimental animals remained alive during the observational period. All animals were recovered after 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after surgeries, whereas intact control group was recovered at 0 day. At the time of recovery there was no apparent difference in size and morphology of visceral organs of probiotic treated and control mice were noticed.

Figure 1 shows the effect of probiotic on the level of CK and LDH in regenerating EDL muscle of mice. Significant increases in CK during the regenerative phases of control mice over the probiotic treated group were recorded. The control mice group had CK activity of 625.00 ± 184.68 and 354.67 ± 13.92 U/L on day 5 and 14 days of post grafting. Whereas the corresponding value in the probiotics treated group of mice were 558.67 ± 125.24 and 255.33 ± 12.88 (U/L), respectively (P<0.001). The intact control group showed 243.33 ± 19.10 U/L of CK activity peaked on day 5, which was 157.2% for control and 129.6% for probiotic treated group. Whereas, day 14 post-transplantation corresponding values for control and probiotics were 45.6% and 4.9%, respectively. Muscle grafting increased serum CK level despite from the fact that probiotic treatment tended to minimize the injury effect.

LDH level in blood increases with response to increase in muscle damage. Value of control EDL grafted mice group at 7 and 14 days of regeneration were 258.3 ± 42.1 and 208.7 ± 11.6 (mg/dl), respectively. Whereas probiotic group had the corresponding values of 230.00 ± 65.6 and 172.7 ± 26.00 (mg/dl) (P<0.016). Percentage increase was calculated from intact control which had value 169.67 ± 9.74 mg/dl. Control group represent highest increase in lactate level which was observed at day 7 of regeneration which was 52.27% but in probiotic supplemented group the peak 35.5% was observed at day 5 of post-transplantation. Whereas, at 14-days post-transplantation corresponding values for control and probiotics were 23.0% and 1.7 %, Results showed positive effect of probiotic supplementation reducing the serum lactate level as compared to control group (Fig. 1).

Probiotic treatment tended to minimize the injury effect in terms of creatine kinase at first as well as last sampling period. Presence of CK and LDH in blood stream of an organism is indicator of tissue damage (Foschini and Prestes, 2007). Creatine kinase is normally found in the muscles tissues but this enzyme can leak and be present in the bloodstream owing to the injury to the epimysium membrane surrounding the muscles. That’s why elevated CK levels is suggestive of muscular injury and is considered a marker of muscle damage. It is well documented that probiotics reduce levels of CK, LDH and exhibit a therapeutic impact compared with protective impact. Many authors have reported that different Lactobacillus species significantly reduce CK activity (Chen et al., 2016; Al-Orf et al., 2018; Al-Osaimi et al., 2018). Highest % increase in LDH level in control group was observed at day 7 day of regeneration which was 52.27% but in probiotic supplemented group the peak 35.5% was observed at day 5 of post-transplantation when compared with the value of intact control. The shifting of the peak of LDH level at an early phase and its regression in the later phase, is a good indicator of early occurring of degeneration and regeneration processes with EDL muscle grafts of the Lactobacillus rhamnosus (NR_113332.1) supplemented mice than the control grafted mice.

Delay in maximal elevations of CK and LDH contents may be caused by increasing membrane permeability due to secondary or delayed onset damage as a result of increasing Ca2+ leakage into the muscle, and thus increased calpain activity and further reductions in membrane integrity (Gissel and Clausen, 2001). Furthermore, the exercise-induced muscular activity release of predominantly cytoplasmic CK can be due to final death of the muscle fibre which result in temporary muscle fibre damage accompanied by membrane leakage (McNeil and Khakee, 1992), this process does not necessarily reflect myofibrillar disruption. Indeed, any correlation between leakage of muscle enzymes and force production is a complex process, as it is well established that the greatest elevation in plasma enzyme levels occurs in the days following injury at a time when force has considerably recovered (Chen and Hsieh, 2001; Beaton et al., 2002). However, Friden and Lieber (2001) suggested that increase in serum CK levels may provide a gross indication that skeletal muscle injury has occurred, differences between serum CK levels do not necessarily provide information regarding the extent of muscle damage.

Conclusion

This study showed that the probiotics supplementation after EDL muscle transplantation helped to reduce the level of CK and LDH than that of control group. The study also revealed that treatment with probiotics caused CK and LDH increases during early stages of regeneration with comparatively lower values than control group.

Funding

There study received no external funds.

IRB approval

Study was approved by the Punjab University Institutional Ethics Review Board vide letter No.D/68/FIMS.

Ethical statement

The current study was approved by the Punjab University Ethics Review Board.

Statement of conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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