Publication
Deletion of ghrelin prevents aging-associated obesity and muscle dysfunction
without affecting longevity.
Authors Guillory B, Chen JA, Patel S, Luo J, Splenser A, Mody A, Ding M, Baghaie S,
Anderson B, Iankova B, Halder T, Hernandez Y, Garcia JM
Submitted By Submitted Externally on 7/27/2017
Status Published
Journal Aging cell
Year 2017
Date Published 8/1/2017
Volume : Pages 16 : 859 - 869
PubMed Reference 28585250
Abstract During aging, decreases in energy expenditure and locomotor activity lead to
body weight and fat gain. Aging is also associated with decreases in muscle
strength and endurance leading to functional decline. Here, we show that
lifelong deletion of ghrelin prevents development of obesity associated with
aging by modulating food intake and energy expenditure. Ghrelin deletion also
attenuated the decrease in phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated
protein kinase (pAMPK) and downstream mediators in muscle, and increased the
number of type IIa (fatigue resistant, oxidative) muscle fibers, preventing the
decline in muscle strength and endurance seen with aging. Longevity was not
affected by ghrelin deletion. Treatment of old mice with pharmacologic doses of
ghrelin increased food intake, body weight, and muscle strength in both ghrelin
wild-type and knockout mice. These findings highlight the relevance of ghrelin
during aging and identify a novel AMPK-dependent mechanism for ghrelin action in
muscle.





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