Mechanism of fast myofiber loss in neuromuscular disease

Fast myofibers are affected in neuromuscular diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis resulting in muscle atrophy but the mechanism is not clear.

The researchers analyzed the transcriptional profiles of myonuclei from denervated muscle fibers and found that muscle denervation represses expression of Maf and fast-twitch genes.

They also found that Maf overexpression represses atrophic genes and activates fast-twitch genes in mice and inhibits denervation-induced muscle atrophy.

The authors also demonstrate repression of fast genes and Maf in muscles from mice and humans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(25)00730-2

https://sciencemission.com/fast-myofiber-vulnerability-to-neuromuscular-diseases