Luteolin protects against obese sarcopenia in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity by ameliorating inflammation and protein degradation in muscle

Although there are studies on obesity and sarcopenia, our understanding of obesity-mediated sarcopenia is insufficient. Additionally, no studies have investigated the application of luteolin in sarcopenia. We attempted to determine the effect of luteolin on obese sarcopenia in mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Luteolin exerted suppressive effects on obesity, inflammation, and protein degradation in HFD-fed obese mice. Luteolin inhibited lipid infiltration into the muscle and decreased p38 and JNK activity and mRNA expression of inflammatory factors, such as TNFα, Tlr2, Tlr4, MCP1, and MMP2, in the muscle. Suppression of muscle inflammation by luteolin led to the inhibition of myostatin, FoxO, atrogin, and MuRF expression, which reduced protein degradation and improved muscle function. This is the first study to demonstrate that luteolin exerts a protective effect against obese sarcopenia, as its anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory activities inhibited protein degradation. Therefore, luteolin may be a useful supplement for prevention of obese sarcopenia. Total RNA of liver and adipose tissues was obtained from normal diet, high-fat diet and luteolin added high-fat diet-fed mice and mRNA expression-associated with protein metabolism was measured.