Researchers at Kyushu University report that lipoic acid trisulfide (LASSS) can enhance hepatocyte growth factor, or HGF, a protein that helps activate stem cells involved in muscle repair. In laboratory experiments, HGF treated with LASSS bound to the c-met receptor with more than twice the affinity of untreated HGF. The team calls the enhanced form “Super HGF.”
HGF helps stimulate satellite cells, which can develop into muscle cells and contribute to the repair of damaged tissue. The researchers say the protein can become nitrated, a chemical change that weakens its ability to bind to c-met. Their earlier work identified two vulnerable locations on HGF, Y198 and Y250.
The team tested two sulfur-based compounds with antioxidant properties: LASSS and glutathione trisulfide (GSSSG). Both reduced nitration in initial experiments, but only LASSS produced the stronger receptor binding when used at a higher concentration. It also helped HGF resist the loss of function associated with nitration, particularly at Y198.
The researchers suspect LASSS may interact directly with HGF and subtly change its structure, improving how it connects to c-met. The study does not establish that stronger binding leads to better muscle regeneration, and further experiments are needed to test that possibility.
In a mouse experiment, animals given LASSS before tail suspension had less HGF nitration than untreated mice. Tail suspension reduces weight bearing and muscle use, but the experiment showed protection against nitration—not recovery of muscle mass or improved strength. The researchers say studies in aging animals are still needed to assess the compound’s effectiveness and safety.
The findings, published in Scientific Reports, point to a possible way to protect the body’s existing muscle-repair signals. Whether LASSS can safely preserve muscle function during aging remains unknown.
Sources: ScienceDaily.