Metabolic and immune links between sarcopenia and liver disease

Abstract

Skeletal muscles perform important metabolic functions. Muscle mass wasting in sarcopenia is an urgent problem of modern medicine, the interest in which is related to its prognostic significance. The liver has numerous direct and indirect metabolic and immune connections with skeletal muscle and disruptions of these connections in liver disease are of clinical interest. A recent article by Liang et al emphasized potential biomarkers of sarcopenia in liver cirrhosis. Identification of biomarkers of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis has important diagnostic value. Common pathophysiologic mechanisms of sarcopenia and liver cirrhosis include disorders of protein and energy metabolism, disturbances in the structure of gut microbiota, inflammation and oxidative stress.

Keywords: Sarcopenia; Skeletal muscle wasting; Liver disease; Liver cirrhosis; Metabolic disorders; Immune mechanisms; Biomarkers

Core Tip: Sarcopenia is characterized by loss of mass, strength, and skeletal muscle function. Skeletal muscle has numerous direct and indirect metabolic and immune links with the liver, which are disrupted in diseases such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and cirrhosis. Disruption of these links contributes to the premature development of sarcopenia, which further worsens the course of these diseases and the prognosis.