Recent studies have indicated that autophagy may be involved in the pathogenesis of skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Researchers discussed if inhibiting autophagy impairs myogenic and replicative capacities of muscle satellite cells, leading to muscle atrophy, and how a dysregulation of autophagy and muscle fiber injury relates to the airway obstruction and inflammation that feature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The IL13TG model was utilized because it replicates most features of COPD, pulmonary emphysema, and decreased oxygen saturation in patients. The researchers concluded that inhibiting autophagy leads to contractile dysfunction.
Reference: Leduc-Gaudet JP, Hussain SNA. Muscle Wasting in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Not Enough Autophagy? Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2022 Jun;66(6):587-588. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2022-0064ED. PMID: 35294850; PMCID: PMC9163649.
Link: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1165/rcmb.2022-0064ED
