In this paper, I wanted to answer the following questions: Does muscle memory exist? In other words, does skeletal muscle, after adapting to an environmental stimulus to which it is exposed, retain memory of it? Is it therefore able to adapt faster, in case it was exposed to the same stimulus again later in life? Is this memory "epigenetic" and therefore transmissible to subsequent generations? In this thesis, I give a definition of skeletal muscle memory and examine the scientific literature that contributed to the discovery of this phenomenon. I consider the effect of nutritional stress in the early stages of life on skeletal muscle function. I refer how muscle stem cells from different environmental niches (from physically active, diabetic, cachectic and elderly subjects) are able to remember the environment from which they derive, once isolated. Finally, I illustrate the molecular mechanism underlying the musculoskeletal memory and examine the epigenetic regulation process induced by physical exercise. Understanding the “epigenetic memory” of skeletal muscle will allow the development of targeted therapies able to promote muscle growth and reduce the loss of muscle tone.
In questo elaborato ho voluto rispondere alle seguenti domande: Esiste la memoria muscolare? In altre parole, il muscolo scheletrico, dopo essersi adattato ad uno stimolo ambientale a cui viene esposto, mantiene memoria dello stimolo ed è quindi in grado di adattarsi più velocemente, se dovesse essere nuovamente esposto allo stesso stimolo in un momento successivo nella vita? Questa memoria è “epigenetica” e quindi trasmissibile a generazioni successive? In questa tesi verrà data una definizione di memoria muscolo scheletrica e verrà esaminata la letteratura scientifica che ha contribuito alla scoperta di questo fenomeno. Verrà considerato l’effetto dello stress nutrizionale nelle prime fasi di vita sulla funzione muscolo scheletrica. Verrà riportato come cellule staminali muscolari provenienti da diverse nicchie ambientali (da soggetti fisicamente attivi, diabetici, cachettici e anziani) siano in grado di ricordare l’ambiente da cui derivano una volta isolate. Infine verrà illustrato il meccanismo molecolare sottostante la memoria muscolo scheletrica e verrà esaminato il processo di regolazione epigenetica indotta dall’esercizio fisico. La comprensione della “memoria epigenetica” del muscolo scheletrico permetterà di sviluppare terapie mirate in grado di promuovere la crescita muscolare e ridurre la perdita di tono muscolare.
Ruolo dell'Epigenetica nella Memoria Muscolare
MALFETTANI, MARCELLO
2019/2020
Abstract
In this paper, I wanted to answer the following questions: Does muscle memory exist? In other words, does skeletal muscle, after adapting to an environmental stimulus to which it is exposed, retain memory of it? Is it therefore able to adapt faster, in case it was exposed to the same stimulus again later in life? Is this memory "epigenetic" and therefore transmissible to subsequent generations? In this thesis, I give a definition of skeletal muscle memory and examine the scientific literature that contributed to the discovery of this phenomenon. I consider the effect of nutritional stress in the early stages of life on skeletal muscle function. I refer how muscle stem cells from different environmental niches (from physically active, diabetic, cachectic and elderly subjects) are able to remember the environment from which they derive, once isolated. Finally, I illustrate the molecular mechanism underlying the musculoskeletal memory and examine the epigenetic regulation process induced by physical exercise. Understanding the “epigenetic memory” of skeletal muscle will allow the development of targeted therapies able to promote muscle growth and reduce the loss of muscle tone.È consentito all'utente scaricare e condividere i documenti disponibili a testo pieno in UNITESI UNIPV nel rispetto della licenza Creative Commons del tipo CC BY NC ND.
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14239/12780