Scientists have discovered that a protein which responds to stress can halt the degeneration of muscle mass caused during the body’s ageing process.
HSP10 (Heat Shock Protein), helps monitor and organise protein interactions in the body, and responds to environmental stresses, such as exercise and infection, by increasing its production inside cells.
In collaboration with colleagues at the University of California, researchers in the School of Clinical Sciences found that excessive amounts of HSP10 inside mitochondria – ‘organs’ that act as energy generators in cells – can halt the body’s ageing process by preserving muscle strength.
The protein occurs naturally in all living organism and scientist believe that study into its functions could prove significant for the design of future health care for the elderly, who are particularly susceptible to muscle damage.
Professor Anne McArdle, from the School , said: “We studied the role of HSP10 inside mitochondria, as it is here that unstable chemicals are produced which can harm parts of the cell, the damage caused is thought to play an important part in the ageing process.
“In response to these stresses HSP10 increases its levels and helps cells resist damage and recover more effectively. Our research is the first to demonstrate that age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass is not inevitable and this could have considerable implications for the future health care of the elderly.”