Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41986945›Full record

ArticleAging cell2026

Ghrelin Receptor Deletion or Pharmacological Inhibition Improves Muscle Function in Aging Male Mice.

Haiming L Kerr, Kora Krumm, Nornubari Myree, Artur Rybachok, Elizabeth Dacek, Brynn Irwin, Siyi Jiang, Lucas Caeiro, Barbara Anderson, Theresa Li and 10 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Aging cell, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

20 authors.

Haiming L KerrGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3142-3690
Kora KrummGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Nornubari MyreeGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Artur RybachokGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Elizabeth DacekGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Brynn IrwinGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Siyi JiangGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Lucas CaeiroGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Barbara AndersonGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Theresa LiGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Amanda ChenGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Ross BurnsideGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Jessica LiGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Morgan SydorGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.
David J MarcinekDepartments of Radiology and Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Gennifer E MerrihewDepartment of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
James W MacDonaldDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Theo K BammlerDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Michael J MacCossDepartment of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Jose M GarciaGeriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4245-1753

Funding

Vector and Transgenic Mouse CoreP30DK017047 · NIDDK · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI Sakeneh Zraika · 1986 to 2026
$41.4M
PILOT STUDY--CLINICAL NUTRITION RESEARCHP30DK035816 · NIDDK · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI GREGORY J MORTON · 1986 to 2026
$30.4M
University of Washington Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of AgingP30AG013280 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI Maitreya J Dunham · 1995 to 2026
$27.1M
Improving cancer-related fatigue, sexual dysfunction and quality of life in older men with cancer and androgen deficiencyR01AG061558 · NIA · SEATTLE INST FOR BIOMEDICAL/CLINICAL RES · PI BASARIA, SHEHZAD, DEL FABBRO, EGIDIO · 2019 to 2025
$3.4M
Improving Patient-Important Outcomes with Testosterone Replacement in Hypogonadal Men with a Prior History of CancerR01CA239208 · NCI · SEATTLE INST FOR BIOMEDICAL/CLINICAL RES · PI BASARIA, SHEHZAD, GARCIA, JOSE M. · 2019 to 2025
$3.3M
The Role of AMPK in Regulating Muscle Mass and Function in Cancer CachexiaK01AR080787 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI Haiming Liu Kerr · 2023 to 2026
$488k
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs PC170059Diabetes Research Center, University of WashingtonNCI NIH HHS R01CA239208NIAMS NIH HHS K01 AR080787NIAMS NIH HHS K01AR080787NIA NIH HHS P30AG013280NIA NIH HHS R01AG061558NIDDK NIH HHS DK007247NIDDK NIH HHS P30 DK017047NIDDK NIH HHS P30DK017047NIDDK NIH HHS P30DK035816U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BX002807VA ORD Summer Research Program SRP-020-22S
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sarcopenia is characterized by age-related declines in muscle strength and mass, along with impaired physical function. It remains an unmet medical need, and there are no pharmacological interventions approved for this indication. The activation of growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR)-1a, also known as ghrelin receptor, stimulates food intake and has acute anabolic effects. However, its impact on aging muscles remains uncertain. We examined the effects of GHSR-1a deletion on sarcopenia measurements (muscle mass, strength, and endurance) by comparing young and aged male GHSR-1a knockout (KO) and wildtype (WT) mice (6-, 24-, and 28-month-old). Deletion of GHSR-1a improved muscle fatigue resistance, endurance, and muscle strength during aging without affecting muscle mass or longevity. Since muscle endurance is closely related to mitochondrial function, we examined mitochondrial biogenesis marker PGC-1α and mitophagy signaling via PINK1/p62 and found them improved in old mice with GHSR deletion. Proteomics analysis also revealed that mitochondrial components remain central for maintaining muscle mass and function. We further investigated the effects of pharmacological inhibition of GHSR-1a by its inverse agonist, PF-5190457, in male WT mice. PF-5190457 mimicked the effects of GHSR-1a deletion, including improved endurance and increased markers of mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α) and different mitophagy markers (LC3II and Bnip3). PF-5190457 also reduced body weight and adiposity, which were not observed with GHSR-1a deletion. Overall, these findings suggest that GHSR-1a is a promising therapeutic target for age-related sarcopenia.

Indexed as

AgingDrug Inverse AgonismMuscle, SkeletalReceptors, GhrelinSarcopeniaAnimalsAzetidinesGene DeletionMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutMitochondriaMuscle StrengthPhysical EnduranceProteomicsAzetidinesGhsr protein, MousePF-5190457Receptors, GhrelinSpiro CompoundsagingGHSR‐1amicemitochondriamitophagysarcopenia

Identifiers

PMID41986945
PMCPMC13083231

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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.