Cancer ResearchSuper HGF Compound Could Help Aging Muscles Repair Themselves
Age-related muscle loss makes everyday movement harder and erodes independence. Researchers at Kyushu University have identified a compound that boosts hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a natural protein that wakes up muscle stem cells called satellite cells after injury or stretching. With age, HGF can pick up a chemical change called nitration at two sites, Y198 and Y250, which weakens its ability to attach to its c-met receptor, much like a damaged key in a lock. The new compound yields a "Super HGF" that binds the receptor more than twice as well and resists this damage. Early mouse experiments support the idea, published in Scientific Reports. The work is preclinical, so it is not yet a treatment people can use. It does point to a possible future strategy for preserving muscle repair, strength and mobility as we age.
