Developing an invitro system of human skeletal muscle to validate biomarkers of sarcopenia.

This study titled “Developing an in vitro system of human skeletal muscle to validate biomarkers of sarcopenia” is a collaborative project between Bangalore Baptist Hospital (BBH), inStem, and Vyah Vikas. The research aims to develop a laboratory-based (in vitro) human skeletal muscle model to study and validate metabolic biomarkers and compounds associated with sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. In an earlier study involving 40 older participants, 295 lipids and 308 metabolites were analyzed using advanced metabolomic and lipidomic techniques. Through machine learning (Support Vector Machine algorithm), a panel of ten metabolites predictive of sarcopenia was identified, achieving an accuracy of 88.89%. Animal experiments conducted at inStem confirmed the protective effects of compounds such as homoarginine and karanjin, suggesting their potential role in promoting muscle maintenance and function.The present study aims to translate these findings to human cells by isolating and culturing human primary muscle progenitor cells (hMPCs) from subjects undergoing knee surgeries. A total of 12 participants will be recruited, six young adults (20–40 years) and six older adults (greater than 60 years). Small biopsies (10 × 15 mm) of the vastus medialis muscle will be collected during surgery without any additional incision or discomfort. The samples will be transported to inStem, where cells will be isolated, characterized, and treated with selected metabolic factors, including amino acids and a dietary flavanone.These treatments will be evaluated for their ability to improve myogenesis (muscle formation) and metabolic activity, serving as surrogate markers for sarcopenia. Participation is voluntary, informed consent will be obtained, and all ethical standards will be strictly followed. The study is expected to provide a novel human-based platform for understanding muscle aging and pave the way for developing potential therapeutic strategies against sarcopenia.