Molecular mechanisms that rejuvenate aged muscle regeneration system

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H04063
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University (2022-2023); The University of Tokushima (2021); Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: Uezumi Akiyoshi 九州大学, 生体防御医学研究所, 教授 (60434594)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 上住 円 (池本円) 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 特任講師 (70435866)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 骨格筋 / 老化 / 組織再生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Skeletal muscle has an intrinsically remarkable regenerative capacity, but its regenerative capacity declines with age. One of the factors contributing to the age-related decline in muscle regenerative capacity is ectopic fat formation in skeletal muscle. We have previously identified and reported on mesenchymal progenitors that are responsible for ectopic fat formation. In the course of analysing the regulatory mechanisms of mesenchymal progenitors, we found that retinoic acid (RA) signalling is activated in mesenchymal progenitors during successful muscle regeneration and that RA signalling markedly inhibits adipogenesis of mesenchymal progenitors. The aim of the present study was to clarify the functional significance of RA signalling in mesenchymal progenitors and to understand the mechanisms by which aging impairs muscle regenerative capacity.

Free Research Field

健康科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

骨格筋は身体活動や運動を司り、健康的な生活を送る上で重要な組織である。現在、平均寿命と健康寿命の間には我が国では男女共に約10年の乖離が存在し、健康寿命の延伸は我が国を含めた先進各国に共通した重要課題となっている。本研究では、「なぜ老化によって筋再生能が低下するのか？」という問いの一端を明らかにしたが、この成果は、高齢者の健康増進、そして健康長寿社会の実現にとって極めて有益になると考えられる。