Enhances Aged Muscle Regeneration

5-amino-1MQ and other NNMT inhibitors have the potential to help older people with age-related muscle weakness become fitter and stronger, thus allowing them to live an active lifestyle.
A 2019 study published in Biochem Pharmacology found that NNMT inhibitor administration in a group of old mice with senescent muscle stem cells enhanced aged muscle regeneration. [30] In this study, old mice (24 months) underwent barium chloride injection to induce an acute muscle injury. A group of mice were then treated with saline (control) and another group treated with low and high dose of NNMT inhibitor (5 and 10 mg/kg) for 1 week.
Results revealed that regeneration of muscle stem cells (muSCs) were faster in NNMT inhibitor-treated mice, supporting nearly 2-fold greater muscle cell fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements compared with control. In addition, NNMT inhibitor-treated mice exhibited greater contractile function, which is indicative of improved muscle function. These results provide the first clear evidence that NNMT inhibitors can be considered as a therapeutic option for age-related muscle wasting and weakness by rescuing muscle stem cell function and improving skeletal muscle regenerative capacity.