Identifying a New Mechanism of Sarcopenia by Autophagy

Sarcopenia is one of the critical factors in reducing Activity of Daily Life and associated with morbidity and mortality. Sarcopenia has also been linked to metabolic syndrome. In recent years, it has been reported that autophagy is one of the mechanisms as a cause of sarcopenia. Therefore, we focused on autophagy as a system that can regulate both sarcopenia and metabolic syndrome in skeletal muscle and revealed that non-receptor tyrosine kinase Fyn not only participates in metabolic syndrome but also regulates autophagy regulating sarcopenia through STAT3 regulation, mainly using transgenic mice (Cell metabolism 2010, Cell Rep. 2012). However, since these were non-physiological studies, we proceeded with further studies and demonstrating that Fyn dependent STAT3 phosphorylation by IL6, which is involved in chronic inflammation and metabolic syndrome, was observed in mouse C2C12 myotube cells. Autophagy was decreased in those cells by both IL6 dependent and Fyn dependent mechanisms. Furthermore, in the denervated mouse model, not only both Fyn and IL6 gene expressions as well as the key muscle specific E3 ubiquitin ligases, Atrogin1 and MuRf1 were increased but the expression and phosphorylation levels of STAT3 were also augmented, while the autophagy activity was decreased. We believe that a denervated mouse model alone is not enough as a model for sarcopenia, thus we next introduced a hind limb suspension mouse model that promotes disuse atrophy by suspending the hind limb. Using this model, we found that muscle atrophy was observed mainly in the soleus muscle, tibialis anterior muscle, and the gastrocnemius muscle with Atrogin1 and MuRf1 increased. Increase of both IL6 and STAT3 expression/phosphorylation were also observed in the muscles of hind limb suspension mice. Autophagy activity, examined by intraperitoneal administration of colchicine, was decreased. These results strongly suggest that Fyn is involved not only in the metabolic syndrome but also in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia, and may lead to a better understanding of the pathology of sarcopenia obesity and the development of therapeutic methods.

Mechanical loading recovers bone but not muscle lost during unloading

Space travel and prolonged bed rest are examples of mechanical unloading that induce significant muscle and bone loss. The compromised structure and function of bone and muscle owing to unloading make the reloading period a high risk for injury. To explore interactions between skeletal bone and muscle during reloading, we hypothesized that acute external mechanical loading of bone in combination with re-ambulation facilitates the proportional recovery of bone and muscle lost during hind limb suspension (HLS) unloading. Adult male C57Bl/6J mice were randomly assigned to a HLS or time-matched ground control (GC) group. After 2-weeks of HLS, separate groups of mice were studied at day 14 (no re-ambulation), day 28 (14 days re-ambulation) and day 56 (42 days re-ambulation); throughout the re-ambulation period, one limb received compressive mechanical loading and the contralateral limb served as an internal control. HLS induced loss of trabecular bone volume (BV/TV; −51 ± 2%) and muscle weight (−15 ± 2%) compared to GC at day 14. At day 28, the left tibia (re-ambulation only) of HLS mice had recovered approximately 20% of BV/TV lost during HLS, while the right tibia (re-ambulation and acute external mechanical loading) recovered to GC values of BV/TV (~100% recovery). At day 56, the right tibia continued to recover bone for some outcomes (trabecular BV/TV, trabecular thickness), while the left limb did not. Cortical bone displayed a delayed response to HLS, with a 10% greater decrease in BV/TV at day 28 compared to day 14. In contrast to bone, acute external mechanical loading during the re-ambulation period did not significantly increase muscle mass or protein synthesis in the gastrocnemius, compared to re-ambulation alone. Our results suggest acute external mechanical loading facilitates the recovery of bone during reloading following HLS unloading, but this does not translate to a concomitant recovery of muscle mass.

Blockade of IL-6 alleviates bone loss induced by modeled microgravity in mice

This study investigated the effects of blockade of IL-6 on bone loss induced by modeled microgravity (MG). Adult male mice were exposed to hind-limb suspension (HLS) and treated with IL-6-neutralizing antibody (IL-6 nAb) for 4 weeks. HLS in mice led to upregulation of IL-6 expression in both sera and femurs. IL-6 nAb treatment in HLS mice significantly alleviated bone loss, evidenced by increased bone mineral density of whole tibia, trabecular thickness and number, bone volume fraction of proximal tibiae, and ultimate load and stiffness of femoral diaphysis. IL-6 nAb treatment in HLS mice significantly enhanced levels of osteocalcin in sera and reduced levels of deoxypyridinoline. In MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to MG in vitro, IL-6 nAb treatment increased mRNA expression and activity of alkaline phosphatase, mRNA expression of osteopontin and runt-related transcription factor 2, and protein levels of osteoprotegerin and decreased protein levels of receptor activator of the NF-κB ligand. In RAW254.7 cells exposed to MG, IL-6 nAb treatment downregulated mRNA expression of cathepsin K and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and reduced numbers of TRAP-positive multinucleated osteoclasts. In conclusion, blockade of IL-6 alleviated the bone loss induced by MG.

Mechanical Loading Recovers Bone but not Muscle Lost During Unloading

Space travel and prolonged bed rest are examples of mechanical unloading that induce significant muscle and bone loss. To explore interactions between skeletal bone and muscle during reloading, we hypothesized that acute external mechanical loading of bone in combination with re-ambulation facilitates proportional recovery of bone and muscle lost during hind limb suspension (HLS) unloading. Adult male C57Bl/6J mice were assigned to a HLS or time-matched ground control (GC) group. After 2-weeks of HLS, separate groups of mice were studied at day 14 (no re-ambulation), day 28 (14 days re-ambulation) and day 56 (42 days re-ambulation); throughout the re-ambulation period, one limb received mechanical loading and the contralateral limb served as an internal control. HLS induced loss of trabecular bone volume (BV/TV; -51%±2%) and muscle weight (-15%±2%) compared to GC at day 14. At day 28, the left tibia (re-ambulation only) of HLS mice had recovered 20% of BV/TV lost during HLS, while the right tibia (re-ambulation and acute external mechanical loading) recovered to GC values of BV/TV (∼100% recovery). At day 56, the right tibia continued to recover bone for some outcomes (trabecular BV/TV, trabecular thickness), while the left limb did not. Cortical bone displayed a delayed response to HLS, with a 10% greater decrease in BV/TV at day 28 compared to day 14. In contrast to bone, acute external mechanical loading during the re-ambulation period did not significantly increase muscle mass or protein synthesis in the gastrocnemius, compared to re-ambulation alone.

Evolutionary GEM: The Evolution of the Primate Prehensile Tail

The evolution of the prehensile tail illustrates the impact habitat can have on structural traits. Prehensile primates are able to support their entire body weight using only their tail, which opens up new feeding opportunities in their arboreal environments. This trait evolved separately in two families of New World monkeys. A transitional behaviour in its proposed evolutionary mechanism is tail-assisted hind limb suspension during locomotion in these dense forests. The evolution of more robust vertebrae, shorter distal vertebrae, a greater number of zygapophyseal joints, as well as larger and more convex articular surfaces, result in a stronger and more flexible tail. Prehensile tails have more expanded muscle attachments that can bear greater loading forces. A naked tactile pad that improves grip is present only in atelids. These differences in bone and muscle morphology make the prehensile tail more sturdy and dexterous, allowing prehensile primates to use their tails for an alternative function.