Sarcopenia, the association of decreased muscle mass and function, is commonly seen in the elderly and it is also a serious complication of many chronic diseases such as cancer, obstructive lung disease and heart failure. This is of significant concern because sarcopenia is associated with poor functionality, impaired ability to perform activities of daily living, loss of independence and increased mortality. There are currently no available treatments for this condition despite the significant burden that sarcopenia represents to the elderly. Several mechanisms are involved in the development of sarcopenia including decreased protein synthesis, increased proteolysis and inflammation through nuclear factor ?B (NF?B)-dependent pathways. Emerging evidence suggests that the hormone ghrelin regulates these and other pathways affecting muscle mass. However, ghrelin's effects on muscle mass and function and the mechanisms mediating its effects in the setting of sarcopenia of aging are not known. The long-term objectives of this application are to establish the mechanisms mediating the action of ghrelin and the ghrelin receptor GHSR1a in sarcopenia of aging. We hypothesize that ghrelin prevents aging-associated sarcopenia by: a) Increasing protein synthesis and decreasing proteolysis, b) downregulating inflammation and NF?B activation, and c) that these effects are at least partially mediated through the ghrelin receptor GHSR1a.
Our specific aims are to determine the role of ghrelin and the GHSR1a in regulating muscle mass and function in this setting. Using our model of aging-associated sarcopenia, we will: 1) Establish the extent to which muscle mass, muscle performance, protein synthesis and proteolysis are regulated by ghrelin, 2) Characterize the role of ghrelin in modulating inflammation and NF?B activation during aging, and 3) Determine the role of the ghrelin receptor GHSR1a in this setting. Design and methods: We will characterize the role of ghrelin and the GHSR-1a by establishing our recently developed model of sarcopenia of aging in the background of ghrelin and GHSR-1a wild type and KO animals. Furthermore, we will establish the role of inflammation and NF?B activity by exploiting a transgenic mouse line that has been engineered to express luciferase and green fluorescent protein under control of a promoter that contains NF?B consensus binding sites. In-vitro studies will also be performed to further characterize the mechanisms mediating ghrelin's action. Significance: The present proposal will establish the role of ghrelin and the GHSR1a in the setting of sarcopenia of aging, opening new avenues for its treatment. An improvement in functional performance would allow individuals to stay home longer, decreasing hospitalizations, improving quality of life and reducing healthcare costs. It is possible that improving these outcomes will increase longevity.

Public Health Relevance

The loss of muscle mass and function known as sarcopenia is very common in the elderly, reducing functionality and quality of life, and increasing mortality. The novel hormone ghrelin may prevent the development of sarcopenia and this proposal will determine its effects and mechanisms of action in this setting. The results generated by these studies will help us to develop treatments for sarcopenia;thereby improving quality of life by allowing patients to stay home longer, decreasing the need for hospitalizations and reducing the cost of healthcare.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03AG040583-02
Application #
8311634
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAG1-ZIJ-9 (M1))
Program Officer
Williams, John
Project Start
2011-08-15
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2012-08-01
Budget End
2014-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$78,250
Indirect Cost
$28,250
Name
Baylor College of Medicine
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
051113330
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Anderson, Lindsey J; Tamayose, Jamie M; Garcia, Jose M (2018) Use of growth hormone, IGF-I, and insulin for anabolic purpose: Pharmacological basis, methods of detection, and adverse effects. Mol Cell Endocrinol 464:65-74
Maldonado, Maria; Molfese, David L; Viswanath, Humsini et al. (2018) The habenula as a novel link between the homeostatic and hedonic pathways in cancer-associated weight loss: a pilot study. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 9:497-504
Garcia, Jose M (2017) What is next after anamorelin? Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 11:266-271
Erickson, Megan; Braun, Katie; List, Riesa et al. (2016) Evaluation of US Veterans Nutrition Education for Diabetes Prevention. J Nutr Educ Behav 48:538-543.e1
He, Baokun; Nohara, Kazunari; Park, Noheon et al. (2016) The Small Molecule Nobiletin Targets the Molecular Oscillator to Enhance Circadian Rhythms and Protect against Metabolic Syndrome. Cell Metab 23:610-21
Braun, Katie; Erickson, Megan; Utech, Anne et al. (2016) Evaluation of Veterans MOVE! Program for Weight Loss. J Nutr Educ Behav 48:299-303.e1
Garcia, Jose M; Chen, Ji-an; Guillory, Bobby et al. (2015) Ghrelin Prevents Cisplatin-Induced Testicular Damage by Facilitating Repair of DNA Double Strand Breaks Through Activation of p53 in Mice. Biol Reprod 93:24
Mody, Avni; White, Donna; Kanwal, Fasiha et al. (2015) Relevance of low testosterone to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Cardiovasc Endocrinol 4:83-89
Lerner, Lorena; Hayes, Teresa G; Tao, Nianjun et al. (2015) Plasma growth differentiation factor 15 is associated with weight loss and mortality in cancer patients. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 6:317-24
Zhang, Hongjie; Garcia, Jose M (2015) Anamorelin hydrochloride for the treatment of cancer-anorexia-cachexia in NSCLC. Expert Opin Pharmacother 16:1245-53

Showing the most recent 10 out of 23 publications