CaMKⅣ signaling affects muscle injury repair by regulating muscle fiber function and intramuscular inflammation

doi:10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2026.5.07

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Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2026, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (5) : 543-549. DOI: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2026.5.07

CaMKⅣ signaling affects muscle injury repair by regulating muscle fiber function and intramuscular inflammation

Wang Han¹, Li Yangyang ², Jian Xiaoting², Huang Jingwen², Lan Haiqiang², Wang Qisen², Duan Wenbiao²*, Liao Hua²*

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Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of CaMKⅣ signaling on muscle fiber function and intramuscular inflammation. Methods Wild C57BL/6 mice (control group) and CaMKⅣ knockout mice (CaMKⅣ-/-) were selected. Cardiotoxin (CTX) was injected into the anterior tibial muscle to induce acute muscle injury in mice. The repair speed of injured muscle fibers and the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the muscle were compared between the two groups of animals. Primary WT or CaMKⅣ-/- myogenic progenitor cells (MPCs) were differentiated and cultured in vitro, and co-cultured with macrophages. The functional differences of macrophages were compared. Results Compared with WT mice, CaMKⅣ-/- mice had delayed muscle fiber regeneration and significant inflammatory infiltration, mainly dominated by M1 macrophages, with significantly decreased M2 cell numbers and proliferation ratios. In the inflammatory environment in vitro, the number and proliferation ratio of M2 macrophages in the CaMKⅣ-/-- MPCs co-culture system were significantly lower than those in the WT-MPCs (P<0.05). Conclusions The endogenous CaMKⅣ signaling activates muscle fibers to participate in regulating the phenotype of macrophages, promoting the proliferation and differentiation of M2-type macrophages in the injured muscle, facilitating inflammation resolution and accelerating muscle repair.

Key words

CaMKⅣ / / / Macrophages / / / Inflammation / / / Muscle fibers

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Wang Han, Li Yangyang, Jian Xiaoting, Huang Jingwen, Lan Haiqiang, Wang Qisen, Duan Wenbiao, Liao Hua. CaMKⅣ signaling affects muscle injury repair by regulating muscle fiber function and intramuscular inflammation[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy. 2026, 44(5): 543-549 https://doi.org/10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2026.5.07

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