Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Sep 14;21(18):6732. doi: 10.3390/ijms21186732.
Sarcopenia refers to a condition of progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and function associated with a higher risk of falls and fractures in older adults. Musculoskeletal aging leads to reduced muscle mass and strength, affecting the quality of life in elderly people. In recent years, several studies contributed to improve the knowledge of the pathophysiological alterations that lead to skeletal muscle dysfunction; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying sarcopenia are still not fully understood. Muscle development and homeostasis require a fine gene expression modulation by mechanisms in which microRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role. miRNAs modulate key steps of skeletal myogenesis including satellite cells renewal, skeletal muscle plasticity, and regeneration. Here, we provide an overview of the general aspects of muscle regeneration and miRNAs role in skeletal mass homeostasis and plasticity with a special interest in their expression in sarcopenia and skeletal muscle adaptation to exercise in the elderly.
肌肉减少症是一种与老年人更高的跌倒和骨折风险相关的进行性骨骼肌质量和功能丧失的疾病。肌肉骨骼老化导致肌肉质量和力量下降,影响老年人的生活质量。近年来,多项研究有助于提高对导致骨骼肌功能障碍的病理生理改变的认识;然而,肌肉减少症的分子机制仍不完全清楚。肌肉的发育和稳态需要通过机制来精细地调节基因表达,其中 microRNAs (miRNAs) 起着至关重要的作用。miRNAs 调节包括卫星细胞更新、骨骼肌可塑性和再生在内的骨骼肌发生的关键步骤。在这里,我们概述了肌肉再生的一般方面以及 miRNAs 在骨骼肌质量稳态和可塑性中的作用,特别关注它们在肌肉减少症和骨骼肌对老年人运动的适应中的表达。