The extract of Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 reactivates a juvenile profile in the skeletal muscle of sarcopenic rats by transcriptional reprogramming.
BACKGROUND
Sarcopenia is a major public health problem in industrialized nations, placing an increasing burden on public healthcare systems because the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength that characterizes this affection increases the dependence and the risk of injury caused by sudden falls in elderly people. Albeit exercise and caloric restriction improve sarcopenia-associated decline of the muscular performances, a more suitable and focused pharmacological treatment is still lacking.


RESULTS
In order to evaluate such a possible treatment, we investigated the effects of EGb 761, a Ginkgo biloba extract used in chronic age-dependent neurological disorders, on the function of the soleus muscle in aged rats. EGb 761 induced a gain in muscular mass that was associated with an improvement of the muscular performances as assessed by biochemical and electrophysiological tests. DNA microarray analysis shows that these modifications are accompanied by the transcriptional reprogramming of genes related to myogenesis through the TGFbeta signaling pathway and to energy production via fatty acids and glucose oxidation. EGb 761 restored a more juvenile gene expression pattern by regenerating the aged muscle and reversing the age-related metabolic shift from lipids to glucose utilization.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, EGb 761 may represent a novel treatment for sarcopenia both more manageable and less cumbersome than exercise and caloric restriction.
Bidon
Caroline
C
CNRS, Biotechnologie & Biotherapie UMR 7225, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Lachuer
Joël
J
Molgó
Jordi
J
Wierinckx
Anne
A
de la Porte
Sabine
S
Pignol
Bernadette
B
Christen
Yves
Y
Meloni
Rolando
R
Koenig
Herbert
H
Biguet
Nicole Faucon
NF
Mallet
Jacques
J
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000378:metabolism*; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D024510:Muscle Development; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012306:Risk; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
D003402:Creatine Kinase; D010936:Plant Extracts; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract