Resistance training rejuvenates aging skin by reducing circulating inflammatory factors and enhancing dermal extracellular matrices

Abstract

Aerobic training (AT) is suggested to be an effective anti-aging strategy for skin aging. However, the respective effects of resistance training (RT) have not been studied. Therefore, we compared the effects of AT and RT on skin aging in a 16-week intervention in 61 healthy sedentary middle-aged Japanese women. Data from 56 women were available for analysis. Both interventions significantly improved skin elasticity and upper dermal structure, and RT also improved dermal thickness. After the training intervention, expression of dermal extracellular matrix-related genes was increased in normal human primary dermal fibroblasts. AT and RT had different effects on circulating levels of factors, such as cytokines, hormones in serum, and metabolites, and RT increased dermal biglycan (BGN). To our knowledge, this is the first report to show different effects of AT and RT on skin aging and identify the key factors involved in RT-induced skin rejuvenation.

Figure 1

Schematic illustration of the training intervention study. ECM extracellular matrix. The illustrations were drawn by an illustrator from LES BANC CO., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan), and the copyrights were transferred to POLA Chemical Industries, Inc.

Figure 2

Effects of aerobic training and resistance training on skin aging parameters. (a) Venn diagram of skin parameters improved by aerobic training (AT) and resistance training (RT) interventions. Skin parameters in the blue and red elliptical areas were improved by the AT or RT intervention, respectively, and skin parameters in the overlapping area were improved by both interventions. (b,c) Effects of AT and RT on skin elasticity (b) and upper dermal structure (c). Elastic recovery rate (Ur/Uf) and rate of low echogenic pixels (LEPs) in the upper dermis were measured as parameters of skin elasticity and upper dermal structure, respectively. (d) Differential effect of AT and RT on dermal thickness. Change (Δ) in dermal thickness was calculated as the difference between dermal thickness before and after the training intervention. Columns and bars indicate mean and standard error (SE). Statistical analyses of intragroup difference (b,c) and differences in Δdermal thickness (d) were performed with two-sided paired t tests and analysis of co-variance with adjustment for the baseline value of dermal thickness measured before the training intervention, respectively. ***p < 0.001; ^†p < 0.10. AT aerobic training, LEP low echogenic pixel, RT resistance training.

Figure 3

Effects of aerobic training and resistance training on expression of dermal extracellular matrix-related genes in cultured skin fibroblasts. (a) Venn diagram of dermal extracellular matrix genes with increased expression after aerobic training (AT) and resistance training (RT). Expression levels of genes in the blue and red elliptical areas were higher in plasma after the AT and RT intervention, respectively. Expression levels of genes in the overlapping area were higher in plasma after both AT and RT. (b) Differential effect of AT and RT on BGN expression. Columns and bars indicate mean and standard error (SE). Statistical analyses of intragroup differences were performed with two-sided paired t tests. **, p < 0.01; N.S. not significant, AT aerobic training, BGN biglycan, CHPF chondroitin polymerizing factor, CHSY1 chondroitin sulfate synthase 1, COL1A2 collagen type I α 2 chain, COL3A1, collagen type III α 1 chain, COL5A1 collagen type V α 1 chain, COL6A1 collagen type VI α 1 chain, COL12A1 collagen type XII α 1 chain, COL14A1 collagen type XIV α 1 chain, DCN decorin, HAS2 hyaluronan synthase 2, RT resistance training, VCAN versican.

Figure 4

Identification of blood factors affecting biglycan (BGN) expression. (a) Venn diagram of circulating factors increased or decreased by aerobic training (AT) and resistance training (RT). The circulating level of factors in the blue and red elliptical areas was increased (factors written above the dashed line) or decreased (factors written below the dashed line) by the AT and RT interventions, respectively. The circulating level of factors in the overlapping area was increased (above the line) and decreased (below the line) by both the AT and RT interventions. (b) Differential effect of AT and RT on the circulating level of C–C motif chemokine ligand 28 (CCL28). Columns and bars indicate mean and standard error (SE). Statistical analyses for the intragroup difference were performed with two-sided paired t tests. *p < 0.05; N.S. not significant. (c–f) Correlation between change rate in biglycan (BGN) expression and that of the circulating level of CCL28 (c), N,N-dimethylglycine (d), C–X–C motif chemokine 4 (e), and C–X–C motif chemokine 8 (f). Change in BGN expression was calculated as the change of expression in skin fibroblasts cultured with plasma from blood sampled before and after the training intervention. Changes in the circulating levels of factors were calculated as the difference in the circulating level before and after the training intervention. The dots and lines indicate the participants in the RT group and the regression lines, respectively. (g) Effects of candidate factors on BGN gene expression. The columns and bars indicate mean and standard error (SE). The concentrations were determined from the mean blood concentration in participants before the training intervention. The mean concentrations were as follows: CCL28, 150 pg/mL; N,N-dimethylglycine, 7 μM; CXCL4, 10 μg/mL; and CXCL8, 10 pg/mL. Statistical analyses were performed with Dunnett’s test. r Pearson correlation coefficient, *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ^†p < 0.10; N.S. not significant, AT aerobic training, BGN biglycan, CCL28 C–C motif chemokine ligand 28, CXCL4 C–X–C motif chemokine 4, CXCL8 C–X–C motif chemokine 8, RT resistance training.

Figure 5

Skin rejuvenating effects of aerobic training and resistance training. BGN biglycan, CCL28 C–C motif chemokine ligand 28, CHPF chondroitin polymerizing factor, CHSY1 chondroitin sulfate synthase 1, COL1A2 collagen type I α 2 chain, COL3A1 collagen type III α 1 chain, COL5A1 collagen type V α 1 chain, COL6A1 collagen type VI α 1 chain, COL12A1 collagen type XII α 1 chain, COL14A1 collagen type XIV α 1 chain, CXCL4 C–X–C motif chemokine 4, DCN decorin, HAS2 hyaluronan synthase 2, VCAN versican. The illustrations were drawn by an illustrator from LES BANC CO., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan), and the copyrights were transferred to POLA Chemical Industries, Inc.