*2.7. Molecular Mechanism of GH on Muscle Function by RNAseq Analysis*

We previously performed transcriptomic profiling of muscle wasting in CKD by RNAseq analysis and identified 12 differentially expressed genes in muscle [23]. Perturbations of these 12 muscle genes are correlated with impaired muscle and neuron regeneration, enhanced muscle thermogenesis, and fibrosis. Hence, we studied the effects of GH on expression of these 12 muscle genes in CKD mice. Notably, GH normalized or attenuated 7 out of those 12 differentially expressed muscle genes identified in CKD mice, while the expression of 5 muscle genes remained different in GH-treated CKD mice (Figure 6A–L).

**Figure 6.** GH reduces the expression of differentially expressed genes in the muscles of CKD mice. CKD mice were fed ad libitum, whereas other mouse groups received an energy intake amount equal to that of CKD + Vehicle mice. The expression of relevant genes in the mouse gastrocnemius muscle was assessed using qPCR (**A**–**L**). Results are analyzed and expressed as in Figure 2. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. For comparison of the means between two groups, data were analyzed by Student's 2-tailed *t*-test. Posthoc analysis was performed with Tukey's test. Specific *p*-values are shown above the bar. ns signifies not significant, \* *p* < 0.05, \*\* *p* < 0.01.
