mTOR signaling as a target of amino acid treatment of the age-related sarcopenia

Sarcopenia is an age-related structural and functional impairment of skeletal muscle leading to loss of strength, contractile capacity and endurance. Among factors implicated in sarcopenia, deregulation of muscle protein synthesis (MPS) has frequently been reported. Thus, the attempts aiming at identifying possible countermeasures to sarcopenia require consideration of a complex coordinated interaction of factors contributing to the balance between protein synthesis and breakdown and the identification of several regulators on their function. We will focus here on the signaling pathways controlling protein synthesis in skeletal muscle, specifically on one of the downstream effectors of the kinase Akt/PKB, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase which is now recognized as a key regulator of cell growth and a pivotal sensor of nutritional status over the lifespan. Dysfunction of mTOR signaling in the elderly and its potential role as a target of amino acids in the treatment of age-related sarcopenia will be discussed.