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Lack of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation Reduces Age-Dependent Sarcopenia and Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Favoring the Prophylactic Effect of Melatonin

Research Authors
Ramy K. A. Sayed, PhD,1,2 Marisol Fernández-Ortiz, BSc,1,3 María E. Diaz-Casado, PhD,1,3 Paula Aranda-Martínez, BSc,1,3 José Fernández-Martínez, BSc,1,3 Ana Guerra-Librero, BSc,1,3 Germaine Escames, PhD,1,3,4 Luis C. López, PhD,1,3,4 Reem M. Alsaad
Research Abstract

To investigate the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in muscular aging, we evaluated here the morphological and functional markers of sarcopenia in the NLRP3-knockout mice, as well as the beneficial effect of melatonin supplementation. The gastrocnemius muscles of young (3 months), early-aged (12 months), and old-aged (24 months) NLRP3-knockout female mice were examined. Moreover, locomotor activity and apoptosis were assessed. The results revealed early markers of sarcopenia at the age of 12 months, including reduction of lactate, ratio of muscle weight to body weight, muscle fibers number, and mitochondrial number. Increased interstitial tissues, apoptosis, and muscle fibers area, as well as mitochondrial damage were detected, with little muscular activity effects. In the old-aged, these alterations progressed with a reduction in locomotor activity, mitochondrial cristae destruction, nuclear fragmentation, tubular aggregates (TAs) formation, and increased frailty index. Oral melatonin supplementation preserved the normal muscular structure, muscle fibers number, and muscular activity in old age. Melatonin enhanced lactate production, recovered mitochondria, inhibited TAs formation, reduced apoptosis, and normalized frailty index. The fewer sarcopenic changes as well as the highly detectable prophylactic effects of melatonin treatment reported here in the muscle of NLRP3- knockout mice comparing with that previously detected in wild-type mice, confirming NLRP3 inflammasome implication in muscular aging and sarcopenia onset and progression.

Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Journals of Gerontology: Biological Sciences
Research Member
Research Publisher
Oxford
Research Rank
No. 11
Research Vol
Vol. 74
Research Website
doi:10.1093/gerona/glz079
Research Year
2019
Research Pages
1699–1708