The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (23): 3638-3644.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2025.23.002

• Feature Reports:Musculoskeletal Diseases • Previous Articles    

The effect of resistance exercise regulation of Piezo1 on myoblasts in skeletal muscles in elderly mice

Rong LIN,Gang. LIU()   

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,Nanfang Hospital,Southern Medical University,Guangzhou 510515,Guangdong,China
  • Received:2025-07-25 Online:2025-12-10 Published:2025-12-18
  • Contact: Gang. LIU E-mail:lg2781@smu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the regulatory effects of resistance exercise on Piezo1 in myoblasts within skeletal muscles of aged mice. Methods In animal experiments, thirty 20-month-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to one of three groups: an aging control group, an aging exercise group, and an aging exercise inhibitor group. Additionally, ten 3-month-old young mice served as a young control group. The aging exercise group underwent 8 weeks of resistance exercise training, whereas the aging exercise inhibitor group received both 8 weeks of resistance exercise and intraperitoneal injections of GsMTx4. Exercise capacity was evaluated using grip strength tests and rotarod performance assays. Skeletal muscle cross-sectional area was assessed via hematoxylin-eosin staining, fibrosis was examined using Sirius red staining, and the proportion of p16-positive cells was determined by immunohistochemistry. In cellular experiments, senescence in myoblasts was induced with D-galactose (D-gal), followed by activation of Piezo1 using Yoda1. The percentage of senescent cells was measured by SA-β-Gal staining, while protein expression levels of senescence markers (p16 and p21) and atrophy markers (Atrogin-1 and MuRF1) were quantified by Western blot analysis. Cell immunofluorescence staining was employed to assess the average fluorescence intensity of p21. Results (1)Compared with the aging control group, the aging + exercise group exhibited significant improvements in exercise capacity, quadriceps femoris mass index, skeletal muscle cross-sectional area, reduction in skeletal muscle fibrosis, and a lower p16-positive cell percentage (P < 0.05); (2)These beneficial effects of exercise on aged skeletal muscle were attenuated following treatment with a Piezo1 inhibitor (P < 0.05); (3)In vitro experiments demonstrated that activation of Piezo1 reduced the SA-β-Gal positive cell rate in myoblasts, downregulated the expression of senescence markers (p16 and p21) and atrophy-related markers (Atrogin-1 and MuRF1), and decreased the average fluorescence intensity of p21 (P < 0.05). Conclusion Resistance exercise suppresses myocyte aging through activation of Piezo1, thereby ameliorating age-related muscle atrophy in the elderly.

Key words: annual muscular atrophy, resistance exercise, Piezo1, aging, skeletal muscles

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