Multiple Pathways to the Same End: Mechanisms of Myonuclear Apoptosis in Sarcopenia of Aging

Sarcopenia, the age-related decline in muscle mass and function, represents a significant health issue due to the high prevalence of frailty and disability associated with this condition. Nevertheless, the cellular mechanisms responsible for the loss of muscle mass in old age are still largely unkno...

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Main Authors: Emanuele Marzetti, Giuseppe Privitera, Vincenzo Simili, Stephanie E. Wohlgemuth, Lorenzo Aulisa, Marco Pahor, Christiaan Leeuwenburgh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2010-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2010.27
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author Emanuele Marzetti
Giuseppe Privitera
Vincenzo Simili
Stephanie E. Wohlgemuth
Lorenzo Aulisa
Marco Pahor
Christiaan Leeuwenburgh
author_facet Emanuele Marzetti
Giuseppe Privitera
Vincenzo Simili
Stephanie E. Wohlgemuth
Lorenzo Aulisa
Marco Pahor
Christiaan Leeuwenburgh
author_sort Emanuele Marzetti
collection DOAJ
description Sarcopenia, the age-related decline in muscle mass and function, represents a significant health issue due to the high prevalence of frailty and disability associated with this condition. Nevertheless, the cellular mechanisms responsible for the loss of muscle mass in old age are still largely unknown. An altered regulation of myocyte apoptosis has recently emerged as a possible contributor to the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. Studies in animal models have shown that the severity of skeletal muscle apoptosis increases over the course of aging and correlates with the degree of muscle mass and strength decline. Several apoptotic pathways are operative in aged muscles, with the mitochondria- and TNF-α-mediated pathways likely being the most relevant to sarcopenia. However, despite the growing number of studies on the subject, a definite mechanistic link between myocyte apoptosis and age-related muscle atrophy has not yet been established. Furthermore, the evidence on the role played by apoptosis in human sarcopenia is still sparse. Clearly, further research is required to better define the involvement of myocyte apoptosis in the pathogenesis of muscle loss at advanced age. This knowledge will likely help in the design of more effective therapeutic strategies to preserve muscle mass into old age, thus fostering independence of the elderly population and reducing the socioeconomic burden associated with sarcopenia.
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spelling doaj-art-e7f4b42e57614a28aced6b617606d9bc2025-08-20T03:21:02ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2010-01-011034034910.1100/tsw.2010.27Multiple Pathways to the Same End: Mechanisms of Myonuclear Apoptosis in Sarcopenia of AgingEmanuele Marzetti0Giuseppe Privitera1Vincenzo Simili2Stephanie E. Wohlgemuth3Lorenzo Aulisa4Marco Pahor5Christiaan Leeuwenburgh6Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, Division of Biology of Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USADepartment of Anesthesiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Anesthesiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, Division of Biology of Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USADepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, Division of Biology of Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USADepartment of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, Division of Biology of Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USASarcopenia, the age-related decline in muscle mass and function, represents a significant health issue due to the high prevalence of frailty and disability associated with this condition. Nevertheless, the cellular mechanisms responsible for the loss of muscle mass in old age are still largely unknown. An altered regulation of myocyte apoptosis has recently emerged as a possible contributor to the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. Studies in animal models have shown that the severity of skeletal muscle apoptosis increases over the course of aging and correlates with the degree of muscle mass and strength decline. Several apoptotic pathways are operative in aged muscles, with the mitochondria- and TNF-α-mediated pathways likely being the most relevant to sarcopenia. However, despite the growing number of studies on the subject, a definite mechanistic link between myocyte apoptosis and age-related muscle atrophy has not yet been established. Furthermore, the evidence on the role played by apoptosis in human sarcopenia is still sparse. Clearly, further research is required to better define the involvement of myocyte apoptosis in the pathogenesis of muscle loss at advanced age. This knowledge will likely help in the design of more effective therapeutic strategies to preserve muscle mass into old age, thus fostering independence of the elderly population and reducing the socioeconomic burden associated with sarcopenia.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2010.27
spellingShingle Emanuele Marzetti
Giuseppe Privitera
Vincenzo Simili
Stephanie E. Wohlgemuth
Lorenzo Aulisa
Marco Pahor
Christiaan Leeuwenburgh
Multiple Pathways to the Same End: Mechanisms of Myonuclear Apoptosis in Sarcopenia of Aging
The Scientific World Journal
title Multiple Pathways to the Same End: Mechanisms of Myonuclear Apoptosis in Sarcopenia of Aging
title_full Multiple Pathways to the Same End: Mechanisms of Myonuclear Apoptosis in Sarcopenia of Aging
title_fullStr Multiple Pathways to the Same End: Mechanisms of Myonuclear Apoptosis in Sarcopenia of Aging
title_full_unstemmed Multiple Pathways to the Same End: Mechanisms of Myonuclear Apoptosis in Sarcopenia of Aging
title_short Multiple Pathways to the Same End: Mechanisms of Myonuclear Apoptosis in Sarcopenia of Aging
title_sort multiple pathways to the same end mechanisms of myonuclear apoptosis in sarcopenia of aging
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2010.27
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