What is the role mitochondria play in the physical removal?

Especially in the age of the human body builds up more and more. Therefore, it is very important measures, by which we such a reduction can slow down, in order to prevent negative health effects and even dangerous falls. Now, a key mechanism was identified that drives the elimination of damaged mitochondria prior. This could contribute to the development of drug therapies, in which older adults help, your skeletal muscle mass and physical performance for longer to maintain.

In the current investigation of the University of Birmingham, it was found that a newly identified key mechanism could allow older adults to maintain their skeletal muscle mass and physical functions in front of a removal. The results of the study were published in the English journal “FASEB journal”.

What are mitochondria?

The researchers at the University of Birmingham in the dynamic machinery examined in the cells called mitochondria. These act as a power plant in every cell and help in energy supply of all living beings. A newly identified key mechanism seems to be the elimination of damaged mitochondria to promote.

Removal of mitochondria changes in the age

Since the mitochondria for energy supply are so important, they are synthesized constantly and disassembled to meet the energy needs. In the case of older people begins to change, such as mitochondria in a natural way in the cells are reduced. This leads to an accumulation of damaged mitochondria, or alter mitochondria which are not functioning optimally.

Decline in the function of the muscles due to damaged mitochondria?

The researchers assume that these changes to the decline in the function of the muscles of older people could contribute, which, in turn, reduces their physical abilities. The Team wanted to find out, therefore, more about the degradation of the mitochondria in the muscle. In addition, factors were investigated that control this degradation.

AMPK stimulates the degradation of mitochondria

By a new method, the mitochondria in the muscle cells can be examined with the help of fluorescent markers. In healthy cells, networks of mitochondria gold colors, but are red when they dissolve. With this experimental setup, the research group discovered that the activation of the so-called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), stimulated the degradation of mitochondria.

Movement stimulates the elimination of damaged mitochondria

This result suggests that other known AMPK activators, such as, for example, movement can stimulate the elimination of damaged mitochondria, causing the mitochondria in the muscle remain healthy, and the physical abilities of older people to stay longer maintained.

AMPK activation has positive effects on type-2 Diabetes

There was already the idea to treat AMPK with drugs in a targeted manner. Results of various study of this topic, for example, show that the AMPK activation triggers in the muscle of positive effects for the treatment of type 2 Diabetes. Currently, many pharmaceutical companies are working on the development of preclinical Compounds that activate AMPK.

Development of new drugs in sight?

The results of the current investigation could possibly end accelerate the development of drugs aimed at the activation of this key molecule in the muscle, so the hope of the researchers.

Exercise and a healthy diet to protect in front of the breakdown of muscle mass

Exercise and a healthy diet can help people maintain your muscle mass and your physical abilities in later life. If a better understanding is developed of why the muscle loss occurs with aging, can be developed, targeted pharmacological interventions, which help people to remain physically powerful. (as)