Skeletal muscle often begins to deteriorate relatively early in the aging process. Over time, this can cause loss of strength, increased scarring, fat buildup within muscle tissue, and a decline in fast twitch fibers, which support rapid and powerful movements.
Researchers led by Professor Ryuichi Tatsumi of Kyushu University's Faculty of Agriculture have identified a molecule that could protect and enhance an important signal involved in muscle repair. The results were published on July 24, 2026, in Scientific Reports.
How the Body Activates Muscle Repair
The research focuses on hepatocyte growth factor, or HGF, a protein that helps initiate the repair of skeletal muscle. Under normal conditions, HGF remains inactive within the structural network surrounding muscle fibers.
When muscle tissue is injured or exposed to mechanical stimulation, HGF is released. It then attaches to c met receptors on satellite cells, the stem cells responsible for maintaining and repairing skeletal muscle. This signal brings the cells out of their inactive state, allowing them to multiply, mature, and help rebuild damaged muscle fibers.
