(-)-Epicatechin Induces Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Markers of Muscle Regeneration in Adults with Becker Muscular Dystrophy

Overview

Journal Muscle Nerve

Date 2020 Oct 30

PMID 33125736

Citations 24

Authors

Craig M McDonald

Israel Ramirez-Sanchez

Bjorn Oskarsson

Nanette Joyce

Candace Aguilar

Alina Nicorici

Jonathan Dayan

Erica Goude

R Ted Abresch

Francisco Villarreal

Guillermo Ceballos

Guy Perkins

Sundeep Dugar

George Schreiner

Erik K Henricson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: We conducted an open-label study to examine the effects of the flavonoid (-)-epicatechin in seven ambulatory adult patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD).

Methods: Seven participants received (-)-epicatechin 50 mg twice per day for 8 weeks. Pre- and postprocedures included biceps brachii biopsy to assess muscle structure and growth-relevant endpoints by western blotting, mitochondria volume measurement, and cristae abundance by electron microscopy, graded exercise testing, and muscle strength and function tests.

Results: Western blotting showed significantly increased levels of enzymes modulating cellular bioenergetics (liver kinase B1 and 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha, a transcriptional coactivator of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and cristae-associated mitofilin levels, increased as did cristae abundance. Muscle and plasma follistatin increased significantly while myostatin decreased. Markers of skeletal muscle regeneration myogenin, myogenic regulatory factor-5, myoblast determination protein 1, myocyte enhancer factor-2, and structure-associated proteins, including dysferlin, utrophin, and intracellular creatine kinase, also increased. Exercise testing demonstrated decreased heart rate, maximal oxygen consumption per kilogram, and plasma lactate levels at defined workloads. Tissue saturation index improved in resting and postexercise states.

Discussion: (-)-Epicatechin, an exercise mimetic, appears to have short-term positive effects on tissue biomarkers indicative of mitochondrial biogenesis and muscle regeneration, and produced improvements in graded exercise testing parameters in patients with BMD.

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