Resistance training alleviates muscle atrophy and muscle dysfunction by reducing inflammation and regulating compromised autophagy in aged skeletal muscle

BackgroundAge related muscle atrophy is associated with chronic inflammation and impaired autophagy. Resistance training serves as an effective intervention for enhancing skeletal muscle hypertrophy.MethodsThis study utilized a naturally aged mouse model to investigate the role of the mammalian targ...

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Main Authors: Yangfan Cao, Jiawei Zhou, Helong Quan, Wei Li, Ting Li, Lifeng Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1597222/full
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author Yangfan Cao
Jiawei Zhou
Helong Quan
Wei Li
Ting Li
Lifeng Wang
author_facet Yangfan Cao
Jiawei Zhou
Helong Quan
Wei Li
Ting Li
Lifeng Wang
author_sort Yangfan Cao
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundAge related muscle atrophy is associated with chronic inflammation and impaired autophagy. Resistance training serves as an effective intervention for enhancing skeletal muscle hypertrophy.MethodsThis study utilized a naturally aged mouse model to investigate the role of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway in mediating the effects of resistance training on chronic inflammation and autophagy in aged skeletal muscle.ResultsOur findings demonstrate that resistance training increased the wet weight of the gastrocnemius (GAS) and quadriceps (Quad), absolute number of fibers and the cross-sectional areas (CSA) of skeletal muscles, as well as enhanced the maximum load and maximum grip strength. These findings indicate that resistance training improved the quality and strength of skeletal muscles in aging mice. Resistance training alleviated inflammation in aged skeletal muscle by promoting M2 macrophage polarization, reducing the mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and increasing the mRNA levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). In aged skeletal muscle, resistance training decreased the protein expression of mTOR, regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (Raptor), p70 ribosomal protein s6 kinase (p70S6K), IL-1β, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) without affecting protein kinase B (AKT) activity. Moreover, autophagy, which is reduced in aged muscle, was increased by resistance training through increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and increased BCL-2-interacting protein 1 (Beclin1) and transcriptional factor EB (TFEB) expression.DiscussionOur study suggests that resistance training was associated with alleviated inflammation and regulated autophagy, potentially involving the mTORC1-HIF-1α and mTORC1-AMPK pathways, which may contribute to improved skeletal muscle mass in aged mice.
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spelling doaj-art-8eeccc70b9cb4e6286f892aed23dd0ea2025-08-20T02:32:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15972221597222Resistance training alleviates muscle atrophy and muscle dysfunction by reducing inflammation and regulating compromised autophagy in aged skeletal muscleYangfan Cao0Jiawei Zhou1Helong Quan2Wei Li3Ting Li4Lifeng Wang5College of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, ChinaCollege of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, ChinaCollege of Physical Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, ChinaCollege of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, ChinaCollege of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, ChinaCollege of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, ChinaBackgroundAge related muscle atrophy is associated with chronic inflammation and impaired autophagy. Resistance training serves as an effective intervention for enhancing skeletal muscle hypertrophy.MethodsThis study utilized a naturally aged mouse model to investigate the role of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway in mediating the effects of resistance training on chronic inflammation and autophagy in aged skeletal muscle.ResultsOur findings demonstrate that resistance training increased the wet weight of the gastrocnemius (GAS) and quadriceps (Quad), absolute number of fibers and the cross-sectional areas (CSA) of skeletal muscles, as well as enhanced the maximum load and maximum grip strength. These findings indicate that resistance training improved the quality and strength of skeletal muscles in aging mice. Resistance training alleviated inflammation in aged skeletal muscle by promoting M2 macrophage polarization, reducing the mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and increasing the mRNA levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). In aged skeletal muscle, resistance training decreased the protein expression of mTOR, regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (Raptor), p70 ribosomal protein s6 kinase (p70S6K), IL-1β, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) without affecting protein kinase B (AKT) activity. Moreover, autophagy, which is reduced in aged muscle, was increased by resistance training through increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and increased BCL-2-interacting protein 1 (Beclin1) and transcriptional factor EB (TFEB) expression.DiscussionOur study suggests that resistance training was associated with alleviated inflammation and regulated autophagy, potentially involving the mTORC1-HIF-1α and mTORC1-AMPK pathways, which may contribute to improved skeletal muscle mass in aged mice.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1597222/fullagingskeletal musclemTORC1chronic inflammationautophagy
spellingShingle Yangfan Cao
Jiawei Zhou
Helong Quan
Wei Li
Ting Li
Lifeng Wang
Resistance training alleviates muscle atrophy and muscle dysfunction by reducing inflammation and regulating compromised autophagy in aged skeletal muscle
Frontiers in Immunology
aging
skeletal muscle
mTORC1
chronic inflammation
autophagy
title Resistance training alleviates muscle atrophy and muscle dysfunction by reducing inflammation and regulating compromised autophagy in aged skeletal muscle
title_full Resistance training alleviates muscle atrophy and muscle dysfunction by reducing inflammation and regulating compromised autophagy in aged skeletal muscle
title_fullStr Resistance training alleviates muscle atrophy and muscle dysfunction by reducing inflammation and regulating compromised autophagy in aged skeletal muscle
title_full_unstemmed Resistance training alleviates muscle atrophy and muscle dysfunction by reducing inflammation and regulating compromised autophagy in aged skeletal muscle
title_short Resistance training alleviates muscle atrophy and muscle dysfunction by reducing inflammation and regulating compromised autophagy in aged skeletal muscle
title_sort resistance training alleviates muscle atrophy and muscle dysfunction by reducing inflammation and regulating compromised autophagy in aged skeletal muscle
topic aging
skeletal muscle
mTORC1
chronic inflammation
autophagy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1597222/full
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