Both ghrelin deletion and unacylated ghrelin overexpression preserve muscles in aging mice
Emanuela Agosti, Marilisa De Feudis, Elia Angelino, Roberta Belli, Maraiza Alves Teixeira, Ivan Zaggia, Edoardo Tamiso, Tommaso Raiteri, Andrea Scircoli, Flavio Ronzoni, Maurizio Muscaritoli, Andrea Graziani, Flavia Prodam, Maurilio Sampaolesi, Paola Costelli, Elisabetta Ferraro, Simone Reano, Nicoletta Filigheddu
Abstract
KO animals. Treatment with pharmacological doses of UnAG improved muscle performance in old mice without modifying the feeding behavior, body weight, and adipose tissue mass. The antiatrophic effect on muscle mass did not correlate with modifications of protein catabolism. However, UnAG treatment induced a strong shift towards oxidative metabolism in muscle. Altogether, these data confirmed and expanded some of the previously reported findings and advocate for the design of UnAG analogs to treat sarcopenia.