To summarize ageing- and obesity-associated lymphatic abnormalities and propose a clearance-centered framework for understanding sarcopenic obesity (SO).
Approach:
Review of Literature: The article reviews existing literature on the pathogenesis of sarcopenic obesity, focusing on the role of lymphatic dysfunction and interstitial clearance.
Proposed Framework: A framework is proposed where impaired lymphatic clearance amplifies local inflammation, lipid stress, insulin resistance, and defective skeletal muscle repair in SO.
Key Findings:
Sarcopenic obesity is characterized by excess adiposity and reduced skeletal muscle mass and function, primarily affecting older adults.
Chronic low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial dysfunction are key factors in the pathogenesis of SO.
The lymphatic system is crucial for maintaining interstitial homeostasis, and its dysfunction may exacerbate inflammatory and metabolic stress in SO.
Ageing and obesity jointly impair lymphatic function, leading to a pro-inflammatory and repair-unfavorable interstitial environment.
Interpretation:
Limitations:
The review does not establish lymphatic dysfunction as an independent cause of muscle loss.
The proposed framework requires further empirical testing to validate its hypotheses.
