miR-214 promotes the activation, proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle satellite cells by modulating Hedgehog signaling in Chinese perch

Fish exhibit indeterminate growth by recruiting new muscle fibers (hyperplasia) and increasing the size of already existing fibers (hypertrophy) to promote muscle growth. However, the molecular mechanism by which muscle fibers maintain hyperplasia and hypertrophy during the posthatching period in fish remains unclear. microRNAs have been reported to participate in the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts in fish. In this study, we found that overexpression of miR-214 in Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi) by injecting agomiR-214 in vivo resulted in an increase in the diameter of myofibers, the number of satellite cells and proliferating myoblasts as well as the expression of Pax7, Myomaker and myogenic regulatory factors. However, inhibiting miR-214 by injecting antagomiR-214 in vivo significantly decreased the diameter of myofibers, the number of proliferating myoblasts and the expression of Myf5 and MyoD. In addition, inhibition of the Hedgehog pathway showed results similar to those of inhibition of miR-214. The in silico analysis and dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that Sufu, a negative regulator of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, is a direct target of miR-214. Taken together, our results reveal that miR-214 induces the activation of satellite cells by regulating Hh signaling activity, and subsequently stimulates the proliferation, differentiation and fusion of myoblast, thus promoting hyperplasia and hypertrophy of skeletal muscle in Chinese perch. •miR-214 induces the activation, proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells in Chinese perch.•miR-214 promotes skeletal muscle growth by regulating Hedgehog signaling.•Sufu is an evolutionarily conserved target gene of miR-214 in vertebrates.