Molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle atrophy: clinical challenges and future therapeutic strategies - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #muscle atrophy
- #therapeutic strategies
- #molecular mechanisms
- Skeletal muscle atrophy is characterized by loss of muscle mass and function, linked to chronic diseases, aging, and disuse.
- Key mechanisms include hyperactivation of proteolytic systems (UPS, ALP, calpain/caspase cascades) and imbalance between protein synthesis and degradation.
- Signaling pathways like IGF-1/PI3K/Akt/mTOR promote protein synthesis, while FOXO, myostatin/activin-Smad, NF-κB, and JAK/STAT enhance protein breakdown.
- Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, ER stress, epigenetic changes, and programmed cell death contribute to atrophy.
- Current therapies (exercise, pharmacology, nutrition) have limitations; emerging strategies include stem cell/exosome therapies and epigenetic modulation.
- Future research requires multi-omics approaches, human-relevant models, and precision therapies to improve treatment outcomes.