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Cited by 200Muscle Physiology and DisordersChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ResearchNutrition and Health in Aging

Muscle Fiber Type IIX Atrophy Is Involved in the Loss of Fat-Free Mass in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

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Gosker, Harry R, Engelen, Mariëlle PKJ, van Mameren, Henk, van Dijk, Paul J, van der Vusse, Ger J, Wouters, Emiel FM, Schols, Annemie MWJ·2002·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
DOI 10.1093/ajcn/76.1.113
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Abstract

Background Although the loss of peripheral muscle mass has been shown convincingly in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the underlying pathogenesis remains unclear. Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the relations between skeletal muscle fiber types, fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), enzyme activities, and fat-free mass (FFM) in patients with COPD and in control subjects. Design In 15 patients with COPD and 15 healthy, age-matched control subjects, FFM was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis. In biopsy specimens from the vastus lateralis fiber types, fiber CSA and activities of cytochrome oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1), succinate dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.99.1), and glycogen phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) were examined immunohistochemically and histochemically. Results Compared with control subjects, patients with COPD had less FFM (49 compared with 59 kg, P = 0.030) and lower mean fiber CSA (3839 compared with 4647 microm(2), P = 0.037). A strong correlation (r = 0.87, P < 0.001) was observed between the FFM measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and mean fiber CSA in patients with COPD. Within fiber-type categories the mean CSA of only the IIA/IIX and IIX fiber types was lower in patients than in control subjects [3358 compared with 4428 microm(2) (P = 0.022) and 2566 compared with 4248 microm(2) (P = 0.003), respectively]. In COPD, 20% of the type IIX fibers lacked stainable activities of cytochrome oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, and glycogen phosphorylase, and this proportion correlated negatively with type IIX fiber CSA (r = -0.65, P = 0.012). Conclusions Muscle fiber atrophy occurs in the vastus lateralis in patients with COPD and contributes to the loss of muscle mass in COPD. Atrophy is specific to fiber types IIA/IIX and IIX and is associated with a disturbed metabolic capacity.

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  • A specific metabolic alteration in COPD muscle is a shift in fiber type from fatigue-resistant oxidative fibers (type I and type IIa) to force-predominant glycolytic fibers (type IIx and, in rodents, type IIb).

    “A specific metabolic alteration in COPD muscle (as opposed to aging muscle for example) is the shift in fiber type, from fatigue-resistant oxidative (type I and type IIa) to force-predominant glycolytic muscle fibers (type IIx and, specifically for rodents, type IIb) [12]”

    From Main Pathogenic Mechanisms and Recent Advances in COPD Peripheral Skeletal Muscle Wasting (2023) · cites this paper as [12]

    The Results and Discussion report selective atrophy of type IIA/IIX and IIX fibers in COPD, along with disturbed enzyme activity in many type IIX fibers. They do not establish a shift in fiber-type composition from types I and IIA toward IIX, or address rodent type IIb fibers. The study compared patients with age-matched controls but did not establish the claimed contrast with aging muscle. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The decreased fibers' cross-sectional area in COPD has been reported to be predominant on type IIx fibers.

    “The decreased fibers’ CSA has been reported to be predominant on type IIx fibers [12].”

    From Main Pathogenic Mechanisms and Recent Advances in COPD Peripheral Skeletal Muscle Wasting (2023) · cites this paper as [12]

  • Structural alterations of peripheral skeletal muscle in COPD include a global muscle atrophy with loss in number and size of muscle fibers, reflected by decreased thigh diameter and decreased fibers' cross-sectional area.

    “Structural alterations of peripheral skeletal muscle are well characterized and include a global muscle atrophy (with both loss in number and size of muscle fibers), macroscopically reflected by a decrease in thigh diameter [11] and microscopically reflected by a decreased fibers’ cross-sectional area (CSA) [12]”

    From Main Pathogenic Mechanisms and Recent Advances in COPD Peripheral Skeletal Muscle Wasting (2023) · cites this paper as [12]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Gosker, H. R., Engelen, M. P., van Mameren, H., van Dijk, P. J., van der Vusse, G. J., Wouters, E. F., & Schols, A. M.
Affiliations
Maastricht University (NL)
ORCID
Venue
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2002-07
Volume
76
Issue
1
Pages
113-119
ISSN
0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1093/ajcn/76.1.113
OpenAlex
W1898224378
Cited by
200
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 12
FWCI
3.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
Keywords
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, muscle fiber atrophy, fat-free mass loss, skeletal muscle mass, fiber cross-sectional area, vastus lateralis, cytochrome c oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, glycogen phosphorylase
MeSH terms
Aged, Body Composition, Electron Transport Complex IV, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Muscular Atrophy, Succinate Dehydrogenase, Weight Loss, Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch, Glycogen Phosphorylase, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

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