Antioxidant May Help Maintain Muscle Strength in Ageing

Researchers at Kyushu University in Japan are exploring ways to help us stay healthier as we age. One key focus is on a protein called hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which helps repair muscles. As people get older, a harmful change called nitration affects HGF, hindering its role in muscle repair.

In their study, the team investigated two compounds known for their antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are molecules that protect other molecules from chemical damage. These compounds, glutathione trisulfide (GSSSG) and lipoic acid trisulfide (LASSS), are trisulfides, meaning they have three linked sulfur atoms. This structure makes them highly reactive.

The researchers discovered that while both compounds effectively reduced nitration in HGF, only LASSS improved the protein’s ability to connect with cells needed for muscle repair. Increasing the amount of LASSS not only blocked nitration but also doubled HGF’s effectiveness in binding with the c-met receptor, essential for muscle repair.

The team then tested LASSS using mouse models with muscle loss. Results showed that LASSS reduced nitration from muscle disuse. Although human tests are still needed, this approach shows promise in enhancing muscle repair as we age.

Future studies will investigate the impact of LASSS over longer periods and include older mice to better understand how it might combat age-related muscle loss, also known as sarcopenia.

How much do you know?

What is the main protein being studied by researchers at Kyushu University?

Nitration

HGF

GSSSG

LASSS

What type of properties do glutathione trisulfide (GSSSG) and lipoic acid trisulfide (LASSS) possess?

Antioxidant properties

Carcinogenic properties

Inhibitory properties

Protein synthesis properties

What is the structure of the compounds GSSSG and LASSS?

Monosulfide

Disulfide

Trisulfide

Tetrasulfide

Which compound improved the protein’s ability to connect with cells for muscle repair?

GSSSG

HGF

LASSS

Nitration

What receptor is essential for muscle repair that LASSS binds with?

c-met receptor

HGF receptor

Glutathione receptor

Sarcopenia receptor

What condition characterized by muscle loss is mentioned in the study?

Sarcopenia

Hypertension

Osteoporosis

Obesity

Researchers at Kyushu University are focusing on improving muscle repair as we age.

True False

Nitration enhances the role of HGF in muscle repair.

True False

Both GSSSG and LASSS successfully reduced nitration in HGF.

True False

LASSS was ineffective in binding with the c-met receptor.

True False

Research on LASSS has been conducted solely on human subjects.

True False

Future studies will also investigate the effects of LASSS on older mice.

True False

Researchers are exploring ways to help us stay healthier as we age by studying a protein called hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) which helps repair muscles and is affected by .

The two compounds investigated for their antioxidant properties are glutathione trisulfide (GSSSG) and .

Antioxidants are molecules that protect other molecules from chemical .

Increasing the amount of LASSS not only blocked nitration but also doubled HGF's effectiveness in binding with the c-met .

The results showed that LASSS reduced nitration from muscle .

Future studies will explore the impact of LASSS over longer periods and include older mice to understand how it might combat age-related muscle .

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