Unacylated Ghrelin Protects Against Age-Related Loss of Muscle Mass and Contractile Dysfunction in Skeletal Muscle

Abstract

Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass and function, universally affects older adults and is closely associated with frailty and reduced quality of life. Despite the inevitable consequences of sarcopenia and its relevance to healthspan, no pharmacological therapies are currently available. Ghrelin is a gut-released hormone that increases appetite and body weight through acylation. Acylated ghrelin activates its receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR1a), in the brain by binding to it. Studies have demonstrated that acyl and unacylated ghrelin (UnAG) both have protective effects against acute pathological conditions independent of receptor activation. Here, we investigated the long-term effects of UnAG in age-associated muscle atrophy and contractile dysfunction in mice. Four-month-old and 18-month-old mice were subjected to either UnAG or control treatment for 10 months. UnAG did not affect food consumption or body weight. Gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscle weights were reduced by 20%–30% with age, which was partially protected against by UnAG. Specific force, force per cross-sectional area, measured in isolated extensor digitorum longus muscle was diminished by 30% in old mice; however, UnAG prevented the loss of specific force. UnAG also protected from decreases in mitochondrial respiration and increases in hydrogen peroxide generation of skeletal muscle of old mice. Results of bulk mRNA-seq analysis and our contractile function data show that UnAG reversed neuromuscular junction impairment that occurs with age. Collectively, our data revealed the direct role of UnAG in mitigating sarcopenia in mice, independent of food consumption or body weight, implicating UnAG treatment as a potential therapy against sarcopenia.