Figure 5.

Proposed mechanism by which ubiquitous mtDNA damage leads to sarcopenia. Proposed mechanism showing the consequences of low levels of systemic mtDNA damage to motor neurons, at the NMJ, muscle fibers and muscle satellite cells. The thickness of the open arrows reflects the proposed contribution to the muscle wasting phenotype. We propose that impairment of muscle satellite cell pool, due to its vulnerability to mtDNA damage, compromises skeletal muscle capacity to keep up with optimal regeneration and maintenance.