LASSS Turns HGF into 'Super HGF' to Fight Aging Muscle Loss

Researchers report that lipoic acid trisulfide (LASSS) binds hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to create a “Super HGF” with more than double the binding affinity to the c-met receptor and increased resistance to nitration. In aging/disuse mouse models, LASSS pretreatment reduced HGF nitration and preserved muscle repair signaling, suggesting a potential therapy for sarcopenia and disuse atrophy across mammals. The findings were published July 24, 2026 in Scientific Reports.