title: Signaling and aging at the neuromuscular synapse: lessons learnt from neuromuscular diseases.
abstract: The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a specialized synapse between motor neurons and skeletal muscle with a complex signaling network that assures highly reliable neuromuscular transmission. Diseases of the NMJ cause skeletal muscle fatigue and include inherited and acquired disorders that affect presynaptic, intrasynaptic or postsynaptic components. Moreover, fragmentation of the NMJ contributes to sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass during aging. Studies from recent years indicate that the formation and stabilization of NMJs differs between various muscles and that this difference affects their response under pathological conditions. This review summarizes the most important mechanisms involved in the development, maintenance and dysfunction of the NMJ and it discusses their significance in myasthenic disorders and aging and as targets for possible future treatment of NMJ dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna Rostedt
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Punga
authors.forename: Markus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ruegg
mesh_terms: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D024510:Muscle Development; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020511:Neuromuscular Junction Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic