Abstract
We investigated the protective effect of Brazilian propolis, a natural resinous substance produced by honeybees, against glycation stress in mouse skeletal muscles. Mice were divided into four groups: (1) Normal diet + drinking water, (2) Brazilian propolis (0.1%)-containing diet + drinking water, (3) normal diet + methylglyoxal (MGO) (0.1%)-containing drinking water, and (4) Brazilian propolis (0.1%)-containing diet + MGO (0.1%)-containing drinking water. MGO treatment for 20 weeks reduced the weight of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle and tended to be in the soleus muscle. Ingestion of Brazilian propolis showed no effect on this change in EDL muscles but tended to increase the weight of the soleus muscles regardless of MGO treatment. In EDL muscles, Brazilian propolis ingestion suppressed the accumulation of MGO-derived advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in MGO-treated mice. The activity of glyoxalase 1 was not affected by MGO, but was enhanced by Brazilian propolis in EDL muscles. MGO treatment increased mRNA expression of inflammation-related molecules, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Brazilian propolis ingestion suppressed these increases. MGO and/or propolis exerted no effect on the accumulation of AGEs, glyoxalase 1 activity, and inflammatory responses in soleus muscles. These results suggest that Brazilian propolis exerts a protective effect against glycation stress by inhibiting the accumulation of AGEs, promoting MGO detoxification, and reducing proinflammatory responses in the skeletal muscle. However, these anti-glycation effects does not lead to prevent glycation-induced muscle mass reduction.
Highlights
The skeletal muscle is the largest organ that contributes to maintaining physical locomotive function
These results suggest that Brazilian propolis exerts a protective effect against glycation stress by inhibiting the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), promoting MGO detoxification, and reducing proinflammatory responses in the skeletal muscle
20-week ingestion of Brazilian propolis suppressed the accumulation of MGO-derived AGEs (Figure 2), promoted activity of glyoxalase 1 (Figure 3), and attenuated of MGO-derived AGEs (Figure 2), promoted activity of glyoxalase 1 (Figure 3), and attenuated mRNA expressions of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 (Figure 4) in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) but not the soleus muscle
Summary
The skeletal muscle is the largest organ that contributes to maintaining physical locomotive function. It is a major site of glucose and lipid metabolism and an endocrine organ with myokine secretions [1]. Glycation stress, which is caused by glycation and includes the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and a subsequent dysfunction of proteins and/or cellular signaling [3], are considered related with the progress of muscle dysfunctions. Serum AGE levels are related to diabetic complications in children and young adults with type 1 diabetes [11,12,13], indicating that glycation stress might affect skeletal muscle function regardless of age. Inhibiting glycation stress is considered an effective strategy for preventing skeletal muscle dysfunction regardless of age
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