Gui-Pi-Tang Defers Skeletal Muscle and Cardiac Muscle Aging by Promoting Mitochondrial Remodeling

Changjiu Cai,1,* Manying Wang,2,* Dan Yang,2 Chenxu Jing,2 Yingna Li,3 Hanying Xu,4 Fangbing Liu,5 Daqing Zhao5 1Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 2Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated...

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Main Authors: Cai C, Wang M, Yang D, Jing C, Li Y, Xu H, Liu F, Zhao D
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-04-01
Series:Drug Design, Development and Therapy
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/gui-pi-tang-defers-skeletal-muscle-and-cardiac-muscle-aging-by-promoti-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DDDT
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author Cai C
Wang M
Yang D
Jing C
Li Y
Xu H
Liu F
Zhao D
author_facet Cai C
Wang M
Yang D
Jing C
Li Y
Xu H
Liu F
Zhao D
author_sort Cai C
collection DOAJ
description Changjiu Cai,1,* Manying Wang,2,* Dan Yang,2 Chenxu Jing,2 Yingna Li,3 Hanying Xu,4 Fangbing Liu,5 Daqing Zhao5 1Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 2Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 3College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Encephalopathy, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 5Northeast Asia Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Fangbing Liu, Northeast Asia Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China, Email liufb@ccucm.edu.cn Daqing Zhao, Northeast Asia Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China, Email zhaodaqing1963@163.comPurpose: To determine whether Gui-Pi-Tang (GPT) has protective effects on skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle in aged mice.Methods: This study used C57BL6/J mice to establish an in vivo natural aging model, while D-galactose (D-gal)-injured C2C12 and H9c2 cells were employed to create in vitro aging cell models. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to assess the effect of GPT on skeletal and cardiac muscle in aged mice. Protection against age-induced cellular damage by GPT was assessed in C2C12 and H9c2 cells using β-galactosidase staining. Mitochondrial morphology, structure, and function were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, Seahorse assays, and ATP content measurements. Potential mechanisms by which GPT regulates mitochondrial homeostasis were examined using Western blot analysis.Results: GPT treatment significantly improved the alignment of skeletal muscle fibers, reduced gaps, and increased the cross-sectional area (CSA) of skeletal muscle in aged mice. It also reduced the CSA of cardiac muscle fibers, alleviating cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Mitochondrial morphology was restored, and GPT reduced D-gal-induced β-galactosidase elevation. Furthermore, GPT protected mitochondrial morphological and structural integrity in the skeletal and cardiac muscles of aged mice and improved mitochondrial respiratory function and ATP levels in D-gal-injured C2C12 and H9c2 cells. GPT treatment increased the levels of mitochondrion-associated proteins PGC-1α, PPARγ, Nrf1, and OPA1 in the skeletal and cardiac muscle of aged mice. Moreover, GPT modulated Drp1 expression, with increases in aged skeletal muscle and decreases in aged cardiac muscle.Conclusion: These findings suggest that GPT helps maintain mitochondrial homeostasis by regulating mitochondrial remodeling, thereby alleviating skeletal and cardiac muscle damage in aged mice. Keywords: Gui-Pi-Tang, mitochondrial homeostasis, skeletal muscle, myocardium, senescence
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spelling doaj-art-edac1eb0978042b29d6d5fbe3b58b4d92025-08-20T01:47:55ZengDove Medical PressDrug Design, Development and Therapy1177-88812025-04-01Volume 1930593076102262Gui-Pi-Tang Defers Skeletal Muscle and Cardiac Muscle Aging by Promoting Mitochondrial RemodelingCai CWang MYang DJing CLi YXu HLiu FZhao DChangjiu Cai,1,* Manying Wang,2,* Dan Yang,2 Chenxu Jing,2 Yingna Li,3 Hanying Xu,4 Fangbing Liu,5 Daqing Zhao5 1Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 2Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 3College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Encephalopathy, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 5Northeast Asia Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Fangbing Liu, Northeast Asia Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China, Email liufb@ccucm.edu.cn Daqing Zhao, Northeast Asia Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China, Email zhaodaqing1963@163.comPurpose: To determine whether Gui-Pi-Tang (GPT) has protective effects on skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle in aged mice.Methods: This study used C57BL6/J mice to establish an in vivo natural aging model, while D-galactose (D-gal)-injured C2C12 and H9c2 cells were employed to create in vitro aging cell models. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to assess the effect of GPT on skeletal and cardiac muscle in aged mice. Protection against age-induced cellular damage by GPT was assessed in C2C12 and H9c2 cells using β-galactosidase staining. Mitochondrial morphology, structure, and function were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, Seahorse assays, and ATP content measurements. Potential mechanisms by which GPT regulates mitochondrial homeostasis were examined using Western blot analysis.Results: GPT treatment significantly improved the alignment of skeletal muscle fibers, reduced gaps, and increased the cross-sectional area (CSA) of skeletal muscle in aged mice. It also reduced the CSA of cardiac muscle fibers, alleviating cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Mitochondrial morphology was restored, and GPT reduced D-gal-induced β-galactosidase elevation. Furthermore, GPT protected mitochondrial morphological and structural integrity in the skeletal and cardiac muscles of aged mice and improved mitochondrial respiratory function and ATP levels in D-gal-injured C2C12 and H9c2 cells. GPT treatment increased the levels of mitochondrion-associated proteins PGC-1α, PPARγ, Nrf1, and OPA1 in the skeletal and cardiac muscle of aged mice. Moreover, GPT modulated Drp1 expression, with increases in aged skeletal muscle and decreases in aged cardiac muscle.Conclusion: These findings suggest that GPT helps maintain mitochondrial homeostasis by regulating mitochondrial remodeling, thereby alleviating skeletal and cardiac muscle damage in aged mice. Keywords: Gui-Pi-Tang, mitochondrial homeostasis, skeletal muscle, myocardium, senescencehttps://www.dovepress.com/gui-pi-tang-defers-skeletal-muscle-and-cardiac-muscle-aging-by-promoti-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DDDTgui-pi-tangmitochondrial homeostasisskeletal musclemyocardiumsenescence
spellingShingle Cai C
Wang M
Yang D
Jing C
Li Y
Xu H
Liu F
Zhao D
Gui-Pi-Tang Defers Skeletal Muscle and Cardiac Muscle Aging by Promoting Mitochondrial Remodeling
Drug Design, Development and Therapy
gui-pi-tang
mitochondrial homeostasis
skeletal muscle
myocardium
senescence
title Gui-Pi-Tang Defers Skeletal Muscle and Cardiac Muscle Aging by Promoting Mitochondrial Remodeling
title_full Gui-Pi-Tang Defers Skeletal Muscle and Cardiac Muscle Aging by Promoting Mitochondrial Remodeling
title_fullStr Gui-Pi-Tang Defers Skeletal Muscle and Cardiac Muscle Aging by Promoting Mitochondrial Remodeling
title_full_unstemmed Gui-Pi-Tang Defers Skeletal Muscle and Cardiac Muscle Aging by Promoting Mitochondrial Remodeling
title_short Gui-Pi-Tang Defers Skeletal Muscle and Cardiac Muscle Aging by Promoting Mitochondrial Remodeling
title_sort gui pi tang defers skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle aging by promoting mitochondrial remodeling
topic gui-pi-tang
mitochondrial homeostasis
skeletal muscle
myocardium
senescence
url https://www.dovepress.com/gui-pi-tang-defers-skeletal-muscle-and-cardiac-muscle-aging-by-promoti-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DDDT
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