Roberta Lenti
Countermeasures for sarcopenia: effects of BCAA-based formulations on muscle function, histomorphology, and calcium homeostasis in aged mice.
Autori
- ROBERTA LENTI (UNIVERSITÀ DI BARI – DOTTORANDA)
- PAOLA MANTUANO (UNIVERSITÀ DI BARI – RTD-B)
- ELENA CONTE (UNIVERSITÀ DI BARI – RTD-B)
- BRIGIDA BOCCANEGRA (UNIVERSITÀ DI BARI – RTD-A)
- GIANLUCA BIANCHINI (DOMPÉ FARMACEUTICI S.P.A – SEZ.RICERCA E SVILUPPO)
- ORNELLA CAPPELLARI (UNIVERSITÀ DI BARI – PROF. ASSOCIATO)
- LISAMAURA TULIMIERO (UNIVERSITÀ DI BARI – DOTTORANDA)
- MICHELA DE BELLIS (UNIVERSITÀ DI BARI – PROF. ASSOCIATO)
- ANTONIETTA MELE (UNIVERSITÀ DI BARI – PROF. ASSOCIATO)
- ANTONELLA LIANTONIO (UNIVERSITÀ DI BARI – PROF. ASSOCIATO)
- MARCELLO ALLEGRETTI (DOMPÉ FARMACEUTICI S.P.A – SEZ.RICERCA E SVILUPPO)
- ANDREA ARAMINI (DOMPÉ FARMACEUTICI S.P.A – SEZ.RICERCA E SVILUPPO)
- ANNAMARIA DE LUCA (UNIVERSITÀ DI BARI – PROF. ORDINARIO)
Presentatore
ROBERTA LENTI
Modalità
Poster Session
Abstract
Sarcopenia, is a loss of muscle mass, strength, and function in the elderly, featuring a multifactorial etiology, characterized by an imbalance in protein homeostasis, as well as by an alteration in Ca2+ homeostasis and store-operated-calcium-entry (SOCE) mechanism. Nowadays, proper nutrition is considered one of the most effective strategies to manage sarcopenia and related co-morbidities. In this framework, we evaluated the potential benefits of branched-chain amino acid (BCAAs, i.e. leucine, isoleucine, and valine) formulations in alleviating sarcopenia. 17-month-old (AGED) C57BL/6J male mice received a 12-week supplementation with BCAAs, alone or boosted with two equivalents of L-Alanine (2ALA) or dipeptide L-Alanyl-L-Alanine (Di-Ala) in drinking water. The outcomes were assessed on in vivo/ex vivo readouts vs. ADULT (6-month-old) mice. In vivo, hind limb plantar flexor torque was improved in AGED mice supplemented with 2ALA/Di-ALA-enriched mixtures (recovery scores, RS≥20%), as well as hind limb ultrasound volume. Ex vivo, myofiber cross-sectional area, measured via immunofluorescence for laminin (membrane marker), was higher in gastrocnemius (GC) and soleus (SOL) muscles from treated mice (RS≥69%). Isometric force was improved, especially in SOL muscle (RS≥20%), this latter displaying also higher mTOR protein levels (RS≥65%). In addition, Ca2+ imaging in FDB muscle confirmed an impairment in SOCE with increased Ca2+ resting concentration; this was supported in GC muscles by an altered gene/protein expression of SERCA1, RyR1, and also mitsugumins 29 and 53, recently recognized as involved in SOCE. The BCAAs+2ALA mixture reversed these changes. Overall, our results support the usefulness of BCAAs supplements for possibly improving muscle health in sarcopenia.