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Proteins used to map the aging process
June 21, 2011--Loss of muscle
mass is not only associated with disease,
such as HIV and cancer, but also with the
normal aging process. Anabolic steroids are
sometimes used to reverse loss of lean
muscle tissue but they can have unwanted
side effects.
New research, published in
BioMed Central's open access journal Immunity
and Aging, shows that nine proteins,
isolated from blood, alter with age and that
the profile of some of these proteins can be
reversed by testosterone treatment.
In a combined study,
researchers from Boston University School of
Medicine and University of Texas Medical
Branch compared protein levels in serum
samples from two groups of healthy men -
young men aged 18-35 and older men aged
60-75.
Seven proteins, which were
either growth factors (IGF-1, IL-7,
IL-12p40, PDGFβ), or were involved in immune
response (ENA78, MIP-1β, IP-10), and
pro-collagen (PIIINP) were all reduced in
older men. In contrast the monokine MIG,
also involved in immune activity, was
elevated.
Testosterone treatment
increased lean muscle mass, and levels of
the appetite suppressing hormone leptin, for
both groups of men. Testosterone also
increased levels of PIIINP and IGF-1 in
young men and the researchers saw a similar
increase in a small group of older men.
Dr Monty Montano said, "The
blood proteins we found that altered with
healthy aging also have links to maintenance
of muscle, such as IGF-1 and pro-collagen,
or are involved in regulation of the immune
system, possibly reducing T-cell and
neutrophil responses with age. Additionally
all of the proteins we found are involved
with the signaling pathways controlled by
AKT, NFκβ and TGFβ which are known to be
associated with aging."
Dr Montano continued, "It is
no simple matter to find a one size fits all
test for aging – our results suggest that
there is a difference in response to
anabolic steroids between young and older
men, despite both groups increasing in
muscle mass. It seems that testosterone
replacement does not necessarily mean a
restoration of full testosterone
functionality for the older man."
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