This New Discovery Could Revolutionize Your Workout Routine

Why Your Muscles Are More Powerful Than You Think

Introduction

Researchers from Duke University, specializing in biomedical engineering, have uncovered that human muscle possesses an intrinsic ability to combat the detrimental effects of chronic inflammation when exercised. This breakthrough was achieved through the use of lab-grown, engineered human muscle, highlighting the significant potential of this innovative research platform. The findings were published in the journal Science Advances.

Key Findings

Professor Nenad Bursac, a leading figure in biomedical engineering at Duke University, emphasized the complexity of the processes occurring throughout the human body during exercise. He noted, "Lots of processes are taking place throughout the human body during exercise, and it is difficult to tease apart which systems and cells are doing what inside an active person."

The engineered muscle platform developed by Bursac’s team is modular, allowing for the combination of various types of cells and tissue components. However, in this particular study, it was discovered that muscle cells alone possess the capability to take anti-inflammatory actions independently.

Understanding Inflammation

Inflammation plays a dual role in the human body. While an initial low-level inflammatory response is beneficial in clearing debris and aiding tissue repair after injury, an excessive or prolonged inflammatory response can cause harm. This overreaction of the immune system can lead to damaging outcomes, such as the severe cytokine storms seen in some COVID-19 cases. Additionally, chronic inflammation is a hallmark of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and sarcopenia, which result in muscle deterioration and impaired function.

Muscle Dysfunction and Inflammation

Among the numerous molecules that can trigger inflammation, interferon gamma is notably associated with various forms of muscle wasting and dysfunction. Although previous studies in both humans and animals have demonstrated that exercise can alleviate the effects of inflammation, it has remained challenging to isolate the specific role of muscle cells and their interaction with molecules like interferon gamma.

Research Insights

Zhaowei Chen, a postdoctoral researcher in Bursac's laboratory and the study's lead author, stated, "We know that chronic inflammatory diseases induce muscle atrophy, but we wanted to see if the same thing would happen to our engineered human muscles grown in a Petri dish."

Chen and the research team confirmed that interferon gamma operates primarily through a specific signaling pathway. They also discovered that exercising muscle cells can directly counteract this pro-inflammatory signaling without the need for other cell types or tissues.

Study Overview

To establish that muscle alone can neutralize the harmful effects of interferon gamma, Bursac and Chen utilized the engineered muscle platform that has been in development for nearly a decade. The laboratory was the first to grow contracting, functional human skeletal muscle in a Petri dish. Over time, they have enhanced this process by incorporating immune cells and stem cell reservoirs.

In the current study, fully functional lab-grown muscles were exposed to high levels of interferon gamma over seven days, simulating the impact of chronic inflammation. As anticipated, the muscles shrank and lost significant strength.

In a subsequent phase, the researchers reintroduced interferon gamma but added a simulated exercise regimen by electrically stimulating the muscle. While they expected some muscle growth, as observed in previous studies, they were surprised to find that this approach nearly completely prevented the damaging effects of chronic inflammation.

The team further demonstrated that simulated exercise inhibited a specific molecular pathway in muscle cells. Additionally, two drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, tofacitinib and baricitinib, which block the same pathway, exhibited a similar anti-inflammatory effect.

Closing Statement

Professor Bursac remarked, "When exercising, the muscle cells themselves were directly opposing the pro-inflammatory signal induced by interferon gamma, which we did not expect to happen."

He highlighted the immense value of lab-grown human muscles in uncovering new mechanisms of disease and potential treatments. The findings suggest that optimal levels and regimes of exercise might combat chronic inflammation without overstressing cells. The engineered muscle platform could play a crucial role in exploring these possibilities.

If these results are replicated in muscles within the human body, it would strongly support the idea that regular physical exercise offers significant anti-aging benefits. Chronic inflammation is a well-known contributor to various diseases, including diabetes, Graves' disease, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, among others.

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