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Review
. 2024 Jun 4;36(6):1175-1183.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.04.001. Epub 2024 Apr 25.

Immunological regulation of skeletal muscle adaptation to exercise

P Kent Langston  1 , Diane Mathis  2
Affiliations
Review

Immunological regulation of skeletal muscle adaptation to exercise

P Kent Langston et al. Cell Metab. .

Abstract

Exercise has long been acknowledged for its powerful disease-preventing, health-promoting effects. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of exercise are not fully understood. Inflammation is a component of the stress response to exercise. Recent work has revealed that such inflammation is not merely a symptom of exertion; rather, it is a key regulator of exercise adaptations, particularly in skeletal muscle. The purpose of this piece is to provide a conceptual framework that we hope will integrate exercise immunology with exercise physiology, muscle biology, and cellular immunology. We start with an overview of early studies in the field of exercise immunology, followed by an exploration of the importance of stromal cells and immunocytes in the maintenance of muscle homeostasis based on studies of experimental muscle injury. Subsequently, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the functions and physiological relevance of the immune system in exercised muscle. Finally, we highlight a potential immunological basis for the benefits of exercise in musculoskeletal diseases and aging.

Keywords: Tregs; exercise; muscle.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Generalized relationship between exercise-induced stress responses and performance.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Model of intramuscular cellular circuits.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Summary of exercise-induced muscle- and organism-level adaptations in the presence or absence of immunoregulation by Tregs.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Overview of cellular responses in muscle, changes in performance, and outlook for exercise versus muscle injury.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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