Prevention of Muscle Atrophy by Low-Molecular-Weight Fraction from <i>Hirsutella sinensis</i> Mycelium
Muscle atrophy, an age-related condition, presents a growing healthcare concern within the context of global population aging. While studies have investigated <i>Hirsutella sinensis</i> for its potential antifatigue properties, reports on its active components remain limited. This study...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Current Issues in Molecular Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/46/12/839 |
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| Summary: | Muscle atrophy, an age-related condition, presents a growing healthcare concern within the context of global population aging. While studies have investigated <i>Hirsutella sinensis</i> for its potential antifatigue properties, reports on its active components remain limited. This study evaluated the efficacy of <i>H. sinensis</i> mycelium extract on muscle health, utilizing a 1:1 water–ethanol preparation administered to C57BL/6 mice exhibiting acute hind leg atrophy. The results indicated no adverse effects, with significant improvements in muscle endurance and soleus muscle mass observed over a 14-day period. To further elucidate the mechanisms and effects of <i>H. sinensis</i> mycelium on dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy, the water extract was fractionated into components of <3.5 kDa, 3.5–10 kDa, and >10 kDa using dialysis membranes. The investigation utilized a C2C12 cell atrophy model, induced by dexamethasone, to analyze the expression of relevant genes via qPCR. The results demonstrated that the <3.5 kDa and >10 kDa fractions significantly upregulated the expression of <i>Myh2</i> and <i>Myh7</i> genes while simultaneously downregulating the expression of <i>MuRF-1</i> and <i>Atrogin-1</i>. It is noteworthy that the <3.5 kDa fraction exclusively enhanced MYHC protein expression and suppressed AMPK expression, as confirmed by Western blot analysis. This comprehensive pilot study suggests that the low-molecular-weight fraction of <i>H. sinensis</i> mycelium exhibits considerable potential for muscle mass preservation and atrophy mitigation. As a result, it offers a promising direction for the development of supplements aimed at addressing fatigue and preventing muscle atrophy. |
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| ISSN: | 1467-3037 1467-3045 |