Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40223287›Full record

ArticleJournal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle2025

A Novel Research Paradigm for Sarcopenia of Limb Muscles: Lessons From the Perpetually Working Diaphragm's Anti-Aging Mechanisms.

Enhui Li, Rui Wang, Yanli Li, Xiang Zan, Shufen Wu, Yiru Yin, Xiaorong Yang, Litian Yin, Yu Zhang, Jianguo Li and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Exploring Anti-Aging Literature viaAMIA Joint Summits on Translational Science proceedings. AMIA Joint Summits on Translational Science · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Enhui LiKey Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Rui WangDepartment of Neurology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Yanli LiDepartment of Neurology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Xiang ZanThe Neurosurgery Department of Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Shufen WuKey Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Yiru YinKey Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Xiaorong YangKey Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Litian YinKey Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Yu ZhangKey Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Jianguo LiKey Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Xin ZhaoKey Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Ce ZhangKey Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.ORCID 0009-0003-1202-3007

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 81871125
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSkeletal muscle function and mass continuously decrease during aging. Most studies target limb muscles owing to their direct impact on mobility and falls risk. The diaphragm (DIA), also a type of skeletal muscle with different phenotype, has received less attention. Comparative research of the DIA and limb muscles can reveal their distinct aging characteristics. Critically, the potential endogenous anti-aging mechanisms of DIA that may provide new insights into the mechanisms of sarcopenia in limb muscles remain scarce.

methodsTreadmill and grip tests assessed limb muscle function, while a lung function system evaluated respiratory function in both adult (6-month-old) and old (22-month-old) mice. Histological assessments evaluated muscle mass in both the DIA and tibialis anterior (TA). Transcriptome sequencing identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the DIA and TA with aging. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-encoding short hairpin (sh) RNA targeting gene was injected into adult mice's TA muscles to knockdown target gene level in TA, and AAV-gene was injected into old mice's TA to overexpress target gene level.

resultsOld mice displayed significantly reduced running distance (p = 0.0026), maximal speed (p = 0.0019), time to exhaustion (p = 0.0033) and grip strength (p = 0.0055) compared with adult mice, alongside TA's weight loss, decreased myofibre cross-sectional area (CSA) and autophagy deficiency. However, lung function indicators (respiratory rate, tidal volume, minute ventilation volume, forced vital capacity and ratio of forced expiratory volume in 100 or 200 ms to forced vital capacity), as well as DIA weight and morphology remained stable in old mice. Transcriptional analysis revealed 61 DEGs, with significant upregulation or downregulation observed in TA, but without changes in DIA during aging. Smox (spermine oxidase) is one of the DEGs, responsible for catalysing the conversion of spermine to spermidine. It was reported that in muscle atrophy models such as limb immobilisation, fasting and denervation, Smox's levels are positively correlated with muscle mass and function. Additionally, an increase in Smox also promotes mitochondrial biogenesis. In our study, AAV-shSmox adult mice decreased running distance, speed and time, myofibre CSA alongside mitochondrial function, compared with controls. In contrast, old mice with Smox overexpression showed enhanced mitochondrial function.

conclusionsIn conclusion, this study reveals aging diversities of TA and DIA, explores the sarcopenia of limb muscles based on the anti-aging properties of DIA, which offers a novel perspective on limb sarcopenia. Our findings suggest Smox as a potential target for developing strategies to mitigate sarcopenia progression.

Indexed as

AgingDiaphragmMuscle, SkeletalSarcopeniaAnimalsMaleMiceagingdiaphragmlimb skeletal musclessarcopeniaSmoxtranscriptome

Identifiers

PMID40223287
PMCPMC11994741

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.