The anti-aging effects of exercise, without exercise: Self-contracting muscle implants give mice a boost
Exercise does more than keep our minds and bodies healthy. It also protects us against the effects of aging. Scientists have developed self-contracting mini-muscle implants that grow their own blood supply and mimic the biological benefits of exercise, giving people unable to work out because of physical limitations a way to reap the same rewards.
Researchers in the field of aging have developed innovative self-contracting muscle implants that provide the same benefits as exercise, even without physical activity. These implants, made from self-contracting mini-muscle grafts, are capable of forming their own blood vessels and releasing chemical messengers that protect other organs in the body, similar to what happens during exercise.
The scientists grew a tiny muscle sample from a mouse's thigh in the lab and injected it under the skin of elderly and obese mice. These grafts helped counter age-related muscle wasting, increased muscle mass, reduced inflammation, and improved strength and reduced inflammation. Additionally, engineered versions of these grafts could deliver hormones, such as parathyroid hormone, which restored normal levels in mice with simulated hypoparathyroidism.
These findings, published in Nature Aging, suggest that muscle stem cells may be a promising candidate for cell therapy to treat diseases of aging, particularly for those who are unable to exercise due to severe medical conditions, injuries, or disabilities.
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