A novel animal model of sarcopenia

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19693
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 59:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: ANDO KEIKO 東北大学, 歯学研究科, 准教授 (40221741)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: サルコペニア / 線虫 / リソソーム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Sarcopenia is an age-related muscle loss that occurs as a result of aging. In our country, where the population is aging, the number of sarcopenia patients is rapidly increasing. Overcoming sarcopenia leads to an increase in healthy life expectancy, which is important for both medical science and society. However, the mechanism of age-related muscle atrophy is still poorly understood. In this study, to understand the mechanism of sarcopenia, we developed a new rapid and low-cost animal model using C. elegans, which has a short life span and is useful for muscle aging research. Furthermore, functional analysis using the animal model showed that the lysosomal Sec1/Munc18 protein may be involved in muscle aging.

Free Research Field

分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

サルコペニアによる筋力の低下は高齢者の寝たきりやオーラルフレイルによる低栄養などの要因となり、高齢者の健康寿命とQOLを著しく低下させる。本研究によって、高齢化に時間を有する従来の哺乳動物モデルを補完する新しい動物モデルが開発された。遺伝的に均一で個体差が少ない高齢動物を対象にして、加齢による筋肉の減弱と運動機能の低下を体系的に解析することが可能となった。この迅速・低コストの生体モデルを遺伝子スクリーニングや創薬研究に応用することで、筋萎縮の予防や治療に役立つ新しい医薬品の開発につながる可能性があり、健康長寿社会の実現に貢献することが期待される。