ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Release of -actin into serum after skeletal muscle damage

A Martínez-Amat¹, H Boulaiz², J Prados², J A Marchal¹, P Padial Puche³, O Caba², F Rodríguez-Serrano¹, A Aránega²

¹ Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain
² Basic Cardiovascular Research Section, Department of Morphological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Granada, E-18012 Granada, Spain
³ Faculty of Sciences of Physical Activity and Sports, Department of Physical and Sports Education, University of Granada, E-18220 Granada, Spain

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Antonia Aranega
University of Granada, School of Medicine, Department of Morphological Sciences, Granada E-18012, Spain; amat103{at}ugr.es

Objective: The skeletal muscle protein -actin was investigated in the serum of subjects with severe skeletal muscle damage to assess its utility as a reliable and predictive marker of muscle damage.

Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 33 healthy controls and 33 patients with severe skeletal muscle damage, defined by a total creatine kinase value of >500 IU/l (Rosalki method). Troponin I, troponin T, and myoglobin concentrations were determined by immunoassay and -actin concentrations by Western blot and densitometry.

Results: The mean serum concentration of -actin in controls and patients with skeletal muscle damage was 600.9 and 1968.51 ng/ml, respectively, a statistically significant difference. Sera of patients with muscle damage showed higher levels of -actin than of troponin or myoglobin. No significant difference in troponin I levels was observed between the groups.

Conclusions: According to these results, -actin was the most significant skeletal muscle damage marker analysed and may be an ideal candidate for the identification of all types of myofibre injury, including sports injuries. Our findings support the use of -actin as a marker alongside other currently used biological proteins.

Keywords: immunoblotting; muscle injury; muscle protein; physical exercise

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