Scratch wound closure of myoblasts and myotubes is reduced by inflammatory mediators

Complex interactions exist between muscle repair processes and acute inflammatory responses that are initiated by exercise-induced muscle damage. The purpose of this study was to examine whether inflammatory mediators secreted by activated macrophages affect the migration of myogenic cells to the injury site. Migration was measured using a scratch wound closure assay in C2C12-derived myogenic cells incubated in activated macrophage-conditioned medium. Both myoblast and myotube migrations were significantly reduced in activated macrophage-conditioned medium compared with control medium. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the inhibitory effect on myoblast and myotube migrations was mediated, at least in part, by the two major cytokines secreted by activated macrophages, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6. These findings suggest that the migration rate of myogenic cells may be reduced by inflammatory mediators. It may provide useful insights for future researches on the role of macrophages in the process of muscle repair and regeneration.