The DOI matches its Crossref record; 55 of the 57 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
JNK regulates muscle remodeling via myostatin/SMAD inhibition
Open accessAbstract
Skeletal muscle has a remarkable plasticity to adapt and remodel in response to environmental cues, such as physical exercise. Endurance exercise stimulates improvements in muscle oxidative capacity, while resistance exercise induces muscle growth. Here we show that the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is a molecular switch that when active, stimulates muscle fibers to grow, resulting in increased muscle mass. Conversely, when muscle JNK activation is suppressed, an alternative remodeling program is initiated, resulting in smaller, more oxidative muscle fibers, and enhanced aerobic fitness. When muscle is exposed to mechanical stress, JNK initiates muscle growth via phosphorylation of the transcription factor, SMAD2, at specific linker region residues leading to inhibition of the growth suppressor, myostatin. In human skeletal muscle, this JNK/SMAD signaling axis is activated by resistance exercise, but not endurance exercise. We conclude that JNK acts as a key mediator of muscle remodeling during exercise via regulation of myostatin/SMAD signaling.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Figures


![Fig. 3 SMAD-linker and JNK phosphorylation with exercise and muscle contraction in mice. a ICR mice underwent moderate intensity treadmill running for 15, 30, or 60 min and gastrocnemius muscles were collected. Control (rest) mice did not undergo treadmill running. Western blotting was used to determine exercise-induced signal transduction. Data from N = 3 mice/group are shown. b Electrodes were used to stimulate the lower hindlimb muscles from ICR mice [C; contracted]. The contralateral limb was unstimulated and acted as a control [B; basal]. Data from N = 3 mice/group are shown. c Both soleus muscles were rapidly removed from mice and attached to a force tranducer in oxygenated Kreb’s Henseleit Buffer. One muscle from each mouse was left at resting tension and acted as a basal control [Basal; B], while contralateral muscle was stretched for 10 min at a force of 0.12 N [Stretched; S]. N = 6 independent experiments were performed, and individual results from N = 3 are shown. pSMAD2L, linker region phosphorylated SMAD2; pJNK, phosphorylated (active) C-Jun N-terminal Kinase; pAMPK, phosphorylated (T172) AMP-activated protein kinase; pERK, phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase; pP38, phosphorylated P38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase; SMAD2, Total SMAD2. Images obtained using stain-free gel technology (Bio-Rad) that allows for total protein visualization and quantification are shown as a loading control (Loading)](/paper-figures/40fdd406eaaa441eafe25a6af5969577/jnk-regulates-muscle-remodeling-via-myostatin-smad-inhibition-figure-3.jpg)





Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Mechanistic insights from cell and animal studies suggest that when muscle is subjected to mechanical stress, it can downregulate MSTN expression via pathways such as JNK-mediated phosphorylation of transcription factor Smad2 [55,57].”
From Exercise-Induced Myokines in Obesity-Related Metabolic Disorders and Cardiovascular Protection: A Narrative Review (2026) · cites this paper as [57]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Exercise downregulates MSTN expression, with the magnitude of reduction depending on exercise mode, duration, and intensity.”
From Exercise-Induced Myokines in Obesity-Related Metabolic Disorders and Cardiovascular Protection: A Narrative Review (2026) · cites this paper as [57]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Calcium's Role in Mechanotransduction during Muscle Development
Damm, T. B., & Egli, M. (2014) · Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry · doi:10.1159/000356667 · Cited by 14,552
Regulation of skeletal muscle mass in mice by a new TGF-p superfamily member
McPherron, A. C., Lawler, A. M., & Lee, S.-J. (1997) · Nature · doi:10.1038/387083a0 · Cited by 4,013
Mutation of the mouse klotho gene leads to a syndrome resembling ageing
Kuro-o, M., Matsumura, Y., Aizawa, H., Kawaguchi, H., Suga, T., Utsugi, T., Ohyama, Y., Kurabayashi, M., Kaname, T., Kume, E., et al. (1997) · Nature · doi:10.1038/36285 · Cited by 3,837
Exercise as medicine - evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases
Pedersen, B. K., & Saltin, B. (2015) · Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports · doi:10.1111/sms.12581 · Cited by 3,514
A central role for JNK in obesity and insulin resistance
Hirosumi, J., Tuncman, G., Chang, L., Görgün, C. Z., Uysal, K. T., Maeda, K., Karin, M., & Hotamisligil, G. S. (2002) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature01137 · Cited by 3,359
Martin, L., Birdsell, L., Macdonald, N., Reiman, T., Clandinin, M. T., McCargar, L. J., Murphy, R. A., Ghosh, S., Sawyer, M. B., & Baracos, V. E. (2013) · Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1200/jco.2012.45.2722 · Cited by 2,761
Smad transcription factorsPreprint
Massagué, J., Seoane, J., & Wotton, D. (2005) · Genes & Development · doi:10.1101/gad.1350705 · Cited by 2,519
Blair, S. N. (1996) · JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association · doi:10.1001/jama.1996.03540030039029 · Cited by 1,819
High-Intensity Strength Training in Nonagenarians: Effects on Skeletal Muscle
Fiatarone, M. A. (1990) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.1990.03440220053029 · Cited by 1,593
Brüning, J. C., Michael, M. D., Winnay, J. N., Hayashi, T., Hörsch, D., Accili, D., Goodyear, L. J., & Kahn, C. R. (1998) · Molecular Cell · doi:10.1016/s1097-2765(00)80155-0 · Cited by 1,173
Self-citation
Cited by
Sorted by citations
D’Hulst, G., Soro-Arnaiz, I., Masschelein, E., Veys, K., Fitzgerald, G., Smeuninx, B., Kim, S., Deldicque, L., Blaauw, B., Carmeliet, P., et al. (2020) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13889-6 · Cited by 2,310
Physical Activity and Brain Health
Liegro, C. M. D., Schiera, G., Proia, P., & Liegro, I. D. (2019) · Genes · doi:10.3390/genes10090720 · Cited by 451
Exercise Metabolism and Adaptation in Skeletal Muscle
Smith, J. A. B., Murach, K. A., Dyar, K. A., & Zierath, J. R. (2023) · Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology · doi:10.1038/s41580-023-00606-x · Cited by 342
Egan, B., & Sharples, A. P. (2023) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.00054.2021 · Cited by 278
Roberts, M. D., McCarthy, J. J., Hornberger, T. A., Phillips, S. M., Mackey, A. L., Nader, G. A., Boppart, M. D., Kavazis, A. N., Reidy, P. T., Ogasawara, R., et al. (2023) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.00039.2022 · Cited by 214
Metadata
- Authors
- Lessard, S. J., MacDonald, T. L., Pathak, P., Han, M. S., Coffey, V. G., Edge, J., Rivas, D. A., Hirshman, M. F., Davis, R. J., & Goodyear, L. J.
- Affiliations
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- Joslin Diabetes Center (US)
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (US)
- Bond University (AU)
- Massey University (NZ)
- Tufts University (US)
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lessard, Sarah J.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2018-08-02
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 3030-3030
- ISSN
- 2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6072737
- OpenAlex
- W2884155806
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 4.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- eScholarship@UMassChan (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Bond University Research Portal (Bond University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- RMIT Research Repository (RMIT University Library) (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- American Heart Association (15SDG25560057)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › TGF-β signaling in diseases
- Keywords
- c-Jun N-terminal kinase, skeletal muscle remodeling, myostatin, Smad2, resistance training, endurance exercise, muscle fiber growth, muscle oxidative capacity, cardiorespiratory fitness, mechanical stress, Smad2 phosphorylation, muscle mass
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Animals, Cell Nucleus, Enzyme Activation, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Hypertrophy, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Muscles, Phosphorylation, Physical Conditioning, Animal, Physical Endurance, Signal Transduction, Mice, Knockout, Muscle, Skeletal, Integrases, Protein Transport, Muscle Development, JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases, Smad Proteins, Myostatin, HEK293 Cells
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review