Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41719251›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Characterizing mitochondrial phenotypes and MERCS in aged human skeletal muscle myoblasts.

Yufu Unten, Kazuaki Takafuji, Yumiko Masukagami, Isshin Shiiba, Keigo Horiuchi, Filip Husnik, Shigeru Yanagi, Norifumi Tateishi, Toshihide Suzuki

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
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

9 authors.

Yufu UntenResearch Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center Limited, Kyoto, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6572-1768
Kazuaki TakafujiResearch Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center Limited, Kyoto, Japan.
Yumiko MasukagamiEvolution, Cell Biology, and Symbiosis Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa, Japan.
Isshin ShiibaLaboratory of Molecular Biochemistry, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan.
Keigo HoriuchiResearch Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center Limited, Kyoto, Japan.
Filip HusnikEvolution, Cell Biology, and Symbiosis Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa, Japan.
Shigeru YanagiLaboratory of Molecular Biochemistry, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan.
Norifumi TateishiResearch Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center Limited, Kyoto, Japan.
Toshihide SuzukiResearch Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center Limited, Kyoto, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Age-associated declines in skeletal muscle function are linked to cellular senescence and mitochondrial alterations, yet mitochondrial phenotypes in aged human myoblasts remain insufficiently characterized. Here, we examined primary skeletal muscle myoblasts from young and elderly donors to assess mitochondrial function, morphology, and mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contact sites (MERCS). Myoblasts from older donors exhibited senescence features, including elevated SA-β-gal activity and reduced Lamin B1 expression, accompanied by increased mitochondrial oxidative stress. Despite marked mitochondrial hyperfusion and increased mitochondrial DNA content, mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate and membrane potential per mitochondrial area were comparable between young and old cells. MERCS were significantly elevated in aged myoblasts and were reduced by scavenging mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), indicating an association between oxidative stress and MERCS formation. These findings suggest that mitochondrial hyperfusion and enhanced MERCS accompany cellular aging in human myoblasts and may contribute to maintaining mitochondrial function under elevated oxidative stress.

Indexed as

AgingEndoplasmic ReticulumMitochondriaMitochondria, MuscleMuscle, SkeletalMyoblasts, SkeletalAdultAgedCells, CulturedCellular SenescenceDNA, MitochondrialFemaleHumansMaleMembrane Potential, MitochondrialMiddle AgedDNA, MitochondrialReactive Oxygen Species

Identifiers

PMID41719251
PMCPMC12923047

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.