Exercise Training on Metabolic Dysfunctions—Exerkines Are the Missing Link in Preventing Metabolic Complications

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Endocrinology and Clinical Metabolic Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2023) | Viewed by 7914

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
Interests: oxidative stress; redox signaling; antioxidants; exercise; muscle adaptation; metabolic diseases; inflammation; mitochondrial dysfunction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Exercise has been recognized as a powerful tool for preventing and treating metabolic diseases. Exercise even offers more benefits than low-performing drugs in regulating whole-body insulin sensitivity and systemic metabolism. Although skeletal muscle adaptation is critical for realizing these metabolic health benefits, other tissues, such as the liver and adipose tissues, are also involved in maintaining these advantages. Exercise activates various signaling molecules and proteins in these tissues, such as myokines and adipokines, collectively called “exerkines”, which can orchestrate systemic metabolic health benefits. However, a less mechanistic approach has been disclosed regarding these molecules and exercise. Indeed, other new molecules will soon be discovered, leading to greater insights into exercise’s effects. The energy demanded by prolonged exercise induces increased communication between the tissues, mainly muscle and adipose tissues. However, this scenario also activates the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, which are linked with metabolic dysfunction. In contrast, the importance of ROS in glucose uptake due to ROS generation during muscle contraction has also been reported recently. Therefore, targeting these exerkines with ROS could pave the way for a new therapeutical approach to treating metabolic complications.

This Special Issue welcomes both original and review articles related to this topic and other relevant themes.

Dr. Anand Thirupathi
Dr. Yaodong Gu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • exercise
  • exerkines
  • insulin resistance
  • oxidative stress
  • inflammation
  • redox signaling
  • adipose tissue
  • skeletal muscle

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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9 pages, 437 KiB  
Article
Physical Inactivity, Metabolic Syndrome and Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: Development of a Predicting Nomogram
by Cosimo De Nunzio, Aldo Brassetti, Fabiana Cancrini, Francesco Prata, Luca Cindolo, Petros Sountoulides, Chrysovalantis Toutziaris, Mauro Gacci, Riccardo Lombardo, Antonio Cicione, Giorgia Tema, Luigi Schips, Giuseppe Simone, Sergio Serni and Andrea Tubaro
Metabolites 2023, 13(1), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13010111 - 9 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2146
Abstract
Insufficient physical activity (PA) may be a shared risk factor for the development of both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and prostate cancer (PCa). To investigate this correlation and to develop a nomogram able to predict tumor diagnosis. Between 2016 and 2018, a consecutive series [...] Read more.
Insufficient physical activity (PA) may be a shared risk factor for the development of both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and prostate cancer (PCa). To investigate this correlation and to develop a nomogram able to predict tumor diagnosis. Between 2016 and 2018, a consecutive series of men who underwent prostate biopsy at three institutions were prospectively enrolled. PA was self-assessed by patients through the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) questionnaire; MetS was assessed according to Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. A logistic regression analyses was used to identify predictors of PCa diagnosis and high-grade disease (defined as International Society of Uro-Pathology grade >2 tumors). A nomogram was then computed to estimate the risk of tumor diagnosis. A total of 291 patients were enrolled; 17.5% of them (n = 51) presented with MetS. PCa was diagnosed in 110 (38%) patients overall while 51 presented high-grade disease. At multivariable analysis, age (OR 1.04; 95%CI: 1.00–1.08; p = 0.048), prostate volume (PV) (OR 0.98; 95%CI: 0.79–0.99; p = 0.004), suspicious digital rectal examination (OR 2.35; 95%CI: 1.11–4.98; p = 0.02), total PSA value (OR 1.12; 95%CI: 1.05–1.2; p < 0.001), and PASE score (OR 0.99; 95%CI: 0.98–0.99; p = 0.01) were independent predictors of tumor diagnosis. The latter two also predicted high-grade PCa. MetS was not associated with PCa diagnosis and aggressiveness. The novel nomogram displayed fair discrimination for PCa diagnosis (AUC = 0.76), adequate calibration (p > 0.05) and provided a net benefit in the range of probabilities between 20% and 90%. reduced PA was associated with an increased risk of PCa diagnosis and high-grade disease. Our nomogram could improve the selection of patients scheduled for prostate biopsy at increased risk of PCa. Full article
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9 pages, 1340 KiB  
Article
Impact of Sustained Exogenous Irisin Myokine Administration on Muscle and Myocyte Integrity in Sprague Dawley Rats
by Foad Alzoughool, Mohammad Borhan Al-Zghoul, Bayan Y. Ghanim, Manar Atoum, Yousef Aljawarneh, Nasir Idkaidek and Nidal A. Qinna
Metabolites 2022, 12(10), 939; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12100939 - 3 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2130
Abstract
Irisin is an exercise-induced myokine implicated as a fundamental mediator of physical activity benefits. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the chronic administration model of irisin on the physiological and molecular status of skeletal muscle. A total [...] Read more.
Irisin is an exercise-induced myokine implicated as a fundamental mediator of physical activity benefits. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the chronic administration model of irisin on the physiological and molecular status of skeletal muscle. A total of 20 female Sprague Dawley rats (250 ± 40 g) were implanted with an irisin-loaded osmotic pump (5 µg/kg/day) for 42 days; in addition, 3 females received a single subcutaneous injection of irisin (5 µg/kg). On a weekly basis for six weeks, animals were weighed and blood samples were collected. After 42 days, hind muscle biopsies were collected for histology and gene analysis. Serum irisin, clinical biochemistry, and histopathology were quantified and evaluated. Genes encoding for different physiological muscle activities, such as oxidative stress, fatty acid metabolism, muscle hypertrophy, mitochondrial fusion, and aging were assayed. The results showed a significant reduction in body weight percentage and creatine kinase level without affecting the morphological characteristics of skeletal muscle. Significant changes were noted in genes involved in muscle physiological activity, growth, and aging, as well as genes encoding for the antioxidant system, fatty acid oxidation processes, and mitochondrial fusion. In conclusion, exogenous irisin can induce the same physiological and molecular mechanisms that might be induced by exercise. Full article
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26 pages, 1870 KiB  
Systematic Review
Mixed Treatments Comparison of Oral Nutrition Interventions for Blood Immune Cell Parameters in Cancer Patients: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
by Yufei Fang, Yining Xu, Yuting Zhang, Feng Ren and Julien S. Baker
Metabolites 2022, 12(9), 868; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12090868 - 15 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2377
Abstract
Oral nutrition interventions are commonly applied as an assistant therapeutic approach, which could affect the balance of the immunological response but with mixed evidence. The objective of this study is to identify the potential of different oral nutrition interventions for blood immune cell [...] Read more.
Oral nutrition interventions are commonly applied as an assistant therapeutic approach, which could affect the balance of the immunological response but with mixed evidence. The objective of this study is to identify the potential of different oral nutrition interventions for blood immune cell parameters in cancer patients. Randomized controlled trials, which were published in peer-reviewed journals in the language of English, and which identified the effects of different oral nutrition interventions on cancer patients, were screened and included in the databases of PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science. White blood cell count (WBC), lymphocyte count, CD4/CD8, and neutrophil count were selected as outcome measures. For the result, 11 trials were included. The agreement between authors reached a kappa value of 0.78. Beta-carotene supplementation has a high potential in inducing a positive effect on blood immune cell parameters for cancer patients (first positive for WBC and CD4/CD8, second positive for lymphocyte count), as well as a combination of physical exercise and hypocaloric healthy eating intervention (first positive for lymphocyte and neutrophil count, second positive for WBC). Oral nutrition supplementations with a single substance have less potential to provide a positive effect on blood immune cell parameters for cancer patients (glutamine: 0.30 and 0.28 to be the last selection for WBCs and lymphocytes; Omega 3: 0.37 to be the last selection for WBCs; Protein: 0.44 to be the last selection for lymphocytes; Zinc: 0.60 to be the last selection for neutrophils). In conclusion, the programs of immunonutrition therapy for different cancer patients might be different. The past perception that mixed oral nutritional supplementations are superior to oral nutritional supplements with a single substance might be wrong and the selection of oral nutritional supplementation need cautiousness. A combination of physical exercise might have a positive effect but also needs a higher level of evidence. Registration Number: CRD42021286396. Full article
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