Umbelliferone attenuates diabetic sarcopenia by modulating mitochondrial quality and the ubiquitin-proteasome system.

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenia, characterized by the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and physical performance, is traditionally associated with aging. However, chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been recognized as key accelerators of its progression. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of umbelliferone on diabetes-induced muscle atrophy using C2C12 myoblasts and a db/db diabetic mouse model.

PURPOSE

This study aims to provide scientific evidence supporting the potential of umbelliferone, a naturally occurring compound widely found in food, in alleviating diabetes-induced muscle dysfunction and preventing muscle atrophy. Specifically, we evaluated its effectiveness in mitigating diabetic sarcopenia. This study is the first to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which umbelliferone improves mitochondrial quality control and suppresses proteolysis under hyperglycemic conditions, providing novel insights into its role in preserving muscle homeostasis in diabetes.

METHODS

C2C12 myoblasts were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10 % fetal bovine serum (FBS) under normal conditions. Myogenic differentiation was induced by switching to DMEM containing 2 % horse serum (HS) for six days. After differentiation, the cells were exposed to high-glucose (50 mM) medium with or without 10-20 μM umbelliferone before sample collection. Myotube formation was confirmed via microscopy, and protein expression levels of muscle differentiation markers, mitochondrial biogenesis-related factors, and components of the ubiquitin-proteasome system associated with muscle atrophy were analyzed using Western blotting. Additionally, an in vivo study was conducted using db/db mice, a well-established type 2 diabetic model. Umbelliferone was administered orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg daily for eight weeks. Baseline metabolic and physiological parameters were assessed. Muscle tissues were collected for protein expression analysis and histological staining to evaluate morphological and functional changes in muscle structure.

RESULTS

Our findings demonstrated that umbelliferone effectively attenuated muscle atrophy and improved muscle function in diabetes. Umbelliferone significantly upregulated key myogenic markers, including MyoD, myogenin, Myh2, and skeletal muscle myosin, thereby promoting myoblast differentiation into myotubes. In diabetic mice, umbelliferone treatment enhanced grip strength and lean mass, highlighting its potential to restore overall muscle function. Furthermore, umbelliferone improved mitochondrial quality control by modulating the expression of proteins involved in mitochondrial biogenesis (SIRT1, p-AMPK, PGC-1α), fusion (MFN1, OPA1), and fission (FIS1, DRP1). Additionally, umbelliferone suppressed hyperglycemia-induced activation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which plays a crucial role in muscle protein degradation. Specifically, it inhibited the upregulation of muscle atrophy-associated proteins, including muscle ring-finger protein-1 (MuRF-1), forkhead box class O3a (FoxO3a), and Atrogin-1.

CONCLUSIONS

Importantly, this is the first study to comprehensively demonstrate the dual action of umbelliferone in enhancing mitochondrial dynamics and inhibiting muscle protein degradation in both cellular and diabetic animal models, Theses findings offer a new mechanism perspective on how dietary phytochemicals may combat diabetic sarcopenia. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of umbelliferone in alleviating diabetes-related muscle atrophy and suggest its potential as a promising intervention for diabetic muscle complications.