MG53 and aging muscles
MG53 function in muscle aging
Testing whether boosting a protein called MG53 can help muscles in older people repair themselves and stay stronger.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11129795 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers study how the protein MG53 helps muscle stem cells repair damage and how that process breaks down with aging. They use mice engineered to have more MG53 in their blood and give lab-made human MG53 protein to muscle cells to see if it improves recovery after injury. The team also looks at how long-term oxidative stress in aging causes MG53 to clump and lose function. Findings will guide whether MG53-based approaches could be developed into treatments to restore muscle repair in older adults.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future trials would be older adults with age-related muscle weakness or poor recovery after muscle injury.
Not a fit: People whose muscle problems are mainly caused by nerve disease, congenital disorders, or non-aging causes may not benefit from MG53-based approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that improve muscle repair and reduce age-related weakness and disability.
How similar studies have performed: Early animal and cell studies by this team show promising improvements in muscle regeneration with MG53, but human testing is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ma, Jianjie — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Ma, Jianjie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.