The renal molecular clock: broken by aging and restored by exercise

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Chronobiology
• Physiology

Background:

• The mammalian circadian clock, regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), governs 24-hour physiological rhythms.
• Kidney function, including waste filtration and fluid balance, is tightly controlled by the molecular/circadian clock.
• Aging negatively impacts renal function and circadian rhythms, potentially leading to health issues like hypertension and stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the influence of aging on kidney circadian rhythms and function.
• To investigate the protective mechanisms of physical activity against age-related circadian disruption in the kidney.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on circadian rhythms, aging, and kidney physiology.
• Analysis of proposed mechanisms linking physical activity to peripheral clock entrainment.

Main Results:

• Aging significantly disrupts central and peripheral circadian rhythms, affecting kidney function.
• Disrupted kidney circadian rhythms are linked to adverse health outcomes, including nocturia and hypertension.
• Regular physical activity shows promise in improving circadian misalignment.

Conclusions:

• Age-related circadian disruption in the kidney contributes to significant health risks.
• Regular endurance exercise may protect kidney health by entraining peripheral clocks via renal blood flow and fluid balance regulation.