Skeletal muscles and satellite cells: How exercise leads to longer lives
A trio of researchers at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute has conducted a review of the ways that periodic activation of satellite cells through exercise can lessen senescence acquisition and myogenic decline.
Satellite cell quiescence versus activation. Satellite stem (Pax7+:Myf5−) and committed cells (Pax7+:Myf5+) are able to exit the cell cycle and arrest in a reversible quiescent G0 state. Satellite stem and committed cells are primed for rapid cell cycle reentry by transitioning to a second reversible quiescent state called GAlert. Committed satellite cells in GAlert begin transcribing downstream MRFs Myf5 and MyoD. Satellite cells in GAlert are primed to quickly respond to regenerative demands by entering the cell cycle faster than G0 quiescent satellite cells. Active progenitor cells initiate the terminal differentiation programme to upregulate MyoG and Mrf4 in myoblasts and myocytes before fusion into myotubes. Credit: Open Biology (2020). DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200048
by Bob Yirka, Phys.org May 20, 2020
In their paper published in the journal Open Biology, William Chen, David Datzkiw and Michael Rudnick describe their review and what they learned about the benefits of exercise on skeletal muscle as people age.
The researchers begin their review by noting that people who keep their skeletal muscles toned tend to live longer, healthier lives. They also note that prior research has shown that skeletal muscle decline begins when people age into their 30s—but they also point out that muscles can be rejuvenated through healthy satellite cells. Thus, maintaining healthy muscles requires proper maintenance of satellite cells.
Satellite cells are a type of stem cell that, when they divide, produce either new satellite cells or myoblasts, which grow to become muscle cells. They can also go into a state of dormancy if the body deems them unnecessary due to a sedentary lifestyle. The researchers found that satellite cells are activated through various signaling pathways as a response to exercise. But if they remain in a dormant state for too long, they can become damaged as they fill with cellular trash. In their dormant state, they still produce such trash, but because they are dormant, they cannot expel it as most cells normally do. They also found that satellite cells can become “stuck” in dormancy, through disuse, leaving them permanently unable to divide. They suggest that keeping dormant satellite cells healthy requires regular activation.
The researchers conclude that people need to activate their muscles on a regular basis once they reach age 30, or face the possibility of losing the ability to regenerate muscle mass as they age. They also acknowledge that even with regular exercise, people will experience age-related skeletal muscle defects and will experience some loss in satellite cell viability—making regular exercise all the more important for people as they grow older. They also note that there are still gaps in understanding how satellite cell replacement works and suggest that more research is required.
Source Phys.org
| References |
Satellite cells in ageing: use it or lose it, Chen William, Datzkiw David and Rudnicki Michael A. 2020. Open Biol. 10200048 http://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.200048. Full text
Satellite cell self-renewal in endurance exercise is mediated by inhibition of mitochondrial oxygen consumption, Abreu P, Kowaltowski AJ. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2020 Aug 3. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12601. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32748470. Full text
Also see
Scientists manipulate ‘satellite cells’ to speed healing University of Georgia
Brazilian researchers discover how muscle regenerates after exercise Agência FAPESP
