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Novel effects of reverse transcriptase inhibitor supplementation in skeletal muscle of old mice
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Novel effects of reverse transcriptase inhibitor supplementation in skeletal muscle of old mice

Shelby C Osburn, Meghan E Smith, Devin Wahl and Thomas J LaRocca
Physiological genomics, v 57(5), pp 308-320
01 May 2025
PMID: 40062980
url
https://doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00115.2024View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Aging - drug effects Animals Dietary Supplements Male Metabolomics - methods Mice Mice, Inbred C57BL Mitochondria - drug effects Mitochondria - metabolism Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors - pharmacology Transcriptome - drug effects
Aging is the primary risk factor for the development of many chronic diseases, including dementias, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. There is significant interest in identifying novel "geroprotective" agents, including by repurposing existing drugs, but such treatments may affect organ systems differently. One current example is the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor 3TC, which has been increasingly studied as a potential gerotherapeutic. Recent data suggest that 3TC may reduce inflammation and improve cognitive function in older mice; however, the effects of 3TC on other tissues in aged animals are less well characterized. Here, we use transcriptomics (RNA-seq) and targeted metabolomics to investigate the influence of 3TC supplementation on skeletal muscle in older mice. We show that 3TC ) does not overtly affect muscle mass or functional/health markers, ) largely reverses age-related changes in gene expression and metabolite signatures, and ) is potentially beneficial for mitochondrial function in old animals via increases in antioxidant enzymes and decreases in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Collectively, our results suggest that, in addition to its protective effects in other tissues, 3TC supplementation does not have adverse effects in aged muscle and may even protect muscle/mitochondrial health in this context. Recent studies suggest that the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor 3TC may improve brain health and cognitive function in old mice, but its effects on other aging tissues have not been comprehensively studied. This is the first study to use a multiomics approach to investigate the effects of 3TC treatment on skeletal muscle of old mice. The results suggest that 3TC reverses age-related transcriptomic and metabolite signatures and is potentially beneficial for mitochondrial function in aged muscle.

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Web of Science research areas
Cell Biology
Genetics & Heredity
Physiology
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