Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate reduces MyoD and myogenin expression and inhibits myogenic differentiation in C2C12 cells

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) treatment on MyoD and myogenin expression and myotube formation in the murine C2C12 cells. Myogenic differentiation is principally regulated by activities of myogenic regulatory factors, such as MyoD and myogenin, leading the elongation and fusion of mononucleated myoblasts into multinucleated myotubes. In the present study, myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells was induced by serum deprivation with medium containing vehicle or DEHP (10, 100, 1,000 μg/ml) for 5 days. Using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay clearly demonstrated cell viability was not affected by DEHP at any given dose. At the dose of 1,000 μg/ml DEHP, the elongation of multinucleated myotubes, and the percent of nuclei incorporated into myosin heavy chain (MyHC)-stained myotubes were markedly reduced. In addition, immunoblotting revealed expression of muscle specific marker MyHC, as well as myogenic regulatory factors MyoD and myogenin, were reduced in DEHP-treated myotubes during myogenic differentiation. Taken together, the results showed that DEHP may impair myogenic differentiation through repression of myogenic regulatory factors, such as MyoD and myogenin, resulting in a reduction of MyHC expression. This in vitro study suggests that DEHP may be an environmental risk factor for myogenesis.