中国组织工程研究 ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (22): 5804-5813.doi: 10.12307/2026.201

• 组织构建综述 tissue construction review • 上一篇    下一篇

靶向肌肉衰老的后生元:尿石素A机制解析与应用前景

杨子江1,郭成根2,邓子奥3,薛新轩2   

  1. 1南昌交通学院体育学院,江西省南昌市   330100;2武汉体育学院运动训练学院,湖北省武汉市   430079;3湖北经济学院法商学院,湖北省武汉市   430205
  • 收稿日期:2025-07-22 接受日期:2025-09-11 出版日期:2026-08-08 发布日期:2025-12-27
  • 通讯作者: 薛新轩,教授,硕士生导师,武汉体育学院运动训练学院,湖北省武汉市 430079
  • 作者简介:杨子江,男,1999年生,河南省洛阳市人,汉族,硕士,主要从事运动营养、运动与健康促进等方面的研究。
  • 基金资助:
    教育部人文社会科学研究青年基金项目(24YJC890016),项目负责人:郭成根;湖北省教育厅哲学社会科学研究重点项目(24D100),项目负责人:郭成根;湖北省教育厅科学技术研究青年项目(Q20234103),项目负责人:郭成根

Postbiotic targeting muscle aging: mechanistic insights and application prospects of urolithin A

Yang Zijiang1, Guo Chenggen2, Deng Ziao3, Xue Xinxuan2   

  1. 1School of Physical Education, Nanchang Jiaotong Institute, Nanchang 330100, Jiangxi Province, China; 2School of Sports Training, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; 3School of Law and Business, Hubei University of Economics, Wuhan 430205, Hubei Province, China
  • Received:2025-07-22 Accepted:2025-09-11 Online:2026-08-08 Published:2025-12-27
  • Contact: Xue Xinxuan, Professor, Master’s supervisor, School of Sports Training, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China
  • About author:Yang Zijiang, MS, School of Physical Education, Nanchang Jiaotong Institute, Nanchang 330100, Jiangxi Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Youth Fund Project for Humanities and Social Sciences Research, Ministry of Education, No. 24YJC890016 (to GCG); Key Project for Philosophy and Social Sciences Research, Hubei Provincial Department of Education, No. 24D100 (to GCG); Youth Project for Science and Technology Research, Hubei Provincial Department of Education, No. Q20234103 (to GCG)

摘要:


文题释义:
尿石素A:是一种通过肠道微生物群转化多酚类化合物而产生的后生元。它主要存在于一些富含多酚的食物中,如石榴、浆果和覆盆子等。尿石素A能够改善线粒体功能,延缓衰老进程,并可能在一些与衰老相关的疾病中发挥保护作用。此外,尿石素A还具有抗炎和抗氧化特性,被认为是促进健康老龄化的有益物质。
肌肉衰老:是指随着年龄增长,骨骼肌发生的结构和功能性退化,包括肌肉质量(肌肉量)减少、肌力下降和耐力降低,其进展可导致肌少症,进而引发功能障碍、增加跌倒风险,并显著降低生活质量。

背景:尿石素A是一种由膳食多酚代谢产生的天然活性化合物,具有改善线粒体功能、抗氧化和抗炎等多重生物学作用。近年来,尿石素A在延缓衰老相关疾病方面的发展受到广泛关注,然而尿石素A改善肌肉衰老的具体作用机制尚不明确,仍需进一步的系统研究。
目的:探讨尿石素A在肌肉衰老中的作用机制,为其延缓肌肉衰老的潜在应用价值提供理论依据。
方法:检索2000年1月至2025年4月Web of Science、PubMed、中国知网及万方数据库,中文检索词为“尿石素A、肌肉衰老、线粒体功能、线粒体自噬、炎症、氧化应激、肌肉功能、骨骼肌”,英文检索词为“Urolithin A、muscle aging、mitochondrial function、mitophagy、inflammation、oxidative stress、muscle function、skeletal muscle”。根据纳入和排除标准筛选后,最终选取80篇文献进行综述。
结果与结论:①尿石素A是一种由膳食多酚类化合物鞣花单宁和鞣花酸在肠道微生物作用下转化生成的代谢产物,广泛存在于石榴、莓类和坚果中,具有独特的α-苯并香豆素结构,分子质量小、亲脂性强、易于吸收。尿石素A的生成依赖个体肠道菌群,可分为不同的代谢类型,且这种能力随年龄增长而减弱,反映了肠道功能和生理状态的变化。②肌肉衰老是由线粒体功能障碍、慢性炎症和神经肌肉功能退化共同驱动的过程。随着年龄增长,线粒体能量代谢下降,活性氧积累加重细胞损伤;慢性低度炎症加速蛋白分解,抑制合成,并削弱肌肉修复能力;神经肌肉接头退化、信号传导障碍,导致肌肉去神经化和萎缩。这些因素相互作用,促使肌肉质量和功能持续下降。③尿石素A通过多靶点机制协同改善肌肉衰老,主要作用包括:激活PTEN诱导激酶1/帕金蛋白信号通路,清除受损线粒体,提升三羧酸循环、脂肪酸氧化与氧化磷酸化等代谢功能;抑制核因子κB与蛋白激酶B/丝裂原活化蛋白激酶等信号通路,上调白细胞介素10、转化生长因子β1等抗炎因子,下调白细胞介素1β、肿瘤坏死因子α等促炎因子,实现炎症调控;增强过氧化氢酶、超氧化物歧化酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶等抗氧化酶活性,抑制活性氧生成,缓解氧化应激。④尿石素A通过促进肌肉干细胞的增殖与分化,激活合成代谢通路,增强蛋白质合成,提升肌肉力量,同时调控与耐力和抗疲劳相关的分子机制,增强肌肉耐力,综合改善肌肉性能。⑤尿石素A在延缓肌肉衰老和促进肌肉健康等方面展现出广泛前景,但现有研究受限于样本量小、周期短及个体差异。未来亟需开展大规模、长期临床研究,明确剂量效应,探索个体化与联合干预策略,聚焦尿石素A作为运动营养补剂在提升体能与健康老龄化中的应用潜力。
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2248-2408 (杨子江) 


中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程

关键词: 尿石素A, 肌肉衰老, 线粒体功能, 线粒体自噬, 炎症, 氧化应激, 肌肉功能, 骨骼肌

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Urolithin A is a natural active compound produced by the metabolism of dietary polyphenols, which has multiple biological effects such as promoting mitochondrial function, antioxidation and anti-inflammation. In recent years, the development of urolithin A in delaying aging-related diseases has received extensive attention. However, the specific mechanism of its action in improving muscle aging remains unclear and further systematic research is still needed.
OBJECTIVE: To systematically explore the mechanism of action of urolithin A in muscle aging, providing a theoretical basis for its potential application value in delaying muscle aging.
METHODS: The Web of Science, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and WanFang Database were retrieved from January 2000 to April 2025. The search terms were "urolithin A, muscle aging, mitochondrial function, mitophagy, inflammation, oxidative stress, muscle function, skeletal muscle" in English and Chinese. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 80 literatures were finally selected for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Urolithin A is a metabolite generated by the conversion of dietary polyphenolic compounds ellagic acid and ellagic acid under the action of intestinal microorganisms, and is widely present in pomegranates, berries and nuts. It has a unique α-benzocoumarin structure, with a small molecular weight, strong lipophilicity and easy absorption. The production of urolithin A depends on an individual’s intestinal microbiota and can be classified into different metabolic types. Moreover, this ability weakens with age, reflecting changes in intestinal function and physiological state. (2) Muscle aging is a process jointly driven by mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation and neuromuscular functional degeneration. With the increase of age, mitochondrial energy metabolism declines, and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species aggravates cell damage. Chronic low-grade inflammation accelerates protein breakdown, inhibits synthesis, and weakens the muscle repair ability. Neuromuscular junction degeneration and signal transduction disorders lead to muscle denervation and atrophy. These factors interact with each other, contributing to a continuous decline in muscle mass and function. (3) Urolithin A synergistically improves muscle aging through a multi-target mechanism. Its main functions include: activating the PTEN-induced kinase 1/Parkin signaling pathway, eliminating damaged mitochondria, and enhancing metabolic functions such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle, fatty acid oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation; inhibiting the nuclear factor-κB and protein kinase B/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways, up-regulating anti-inflammatory factors such as interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β1, and down-regulating pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α to achieve inflammatory regulation; enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species and alleviating oxidative stress. (4) Urolithin A promotes the proliferation and differentiation of muscle stem cells, activates anabolic pathways, enhances protein synthesis, boosts muscle strength, and simultaneously regulates molecular mechanisms related to endurance and fatigue resistance, thereby enhancing muscle endurance and comprehensively improving muscle performance. (5) Urolithin A shows broad prospects in delaying muscle aging and promoting muscle health, but existing studies are limited by small sample sizes, short cycles and individual differences. In the future, there is an urgent need to carry out large-scale and long-term clinical research to clarify the dose-effect, explore individualized and combined intervention strategies, and focus on the application potential of urolithin A as a sports nutrition supplement in enhancing physical fitness and promoting healthy aging.


Key words: urolithin A, muscle aging, mitochondrial function, mitophagy, inflammation, oxidative stress, muscle function, skeletal muscle

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