Copenhagen Scientists Reverse Muscle Wasting in Mice by Restoring Cardiolipin to Two-Thirds
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · Oct 28
Copenhagen Scientists Reverse Muscle Wasting in Mice by Restoring Cardiolipin to Two-Thirds
2 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Oct 28
Summary
Restoring cardiolipin to about two-thirds of normal reversed muscle wasting in mice and completely prevented the premature deaths linked to the deficiency.
The work found aging muscles lose cardiolipin—a mitochondrial membrane fat—in both mice and humans, disrupting mitochondrial structure and function and pushing fibers away from fast-twitch strength.
Higher reactive oxygen species then trigger a switch toward slow-twitch fibers through ERRγ, a response researchers say trades power for protection rather than simply reflecting failure.
Glucose uptake also rose in cardiolipin-deficient muscles, but tracer tests showed the sugar was diverted to make antioxidants, helping cells buffer oxidative damage.
Human evidence in the study was limited to age-linked cardiolipin decline, but the findings point to drug strategies around cardiolipin or ERRγ; elamipretide already targets cardiolipin in Barth syndrome.