The effect of α-actinin-3 deficiency on muscle aging.
Deficiency of the fast-twitch muscle protein α-actinin-3 due to homozygosity for a nonsense polymorphism (R577X) in the ACTN3 gene is common in humans. α-Actinin-3 deficiency (XX) is associated with reduced muscle strength/power and enhanced endurance performance in elite athletes and in the general population. The association between R577X and loss in muscle mass and function (sarcopenia) has previously been investigated in a number of studies in elderly humans. The majority of studies report loss of ACTN3 genotype association with muscle traits in the elderly, however, there is some indication that the XX genotype may be associated with faster muscle function decline. To further explore these potential age-related effects and the underlying mechanisms, we examined the effect of α-actinin-3 deficiency in aging male and female Actn3 knockout (KO) mice (2, 6, 12, and 18 months). Our findings support previous reports of a diminished influence of ACTN3 genotype on muscle performance in the elderly: genotype differences in intrinsic exercise performance, fast muscle force generation and male muscle mass were lost in aged mice, but were maintained for other muscle function traits such as grip strength. The loss of genotype difference in exercise performance occurred despite the maintenance of some "slower" muscle characteristics in KO muscles, such as increased oxidative metabolism and greater force recovery after fatigue. Interestingly, muscle mass decline in aged 18 month old male KO mice was greater compared to wild-type controls (WT) (-12.2% in KO; -6.5% in WT). These results provide further support that α-actinin-3 deficient individuals may experience faster decline in muscle function with increasing age.
Institute for Neuroscience and Muscle Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia.
Jane T
JT
Seto
Stephen
S
Chan
Nigel
N
Turner
Daniel G
DG
MacArthur
Joanna M
JM
Raftery
Yemima D
YD
Berman
Kate G R
KG
Quinlan
Gregory J
GJ
Cooney
Stewart
S
Head
Nan
N
Yang
Kathryn N
KN
North
D000185:Actinin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D018389:Codon, Nonsense; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D057507:Mice, 129 Strain; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
C118456:ACTN3 protein, human; C525925:Actn3 protein, mouse; D018389:Codon, Nonsense; D000185:Actinin