Mitochondria Transplantation from Stem Cells for Mitigating Sarcopenia

Abstract

Sarcopenia is defined as the age-related loss of muscle mass and function that can lead to prolonged hospital stays and decreased independence. It is a significant health and financial burden for individuals, families, and society as a whole. The accumulation of damaged mitochondria in skeletal muscle contributes to the degeneration of muscles with age. Currently, the treatment of sarcopenia is limited to improving nutrition and physical activity. Studying effective methods to alleviate and treat sarcopenia to improve the quality of life and lifespan of older people is a growing area of interest in geriatric medicine. Therapies targeting mitochondria and restoring mitochondrial function are promising treatment strategies. This article provides an overview of stem cell transplantation for sarcopenia, including the mitochondrial delivery pathway and the protective role of stem cells. It also highlights recent advances in preclinical and clinical research on sarcopenia and presents a new treatment method involving stem cell-derived mitochondrial transplantation, outlining its advantages and challenges.

Emerging Therapeutic Strategies in Sarcopenia: An Updated Review on Pathogenesis and Treatment Advances

“…Even though sarcopenia pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated, there is no doubt that muscle stem cells play an important role [4]. As a result, there is a growing interest in investigating the potential of both muscle-derived and non-muscle-derived cells for skeletal muscle reconstruction, with stem cells emerging as the leading options for repair, especially as mature myocytes have a non-dividing nature [4,115,116].…”

“…Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are the most extensively employed and promising type of non-myogenic cell in regenerative medicine. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from various sources (e.g., bone marrow, fatty tissue, and the umbilical cord) can enhance stem cell proliferation, angiogenesis, motility, and differentiation via paracrine signals and/or immunomodulation [115,117].…”

“…These cells were noted to reduce inflammation and restore cellular function, improving physical performance related to skeletal muscle health. Moreover, MSCs can enhance weak patients' prognosis by lowering TNF-α levels and inflammation, making them a reliable treatment choice [42,115].…”

Zebrafish as an Emerging Model for Sarcopenia: Considerations, Current Insights, and Future Directions

“…However, these approaches face challenges, such as the difficulties in isolation and transferring procedures, which may result in transferring malfunctioning mitochondria and be detrimental to the tissue. Moreover, the specific molecular effects of the transferring paths are not well known [91]. Therefore, further exploration and improvement are needed to successfully treat this disorder using these approaches.…”

Zebrafish as an Emerging Model for Sarcopenia: Considerations, Current Insights, and Future Directions

“…However, these approaches face challenges, such as the difficulty of isolation and transferring procedures, which may result in transferring malfunctioning mitochondria and be detrimental to the tissue. Moreover, the specific molecular effects of the transferring paths are not well-known [88]. Therefore, further exploration and improvement are needed to successfully treat this disorder using these approaches.…”