TNF CAN DIRECTLY INDUCE THE EXPRESSION OF UBIQUITIN-DEPENDENT PROTEOLYTIC SYSTEM IN RAT SOLEUS MUSCLES

Incubation of isolated rat soleus muscles in the presence of human rec ombinant TNF-alpha(10,000 U/ml) resulted in an important increase in u biquitin gene expression (over 50%). Although previous studies involvi ng cytokine administration in vivo (1) have demonstrated an action on ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis, this is the first report demonstratin g a direct action of the cytokine on protein breakdown in incubated ra t skeletal muscle. (C) 1997 Academic Press