By Vijay Kumar MalesuMar 17 2024Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc. In a recent review published in the journal Cell Metabolism, researchers elucidated mechanisms and evaluated therapies for impaired skeletal muscle regeneration in diabetes, identifying research gaps and future directions.
Skeletal muscle abnormalities in diabetes Diabetes, alongside its comorbidities like obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, significantly affects skeletal muscle structure, function, and metabolism. The complex nature of diabetes complicates the identification of effective therapeutic targets. Other contributing factors include aging, inactivity, and poor nutrition.
Degeneration and inflammation Muscle injuries trigger necrosis and inflammation, marked by fiber breakdown and protein leakage into the serum. The process, essential for tissue repair, draws in immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages. Diabetes compounds this degeneration, amplifying damage, and hampering regeneration, highlighting the metabolic impact on muscle recovery.
Diabetic impacts on muscle fiber and insulin signaling Diabetes shifts muscle fiber composition towards type II fibers, which are more prone to damage and impair regeneration. Insulin resistance disrupts muscle cell growth pathways, while hyperinsulinemia and lipotoxicity inhibit crucial recovery processes like autophagy and protein metabolism. These changes suggest that targeting fiber-type transitions and improving insulin signaling could enhance muscle regeneration in diabetes.