Absence of CCR2 results in an inflammaging environment in young mice with age-independent impairments in muscle regeneration

Abstract Skeletal muscle regeneration requires coordination between dynamic cellular populations and tissue microenvironments. Macrophages, recruited via CCR2, are essential for regeneration; however, the contribution of macrophages and the role of CCR2 on nonhematopoietic cells has not been defined. In addition, aging and sex interactions in regeneration and sarcopenia are unclear. Muscle regeneration was measured in young (3–6 mo), middle (11–15 mo), old (24–32 mo) male and female CCR2−/− mice. Whereas age-related muscle atrophy/sarcopenia was present, regenerated myofiber cross-sectional area (CSA) in CCR2−/− mice was comparably impaired across all ages and sexes, with increased adipocyte area compared with wild-type (WT) mice. CCR2−/− mice myofibers achieved approximately one third of baseline CSA even 84 d after injury. Regenerated CSA and clearance of necrotic tissue were dependent on bone marrow–derived cellular expression of CCR2. Myogenic progenitor cells isolated from WT and CCR2−/− mice exhibited comparable proliferation and differentiation capacity. The most striking cellular anomaly in injured muscle of CCR2−/− mice was markedly decreased macrophages, with a predominance of Ly6C− anti-inflammatory monocytes/macrophages. Ablation of proinflammatory TLR signaling did not affect muscle regeneration or resolution of necrosis. Of interest, many proinflammatory, proangiogenic, and chemotactic cytokines were markedly elevated in injured muscle of CCR2−/− relative to WT mice despite impairments in macrophage recruitment. Collectively, these results suggest that CCR2 on bone marrow–derived cells, likely macrophages, were essential to muscle regeneration independent of TLR signaling, aging, and sex. Decreased proinflammatory monocytes/macrophages actually promoted a proinflammatory microenvironment, which suggests that inflammaging was present in young CCR2−/− mice.