Resistance exercise training increases the expression of irisin concomitant with improvement of muscle function in aging mice and humans
Abstract
We investigated the effect of resistance training on irisin expression with improvement in muscle strength and function in aged mice and human. In the mice study, 19 months old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into two groups; control group and resistance exercise group. Ladder climbing exercise with tail weight was performed 3 days per week for 12 weeks. In the human study, participants (aged over 65 years) were randomly assigned into exercise group or control group. Elastic band exercise program consisted of 12 weeks of 1-h session 2 days per week. In the mice study, we found an increase of irisin in serum and soleus muscle as well as improvement in muscle strength (p=0.02) and muscle quality (p=0.03) without body composition change in training animals. In the human study, isokinetic leg strength and grip strength were improved in the exercise group compared to the control group without change of body composition. In addition, the level of circulating irisin level was increased. It had a positive correlation with grip strength (R=0.526, p=0.002) and leg strength (R=0.414, p=0.003) in the exercise group. Thus, resistant training might be an efficient intervention method to increase irisin levels and prevent age-related decline in muscle function.
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Resistance exercise for 12 weeks elevated irisin levels and improved muscle strength in mice and older adults, which might present an effective strategy to counteract age-related decline in muscle function.
“Resistance exercise for 12 weeks (ladder climbing exercise three times a week in mice; elastic band exercise program consisting of 1 h sessions twice a week for older adults) elevated irisin levels and improved muscle strength, which might present an effective strategy to counteract age-related decline in muscle function [92] (Table 1).”
From Exerkines and Sarcopenia: Unveiling the Mechanism Behind Exercise-Induced Mitochondrial Homeostasis (2025) · cites this paper as [92]
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- Authors
- Kim, H.-J., So, B., Choi, M., Kang, D., & Song, W.
- Affiliations
- Seoul National University (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Song, Wook
- Venue
- Experimental Gerontology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-10
- Volume
- 70
- Pages
- 11-17
- ISSN
- 0531-5565 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1486172645
- Cited by
- 181
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 5.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Experimental Gerontology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, MEST (2011-0030135, NRF-2013M3A9B6046417)
- KMPC (2013M3A9D5072550)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Keywords
- resistance training, irisin, muscle function, muscle strength, muscle quality, aging, sarcopenia, soleus muscle, grip strength, isokinetic leg strength, muscle atrophy prevention, older adults
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aging, Animals, Body Composition, Female, Fibronectins, Humans, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Physical Conditioning, Animal, Exercise, Muscle, Skeletal, Hand Strength, Muscle Strength, Resistance Training
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