Danish researchers have uncovered a biological mechanism that helps explain the changes muscles undergo with aging, clarifying how muscles adapt to declining energy production capacity to protect their cells from damage. These findings could contribute to the development of methods to mitigate age-related muscle atrophy.
The role of cardiolipin
The scientific website Science Daily reported two days ago that a study conducted by researchers from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research at the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with scientists from the University of Southern Denmark, revealed the role of a lipid molecule known as "cardiolipin" in regulating mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are cellular components responsible for energy production.
The results showed that levels of this molecule decrease with aging, which is associated with reduced mitochondrial efficiency and changes in muscle fibers. Specifically, the proportion of slow-twitch fibers, responsible for endurance, increases, while fast-twitch fibers, which enable strong and rapid movements, decline.
Experiments on mice
In experiments conducted on mice, researchers found that lowering cardiolipin levels led to changes similar to those associated with aging. Meanwhile, restoring its levels to about two-thirds of the normal concentration helped limit muscle atrophy and prevent premature death in affected animals.
The study demonstrated that the shift toward slow-twitch fibers represents a defensive response that helps muscles adapt to declining mitochondrial efficiency by activating mechanisms that protect cells from oxidative stress. Researchers also identified a protein known as "ERRγ" that plays a key role in regulating this transition.
Future research prospects
The researchers noted that restoring cardiolipin levels or influencing the activity of the aforementioned protein could constitute a pathway for future research aimed at maintaining muscle health and limiting the decline in its functions with aging.
These results highlight the importance of understanding the biological changes that occur in muscles with aging and open the door to further research into mechanisms for preserving muscle strength and function, as well as mitigating the effects of aging on health and mobility.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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