Cited by 135Epigenetics and DNA MethylationGenetics and Physical PerformanceMetabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer

Lifelong physical activity is associated with promoter hypomethylation of genes involved in metabolism, myogenesis, contractile properties and oxidative stress resistance in aged human skeletal muscle

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Sailani, M. Reza, Halling, Jens Frey, Møller, Henrik Devitt, Lee, Hayan, Plomgaard, Peter, Pilegaard, Henriette, Snyder, Michael P., Regenberg, Birgitte·2019·Scientific Reports

Abstract

Lifelong regular physical activity is associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), maintenance of muscle mass and increased metabolic capacity. However, little is known about epigenetic mechanisms that might contribute to these beneficial effects in aged individuals. We investigated the effect of lifelong physical activity on global DNA methylation patterns in skeletal muscle of healthy aged men, who had either performed regular exercise or remained sedentary their entire lives (average age 62 years). DNA methylation was significantly lower in 714 promoters of the physically active than inactive men while methylation of introns, exons and CpG islands was similar in the two groups. Promoters for genes encoding critical insulin-responsive enzymes in glycogen metabolism, glycolysis and TCA cycle were hypomethylated in active relative to inactive men. Hypomethylation was also found in promoters of myosin light chain, dystrophin, actin polymerization, PAK regulatory genes and oxidative stress response genes. A cluster of genes regulated by GSK3β-TCF7L2 also displayed promoter hypomethylation. Together, our results suggest that lifelong physical activity is associated with DNA methylation patterns that potentially allow for increased insulin sensitivity and a higher expression of genes in energy metabolism, myogenesis, contractile properties and oxidative stress resistance in skeletal muscle of aged individuals.

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  • Lifelong mixed-modality endurance exercise training may help reduce DNA methylation in promoter regions of glycolysis, glycogen synthesis, and TCA-related genes in aged human skeletal muscle, maintaining muscle mass and increasing metabolic capacity.

    “lifelong mixed-modality endurance exercise training may help reduce DNA methylation in the promoter regions of glycolysis, glycogen synthesis, and TCA-related genes in aged human skeletal muscle, thereby maintaining muscle mass and increasing metabolic capacity [70].”

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Authors
Sailani, M. R., Halling, J. F., Møller, H. D., Lee, H., Plomgaard, P., Pilegaard, H., Snyder, M. P., & Regenberg, B.
Affiliations
  • Stanford Medicine (US)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Copenhagen University Hospital (DK)
Corresponding author
Regenberg, Birgitte
Venue
Scientific Reports
Published
2019-03-01
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
3272-3272
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2920732619
Cited by
129
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 1
FWCI
4.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • Villum Fonden (VKR023513)
  • Danish Diabetes Academy
  • National Research Foundation
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (161005, 151825)
  • Danmarks Grundforskningsfond (DNRF55)
  • Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond
  • TrygFonden
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL122887)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Physical Performance
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
Keywords
lifelong physical activity, DNA methylation, promoter hypomethylation, skeletal muscle aging, epigenetics, sedentary lifestyle, insulin sensitivity, glycogen metabolism, myogenesis, oxidative stress resistance, myosin light chain, dystrophin, actin polymerization, PAK, type 2 diabetes risk, muscle contractile properties
MeSH terms
Aging, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Muscle Contraction, Muscle Proteins, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Exercise, Oxidative Stress, Muscle, Skeletal, DNA Methylation, Muscle Development

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