Oleuropein Aglycone Modulates Oxidative Stress and Autophagy‐Related Pathways in Human Skeletal Muscle Cells

A compound found in olive oil, called oleuropein aglycone, triggers a cellular cleanup process known as autophagy by influencing the AMPK and mTOR signaling molecules.

In human muscle precursor cells grown in the lab, a compound called oleuropein aglycone causes a short-lived rise and fall in a specific cellular energy sensor (AMPK) within hours, while other cellular cleanup processes stay active, suggesting the response changes over time in a complex pattern.

In human muscle cells exposed to a damaging chemical, pre-treatment with a compound called oleuropein aglycone reduced markers of oxidative stress and cellular aging, suggesting it may help protect cells from damage.

In human muscle cells grown in the lab, a compound called oleuropein aglycone at a concentration of 25 micromolar, applied for 24 hours, increases the activity of genes involved in antioxidant defense and raises a molecular marker associated with autophagy during oxidative stress.

In human muscle precursor cells exposed to oxidative stress, oleuropein aglycone alters the phosphorylation state of the FOXO3a protein at two specific sites, which is associated with increased activity of this protein in stress response pathways.

In human muscle precursor cells grown in the lab, a compound called oleuropein aglycone increases markers of autophagy—cellular cleanup processes—to the same extent as rapamycin, a known trigger of autophagy.