A Japanese study has revealed that an antioxidant molecule may help preserve the muscles' ability to repair themselves as aging progresses.
This is achieved by protecting a key protein responsible for activating muscle tissue regeneration, which could pave the way for developing novel treatments to combat muscle atrophy.
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The study was conducted by a research team led by Professor Ryuichi Tatsumi from the Faculty of Agriculture at Kyushu University in Japan, with its findings published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Skeletal muscle is among the tissues most severely affected by aging; the decline in its regenerative capacity leads to muscle weakness, intramuscular fat accumulation, and the loss of fast-twitch fibers responsible for rapid, forceful movements.
Researchers focused on a protein known as Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), which plays a pivotal role in activating muscle stem cells responsible for repairing damaged tissue. However, as aging occurs, this protein undergoes a chemical modification known as nitration, which impairs its function and limits the efficiency of muscle regeneration.
In search of a way to protect this protein, the team tested two antioxidant compounds: GSSSG and LASSS. Results demonstrated that LASSS was the most effective, as it not only reduced nitration but also enhanced the protein's ability to bind to the receptor responsible for activating muscle repair, whereas the other compound failed to produce the same effect.
Tatsumi stated that the results exceeded the researchers' expectations, noting that LASSS might not only shield the protein from damage, but could also enhance its performance. This led the team to describe the resulting modified form as "Super HGF."
To validate the findings, researchers tested the compound on mice suffering from muscle atrophy. Experiments showed a marked reduction in harmful chemical modifications within the muscles of animals treated with LASSS, indicating that its protective effects extend to living tissues.
Researchers emphasized that these findings remain preliminary and require further studies before clinical application in humans. Nevertheless, the discovery could open new avenues for developing strategies to maintain muscle health in the elderly or in individuals experiencing muscle loss due to physical inactivity or prolonged bed rest.
Medical Xpress
