Inflammation and age-associated skeletal muscle deterioration (sarcopaenia)

Ageing is accompanied by chronic inflammatory responses due to elevated circulatory inflammatory cytokine production. Several inflammatory cytokines have been shown to be responsible for a decrease in muscle mass. However, little is known about the possible relationship between inflammation and sarcopaenia. This review aims to summarise the existing evidence about inflammation and sarcopaenia. Sarcopaenia is defined as an age-related decrease of muscle mass and/or muscle strength; it is caused by multiple factors, such as skeletal muscle atrophy, neuromuscular junction degeneration, hormone imbalance, cytokine imbalance, protein synthesis and proteolysis. Several inflammatory cytokines have been considered to promote muscle loss; C-reactive protein levels are significantly upregulated in sarcopaenia and sarcopenic obesity, and high levels of interleukin-6 are associated with reduced muscle mass and muscle strength (the administration of interleukin-6 could lead to a reduction in muscle mass). Up-regulation of tumour necrosis factor-α expression is also related to the development of sarcopaenia. Signalling pathways, such as protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription-5 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signalling, involved in muscle metabolism are regulated by insulin-like growth factor-1, tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 respectively. In conclusion, the inflammatory cytokines produced during chronic inflammation due to ageing, may influence their respective related pathways, thus leading to age-related muscle deterioration.

This review can provide more information for sarcopaenia medicine research in terms of anti-inflammation therapy.