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Updated: May 26, 2026
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NF-κB-dependent Luciferase Activation and Quantification of Gene Expression in Salmonella Infected Tissue Culture Cells
Published on: January 12, 2020
Resistance exercise increases NF-κB activity in human skeletal muscle
Luke Vella1, Marissa K Caldow, Amy E Larsen
1Molecular Nutrition Research Unit, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia.
Summary
Intense resistance exercise activates the NF-κB signaling pathway in human skeletal muscle. This pathway regulates inflammatory myokines, influencing the postexercise inflammatory response.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Intense resistance exercise induces inflammation.
- Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is a key transcription factor in inflammatory responses.
- The role of NF-κB signaling in skeletal muscle post-exercise is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulation of NF-κB signaling in human skeletal muscle following a single bout of intense resistance exercise.
Main Methods:
- Muscle biopsies were collected from recreationally active males before and after resistance exercise.
- Protein levels of IκBα and phosphorylated NF-κB (p65) were measured.
- mRNA expression of inflammatory myokines (MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8) and NF-κB DNA binding activity were assessed.
Main Results:
- IκBα protein decreased, while p-NF-κB (p65) increased 2 hours post-exercise, returning to baseline by 4 hours.
- NF-κB (p65) nuclear localization and DNA binding activity to myokine promoters increased post-exercise.
- mRNA levels of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly elevated 2 hours post-exercise.
Conclusions:
- Intense resistance exercise transiently activates NF-κB signaling in human skeletal muscle.
- NF-κB plays a role in the transcriptional control of inflammatory myokines after exercise.
- These findings elucidate mechanisms underlying the postexercise inflammatory response.
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