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VOL. 11, ISSUE 3 (2026)
Mitochondrial bioenergetics and sarcopenic obesity: Exploring mitochondrial quality control (Mitophagy) and ros production in skeletal muscle biopsies of aging individuals with metabolic syndrome
Authors
Smruti Ranjan Prusty, Laxmidhar Biswal
Abstract
Sarcopenic obesity (SO)-the
co-occurrence of age-related skeletal muscle wasting and adipose
accumulation-presents a severe clinical phenotype in elderly populations,
particularly when exacerbated by metabolic syndrome (MetS). While impaired
energy metabolism is recognized in muscle senescence, the precise molecular
interplay between mitochondrial bioenergetics, excessive reactive oxygen species
(ROS) generation, and compromised mitochondrial quality control (mitophagy)
remains incompletely understood. The present investigation examined vastus
lateralis muscle biopsies from elderly cohorts categorized into healthy lean
controls (HC, n=20), sarcopenic non-obese (S, n=20), obese non-sarcopenic (O,
n=20), and sarcopenic obese with metabolic syndrome (SO+MetS, n=20).
High-resolution respirometry, fluorometric mitochondrial ROS quantification,
and immunoblotting of key mitophagy markers (PINK1, Parkin, LC3-II/I ratio,
p62) were conducted. Subjects with SO+MetS exhibited a marked 48.6% reduction
in state-3 mitochondrial respiration (P < 0.001) and a 2.4-fold increase in
mitochondrial H2O2 production relative to healthy
controls. Concurrently, accumulation of p62/SQSTM1 alongside suppressed Parkin
recruitment indicated a stalled mitophagic flux. These findings demonstrate
that unresolved mitochondrial oxidative stress coupled with an arrest in
mitophagy drives the accelerated muscle catabolism characteristic of sarcopenic
obesity, offering targeted bioenergetic and autophagic checkpoints for clinical
intervention.
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Pages:80-82
How to cite this article:
Smruti Ranjan Prusty, Laxmidhar Biswal "Mitochondrial bioenergetics and sarcopenic obesity: Exploring mitochondrial quality control (Mitophagy) and ros production in skeletal muscle biopsies of aging individuals with metabolic syndrome". International Journal of Zoology Studies, Vol 11, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 80-82
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