Stronger and slimmer
An increase in abdominal girth and sarcopenia (muscle degradation) are two common manifestations of aging. Researchers from the University of Bonn in collaboration with colleagues from Spain, Finland, Belgium, Denmark and the USA have discovered a receptor in mice that regulates both effects. Experiments with human cell cultures show that the corresponding signaling pathways may also exist in humans.
On their surface, cells carry many different receptors that interact with signaling molecules, causing a specific reaction in the cell. One of these receptors is the adenosine receptor A2B is present in large numbers on the surface of various cells, including brown adipose tissue. Brown fat, unlike white fat, is not used for accumulation, it burns fat and generates heat.
In the course of a close study of the A2B receptor, researchers found an interesting connection: the more A2B cells synthesize, the more heat the mouse emits. This means that A2B somehow enhances the activity of brown adipose tissue cells. In addition, such animals weigh slightly less than mice with fewer receptors.
Muscles like those of the young
The researchers were able to show that the muscle cells of mice also have an A2B receptor on the surface. If stimulated with a low-molecular agonist, muscle growth in rodents increases.
As mice age, like humans, they lose muscle mass and accumulate a lot of fat. However, if you give animals an agonist of the A2B receptor that activates it, the effects of aging are blocked: oxygen consumption (an indicator of energy dissipation) increases almost twice; moreover, after four weeks of treatment, muscle mass in old mice became the same as in young animals.
To see if the results could be meaningful to humans, the researchers examined human cell cultures and tissue samples. They found that in people with a large number of A2B receptors, brown adipose tissue functions more intensively. At the same time, their muscle cells consume more energy, which may indicate their increased activity and ability to recover.
Further studies should show to what extent the effects of the A2B agonist in mice are really reproducible in humans. In addition, currently no A2B agonist is approved for use in humans, which means that little is known about the possible side effects of such treatment.
Article T.Gnad et al. Adenosine/A2B Receptor Signaling Ameliorates the Effects of Aging and Counteracts Obesity published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the University of Bonn: Receiver makes mice strong and slim.