MiR-199-3p enhances muscle regeneration and ameliorates aged muscle and muscular dystrophy

Commun Biol. 2021 Mar 29;4(1):427. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-01952-2.

Abstract

Parabiosis experiments suggest that molecular factors related to rejuvenation and aging circulate in the blood. Here, we show that miR-199-3p, which circulates in the blood as a cell-free miRNA, is significantly decreased in the blood of aged mice compared to young mice; and miR-199-3p has the ability to enhance myogenic differentiation and muscle regeneration. Administration of miR-199 mimics, which supply miR-199-3p, to aged mice resulted in muscle fiber hypertrophy and delayed loss of muscle strength. Systemic administration of miR-199 mimics to mdx mice, a well-known animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), markedly improved the muscle strength of mice. Taken together, cell-free miR-199-3p in the blood may have an anti-aging effect such as a hypertrophic effect in aged muscle fibers and could have potential as a novel RNA therapeutic for DMD as well as age-related diseases. The findings provide us with new insights into blood-circulating miRNAs as age-related molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred mdx
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology*
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / genetics*
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / physiopathology
  • Regeneration / genetics
  • Regeneration / physiology*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • Mirn199 microRNA, mouse