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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
10:10
Preparation and Culture of Myogenic Precursor Cells/Primary Myoblasts from Skeletal Muscle of Adult and Aged Humans
Published on: February 16, 2017
The Role of Exercise in Regulating Histone Modifications and Non-coding RNAs in Muscle Aging and Sarcopenia
1College of Physical Education and Health, Huaihua University, Huaihua, 418000, Hunan, China. wangjunli84822@sina.com.
Biochemical Genetics
|July 6, 2026
Summary
Exercise combats age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) by reprogramming epigenetics. Physical activity, including resistance and endurance training, improves muscle function and healthspan in older adults by reversing detrimental epigenetic changes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Molecular Biology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Sarcopenia, age-related muscle loss, significantly impacts older adults' health and quality of life.
- Physical exercise is key for managing sarcopenia, but its molecular underpinnings require further elucidation.
- Epigenetic mechanisms, including histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, are increasingly recognized in sarcopenia and exercise response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of epigenetics in skeletal muscle aging and exercise adaptation.
- To synthesize findings on how aging affects muscle epigenetics and how exercise counteracts these changes.
- To highlight the interplay between epigenetic regulators and their translational implications for combating sarcopenia.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing current research on sarcopenia, epigenetics, and exercise.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms including histone modifications (acetylation, methylation, lactylation) and non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, lncRNAs).
- Examination of evidence from animal models and human clinical trials.
Main Results:
- Aging disrupts muscle epigenetics, leading to anabolic resistance, inflammation, and impaired regeneration.
- Exercise modulates histone modifications and non-coding RNA profiles, reactivating muscle maintenance and repair genes.
- Human studies show exercise benefits muscle function and epigenetic markers, including reduced epigenetic age acceleration.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic reprogramming via exercise offers a promising strategy to combat sarcopenia and extend healthspan.
- Understanding the interplay between histone modifiers and ncRNAs can inform targeted interventions.
- Exercise demonstrates significant potential as a therapeutic agent for age-related muscle decline.
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Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
02:32Histone Modification
The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Acetylation
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02:32Histone Modification
The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Acetylation
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