Accelerated muscle loss model in microgravity could aid Sarcopenia treatment research

Written by Copernical Team Tuesday, 22 October 2024 20:55

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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 18, 2024

Sarcopenia, a condition that affects over 50 million people globally, results in the loss of muscle mass, strength, and function with age, heightening the risk of falls and fractures. Currently, exercise is the only recognized treatment. However, research sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab and conducted by University of Florida scientists has developed a microgravity

Accelerated muscle loss model in microgravity could aid Sarcopenia treatment research
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 18, 2024

Sarcopenia, a condition that affects over 50 million people globally, results in the loss of muscle mass, strength, and function with age, heightening the risk of falls and fractures. Currently, exercise is the only recognized treatment. However, research sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab and conducted by University of Florida scientists has developed a microgravity-based model of age-related muscle loss using tissue chips. This model offers new opportunities to test treatments and study the condition in ways that are impossible on Earth.

This study is highlighted in the latest issue of 'Upward', the official magazine of the ISS National Lab. Principal investigator Siobhan Malany, an associate professor at the University of Florida's College of Pharmacy, noted, "Through insight we gather from microgravity, we can understand not just the end result of [sarcopenia], but really look at the progressive change in young and old cells to see what happens as cells age."

Studying muscle degeneration on Earth is challenging because it occurs over many years. In contrast, microgravity accelerates muscle loss, allowing faster research results. In a series of studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the research team developed a muscle tissue chip system to test whether muscle loss in microgravity resembles age-related muscle degeneration. The chips used muscle cells from both young and older adults, with some chips receiving electrical stimulation to trigger muscle contraction.

The results revealed that several genes linked to muscle aging were upregulated in the tissue chips with cells from young adults, confirming the effectiveness of this space-based system in replicating age-related muscle loss. This innovation offers a critical new tool for studying sarcopenia and testing potential therapies.