The Neuromuscular Junction: Roles in Aging and Neuromuscular Disease
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a specialized synapse that bridges the motor neuron and the skeletal muscle fiber and is crucial for conversion of electrical impulses originating in the motor neuron to action potentials in the muscle fiber. The consideration of contributing factors to skeletal m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/8058 |
| _version_ | 1797525532857860096 |
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| author | Shama R. Iyer Sameer B. Shah Richard M. Lovering |
| author_facet | Shama R. Iyer Sameer B. Shah Richard M. Lovering |
| author_sort | Shama R. Iyer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a specialized synapse that bridges the motor neuron and the skeletal muscle fiber and is crucial for conversion of electrical impulses originating in the motor neuron to action potentials in the muscle fiber. The consideration of contributing factors to skeletal muscle injury, muscular dystrophy and sarcopenia cannot be restricted only to processes intrinsic to the muscle, as data show that these conditions incur denervation-like findings, such as fragmented NMJ morphology and corresponding functional changes in neuromuscular transmission. Primary defects in the NMJ also influence functional loss in motor neuron disease, congenital myasthenic syndromes and myasthenia gravis, resulting in skeletal muscle weakness and heightened fatigue. Such findings underscore the role that the NMJ plays in neuromuscular performance. Regardless of cause or effect, functional denervation is now an accepted consequence of sarcopenia and muscle disease. In this short review, we provide an overview of the pathologic etiology, symptoms, and therapeutic strategies related to the NMJ. In particular, we examine the role of the NMJ as a disease modifier and a potential therapeutic target in neuromuscular injury and disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:15:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a73fc9eca7ea41ada774cafd78f87b9a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:15:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a73fc9eca7ea41ada774cafd78f87b9a2023-11-22T05:42:42ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-07-012215805810.3390/ijms22158058The Neuromuscular Junction: Roles in Aging and Neuromuscular DiseaseShama R. Iyer0Sameer B. Shah1Richard M. Lovering2Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, AHB, Room 540, 100 Penn St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USADepartments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USADepartment of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, AHB, Room 540, 100 Penn St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USAThe neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a specialized synapse that bridges the motor neuron and the skeletal muscle fiber and is crucial for conversion of electrical impulses originating in the motor neuron to action potentials in the muscle fiber. The consideration of contributing factors to skeletal muscle injury, muscular dystrophy and sarcopenia cannot be restricted only to processes intrinsic to the muscle, as data show that these conditions incur denervation-like findings, such as fragmented NMJ morphology and corresponding functional changes in neuromuscular transmission. Primary defects in the NMJ also influence functional loss in motor neuron disease, congenital myasthenic syndromes and myasthenia gravis, resulting in skeletal muscle weakness and heightened fatigue. Such findings underscore the role that the NMJ plays in neuromuscular performance. Regardless of cause or effect, functional denervation is now an accepted consequence of sarcopenia and muscle disease. In this short review, we provide an overview of the pathologic etiology, symptoms, and therapeutic strategies related to the NMJ. In particular, we examine the role of the NMJ as a disease modifier and a potential therapeutic target in neuromuscular injury and disease.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/8058NMJmuscular dystrophysarcopeniamyasthenia gravisexercise |
| spellingShingle | Shama R. Iyer Sameer B. Shah Richard M. Lovering The Neuromuscular Junction: Roles in Aging and Neuromuscular Disease International Journal of Molecular Sciences NMJ muscular dystrophy sarcopenia myasthenia gravis exercise |
| title | The Neuromuscular Junction: Roles in Aging and Neuromuscular Disease |
| title_full | The Neuromuscular Junction: Roles in Aging and Neuromuscular Disease |
| title_fullStr | The Neuromuscular Junction: Roles in Aging and Neuromuscular Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Neuromuscular Junction: Roles in Aging and Neuromuscular Disease |
| title_short | The Neuromuscular Junction: Roles in Aging and Neuromuscular Disease |
| title_sort | neuromuscular junction roles in aging and neuromuscular disease |
| topic | NMJ muscular dystrophy sarcopenia myasthenia gravis exercise |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/8058 |
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