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Catabolism of aging: is it an inflammatory process?
1Department of Molecular Medicine, Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. roubenoff@mpi.com
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
|April 12, 2003
Summary
Aging muscle loss, or sarcopenia, is linked to increased catabolic signals and inflammation. Research highlights interleukin-6
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Muscle Physiology
- Inflammation and Aging Research
Background:
- Sarcopenia is a significant contributor to frailty and morbidity in the elderly population.
- Understanding the mechanisms driving age-related muscle loss is crucial for geriatric health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in sarcopenia research.
- To specifically examine the role of catabolic stimuli in the development of sarcopenia.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on recent publications in sarcopenia.
- Analysis of studies investigating inflammatory markers and their impact on muscle mass.
Main Results:
- Elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are implicated in aging, with high levels suggesting a poor prognosis.
- IL-6 may contribute to sarcopenia through direct catabolic effects, reduced dietary intake, insulin resistance, or decreased growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-I.
- Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is linked to sarcopenia, suggesting inflammatory signals may trigger muscle cell loss in older adults.
Conclusions:
- Aging is characterized by a decline in muscle anabolic signals present in younger individuals.
- Concurrent with anabolic signal loss, aging appears to increase catabolic signals that promote muscle breakdown.