In the search of molecular signature of sarcopenia in C. elegans

Age-related muscle decline, a condition referred to as sarcopenia and defined as loss in muscle mass and muscle strength over time, is one of the most pervasive problems of the elderly, such that significant declines in strength and mobility affects essentially every old person We have found that ageing C. elegans body wall muscle undergoes a process remarkably reminiscent of human sarcopenia. Both have mid-life onset and are characterized by progressive loss of sarcomeres and cytoplasmic volume; both are associated with locomotory decline. To extend understanding of this fundamental problem, I surveyed expression of all known muscle related genes to describe a profile of transcriptional changes in muscle that transpires during adult life and ageing. Importantly, the intersection of this dataset with that from ageing flies and some human studies can suggest conserved genes that might impact the process most strongly. Hypotheses I formulate will be used to drive experiments at the bench and perhaps to focus attention for human therapies.