SEOUL, March 06 (AJP) - Professor Yang Young and Dr. Han So-ra from the Department of Biological Sciences and the Research Institute of Women's Health at Sookmyung Women's University have identified that CTRP1, a myokine produced in muscles, plays a critical role in maintaining healthy skeletal muscle.
The research team found that CTRP1 regulates mitochondrial homeostasis in immature muscle cells to support normal muscle differentiation. This process induces the formation of muscle fibers favorable for mitochondrial respiration, thereby contributing to the maintenance of healthy muscle tissue.
In cases where CTRP1 was absent, the researchers observed muscle damage and reduced muscle strength. These findings align with observations in tissues from patients with muscular diseases, where CTRP1 expression was notably decreased. The study further demonstrated that restoring CTRP1 in deficient cells normalized mitochondrial function and muscle differentiation.
The study identifies CTRP1 as a core factor in regulating muscle homeostasis and suggests it as a potential target for gene therapy in muscular diseases. Professor Yang Young stated that the research confirms the possibility of using CTRP1 as a new strategy for regeneration and recovery in the treatment of muscle disorders.
The findings were published online in January in Molecular Therapy, the official journal of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy and a member of the Cell Press family.
(Paper information)
Journal: Molecular Therapy (impact factor 12.0, JCR top 2.6 percent)
Title: CTRP1 regulates skeletal muscle differentiation through quality control of mitochondrial dynamics and function
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.12.063
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