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Exercise intervention mitigates zebrafish age-related sarcopenia via alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction
Chen-Chen Sun1, Dong Yang1, Zhang-Lin Chen1
1Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of the Hunan Province, College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.
The FEBS Journal
|September 27, 2022
Summary
Exercise intervention in zebrafish effectively combats age-related sarcopenia by improving muscle function and mitochondrial health. This study highlights the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway as a key target for treating muscle atrophy.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Exercise Physiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Sarcopenia, a decline in skeletal muscle function, affects the elderly.
- Exercise is known to prevent or delay sarcopenia, but molecular mechanisms are unclear.
- Zebrafish models exhibit age-related muscle decline, mirroring human sarcopenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which exercise improves skeletal muscle atrophy in a zebrafish sarcopenia model.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for age-related sarcopenia.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 21-month-old zebrafish as a sarcopenia model.
- Implemented an 8-week exercise intervention program.
- Assessed swimming ability, muscle fiber size, protein synthesis/degradation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function.
- Analyzed the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α axis and 15-PGDH expression.
Main Results:
- Sarcopenia zebrafish showed decreased swimming ability, reduced muscle fiber size, imbalanced protein turnover, increased oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
- Exercise intervention attenuated these pathological changes.
- Exercise improved mitochondrial dysfunction via activation of the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α axis and downregulation of 15-PGDH.
Conclusions:
- Zebrafish serve as a valuable model for studying sarcopenia.
- Exercise intervention effectively reverses sarcopenia-related pathologies in zebrafish.
- The AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α axis and 15-PGDH are key molecular players in exercise-mediated improvements for sarcopenia.
