Muscle characteristics in patients with chronic systemic inflammation.
BACKGROUND
Histological characteristics of age-related muscle wasting are type II muscle fiber atrophy, accumulation of oxidative stress-induced lipofuscin granules and decreased satellite cell numbers. There is increasing clinical evidence for a strong correlation between chronic systemic inflammation and age-related muscle wasting. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of chronic systemic inflammation on age-related histological muscle characteristics.


METHODS
As a model for chronic systemic inflammation, we included 10 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 27 control patients suffering from osteoarthritis (OA). Biopsies were taken from the vastus medialis muscle.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found in type II muscle fiber atrophy, lipofuscin accumulation, or satellite cell number in RA compared with OA patients.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest there is no association between chronic systemic inflammation in RA and age-related muscle characteristics. Future research should focus on inflammation and satellite cell function.
Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Karel G M
KG
Beenakker
Bouke J
BJ
Duijnisveld
Henrica M J
HM
Van Der Linden
Cornelis P J
CP
Visser
Rudi G J
RG
Westendorp
Gillian
G
Butler-Brown
Rob G H H
RG
Nelissen
Andrea B
AB
Maier
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D032496:Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle / Q000473:pathology