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Exercise improves aging-induced cardiac dysfunction and prolongs lifespan via Hmgcr

Zhengwen Yu1, Qiufang Li1, Meng Ding1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise Rehabilitation of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.

Life Sciences
|August 16, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Aging hearts show decreased HMGCR expression, leading to dysfunction. Upregulating HMGCR, potentially through exercise, can improve heart function and extend lifespan in aging individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Molecular Mechanisms of Aging
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease incidence rises with age, necessitating understanding of age-related heart damage.
  • 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase (HMGCR) is key in cholesterol biosynthesis and impacts heart development.
  • HMGCR's role in aging hearts remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate HMGCR expression and function during cardiac aging.
  • To determine if HMGCR modulation can mitigate age-related cardiac dysfunction.
  • To explore the link between exercise, HMGCR, and cardiac aging.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Drosophila melanogaster model for studying cardiac aging.
  • Analyzed HMGCR expression levels in aging cardiac tissue.
  • Assessed cardiac function and lifespan in response to HMGCR modulation and exercise.

Main Results:

  • Aging significantly decreased HMGCR expression in cardiac tissue, correlating with impaired heart function.
  • Upregulating cardiac HMGCR expression improved aging-related cardiac dysfunction and extended lifespan.
  • Exercise was found to upregulate HMGCR expression, enhancing cardiac function and lifespan in aging flies.

Conclusions:

  • HMGCR plays a critical role in maintaining cardiac function during aging.
  • Targeting HMGCR offers a potential therapeutic strategy for age-related heart disease.
  • Exercise improves cardiac aging by upregulating HMGCR, providing a mechanistic link.

Keywords:
AgingCardiovascular diseaseHmgcrLife span

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