The development of a new muscle atrophy treatment method based on the elucidation of the sarcomere synthesis mechanism

Muscle mass is controlled via sarcomere levels and conditions brought on by long-term rest can lead to muscle wasting and significant decreases in sarcomere levels. Assistant Professor Nozomi Hayashiji, Center for Genomic and Regenerative Medicine, Juntendo University, Japan, is investigating the mechanisms of skeletal muscle homeostasis in order to develop new treatments for muscle atrophy. There is little knowledge about how sarcomeres are synthesised within the human body due to a lack of suitable animal models but in 2015, Hayashiji made an important discovery surrounding the existence of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor-deficient mice that demonstrated a resistance to adult sarcomere synthesis . This could pave the way to uncovering the mechanisms that regulate sarcomere production. Currently, Hayashiji is working to shed light on the factors involved in the sarcomere synthesis pathway. To do this, she is using a synthesis resistance model and hopes the work will lead to new treatments to help patients affected by diseases that lead to muscle atrophy. Little is known about the expression of G-CSF receptors (G-CSFR) in muscle fibres and Hayashiji is seeking to uncover the pathways relating to sarcomere production downstream of the G-CSFR and elucidate the role of G-CSFR in sarcomere synthesis using a G-CSFR-deficient mouse model that she developed in previous work. Ultimately, Hayashiji hopes that her research will have an important impact worldwide, benefiting patients with muscle atrophy and also potentially proving beneficial within sports.