Scientists at Stanford University in the United States have discovered that blocking the activity of one specific protein in aged mice stops muscle aging and restores body weight. Conversely, increased protein activity contributes to muscle atrophy and weakening. A new way of dealing with senile frailty is reported in an article published in the journal Science.
Researchers have shown that in older animals, the 15-PGDH protein is elevated in muscle and is widely expressed in other tissues. According to experts, it is this compound that plays a key role in the physical weakness and loss of muscle mass in the elderly, which is known as sarcopenia. The number of mitochondria in tissues is reduced, resulting in reduced energy supply.
A molecule called prostaglandin E2 is known to activate muscle stem cells to help repair damaged muscle fibers. E2 levels are regulated by 15-PGDH, which breaks down prostaglandin. The scientists determined that, compared with young mice, older animals had higher levels of 15-PGDH in the muscles and lower levels of prostaglandin E2. Older people between the ages of 70 and 80 also had higher levels of 15-PGDH expression than those in their 20s.
Researchers injected mice with a small molecule that blocked the activity of 15-PGDH daily for one month. In this case, the level of prostaglandin was restored to the values typical for young rodents. The muscle fibers are larger and stronger than before the blocker was inserted.