Inhibiting miR-128-3p restores muscle mass and function in aged mice

In aged mice, inhibiting the microRNA miR-128-3p with antisense oligonucleotides restored muscle mass and function, according to a recent preprint. The researchers targeted miR-128-3p because its genomic locus associates with variation in human grip strength, pulmonary function, and cardiometabolic traits. Beyond restoring aged muscle, miR-128-3p inhibition improved cardiac function and limited adverse remodeling after myocardial infarction in mice. It also ameliorated skeletal and cardiac muscle pathology in mouse and pig models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Across these settings, blocking miR-128-3p activated mitochondrial gene programs and suppressed inflammatory and fibrotic signaling, resembling patterns produced by established longevity interventions.