15-PGDH: a potential target for the treatment of muscle atrophy

Muscle atrophy is one of the most common and destructive events in chronic diseases. It is characterized by a decrease in the cross-sectional area of muscle fiber, myonuclear number, protein content, and muscle strength and an increase in fatigability. Muscle atrophy not only causes a decline in the quality of life of patients, but also poses a burden on society [1]. The occurrence of muscle atrophy is related to many factors. From a macro point of view, there are age and disuse. At the micro level, the rate of protein degradation exceeds the rate of protein synthesis [2,3]. To date, a plethora of therapeutic strategies in the treatment of muscle atrophy has been successfully developed, such as nutritional interventions, physical exercise, and electroacupuncture therapy, all of which can prevent and rescue muscle atrophy [4]. However, there is no effective drug to treat...