The DOI matches its Crossref record; 50 of the 50 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
IL-7 is expressed and secreted by human skeletal muscle cells
Abstract
In addition to generating movement, skeletal muscle may have a function as a secretory organ. The aim of the present study was to identify novel proteins with signaling capabilities secreted from skeletal muscle cells. IL-7 was detected in media conditioned by primary cultures of human myotubes differentiated from satellite cells, and concentrations increased with incubation time. By immunoblotting and real-time RT-PCR IL-7 expression was confirmed at both protein and mRNA levels. Furthermore, with immunofluorescence and specific antisera, multinucleated myotubes were found to coexpress IL-7 and myosin heavy chain. During differentiation of human myotubes from satellite cells, IL-7 expression increased at mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, mRNA expression of the IL-7 receptor was 80% lower in myotubes compared with satellite cells. Incubations with recombinant IL-7 under differentiation conditions caused approximately 35% reduction in mRNA for the terminal myogenic markers myosin heavy chain 2 (MYH2) and myogenin (MYOG), suggesting that IL-7 may act on satellite cells to inhibit development of the muscle fiber phenotype. Alternative routes of cell development were investigated, and IL-7 increased migration of satellite cells by 40% after 48 h in a Transwell system, whereas cell proliferation remained unchanged. In vivo, real-time RT-PCR analysis of musculus vastus lateralis (n = 10) and musculus trapezius (n = 7) biopsies taken from male individuals undergoing a strength training program demonstrated that after 11 wk mean IL-7 mRNA increased by threefold (P = 0.01) and fourfold (P = 0.04), respectively. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that IL-7 is a novel myokine regulated both in vitro and in vivo, and it may play a role in the regulation of muscle cell development.
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“A number of other myokines, including IL‑15 (53) and IL-7 (54) have further been demonstrated to possess anabolic features in rodent models.”
From Muscle–Organ Crosstalk: The Emerging Roles of Myokines (2020) · cites this paper as [54]
In the citing paper
“A post-exercise surge in thymopoiesis is possible considering that skeletal muscle secretes IL-7 (Haugen et al. 2010) which might in turn increase thymic mass and lead to the emergence of recent thymic emigrants (Fry and Mackall 2005).”
From Is immunosenescence influenced by our lifetime “dose” of exercise? (2016) · cites this paper as Haugen et al. 2010
Citations
Cites
1 retracted
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED Exercise induces interleukin‐8 expression in human skeletal muscle
Akerstrom, T. C. A., Steensberg, A., Keller, P., Keller, C., Penkowa, M., & Pedersen, B. K. (2004) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2004.077610 · Cited by 130
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Serial passaging and differentiation of myogenic cells isolated from dystrophic mouse muscle
Yaffe, D., & Saxel, O. (1977) · Nature · doi:10.1038/270725a0 · Cited by 2,153
Lymphopenia in interleukin (IL)-7 gene-deleted mice identifies IL-7 as a nonredundant cytokine
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Interleukin-7 mediates the homeostasis of naïve and memory CD8 T cells in vivo
Schluns, K. S., Kieper, W. C., Jameson, S. C., & Lefrançois, L. (2000) · Nature Immunology · doi:10.1038/80868 · Cited by 1,619
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Myostatin Inhibits Myoblast Differentiation by Down-regulating MyoD Expression
Langley, B. C., Thomas, M., Bishop, A., Sharma, M., Gilmour, S., & Kambadur, R. (2002) · Journal of Biological Chemistry · doi:10.1074/jbc.m204291200 · Cited by 910
Interleukin-6 Is an Essential Regulator of Satellite Cell-Mediated Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy
Serrano, A. L., Baeza-Raja, B., Perdiguero, E., Jardí, M., & Muñoz-Cánoves, P. (2008) · Cell Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2007.11.011 · Cited by 873 · cited 2×
“For example, in accordance with a previous study (40), we could not detect altered mRNA expression of IL-6 during myogenesis, indicating that full differentiation is not necessary for secretion of IL-6.”
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- Andersson H, 2009, Scand J Med Sci Sports
- Prokopchuk O, 2007, Exerc Immunol Rev, 13, 67
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Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle Plasticity in Obesity and Metabolic Disease
Ukropec, J., & Ukropcov, B. (2012) · InTech eBooks · doi:10.5772/28506
“2000), are acutely induced by muscle contraction but might not necessarily be increased in response to muscle training (Pedersen & Febbraio 2008; Haugen et al. 2010).”
BackgroundSimpson, R. J., & Spielmann, G. (2012) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-4776-4_10
Ingenious function of skeletal muscle as a secretory organ: Its crucial role for cancer prevention
Aoi, W. (2014) · The Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine · doi:10.7600/jpfsm.3.211
23rd Marabou Symposium: Nutrition and the Aging Brain
James, W. P. T. (2010) · Nutrition Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00349.x
Análise metabólica e metabolômica de atleta olímpico: uma nova proposta para um nexus bioquímico
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The role of platelets in skeletal muscle regeneration
Scully, D. (2019) · Repository@Hull (Worktribe) (University of Hull)
Discovery and Characterization of Skeletal Muscle-Derived Myokines
Little, H. C. (2019)
Brown, F. F., & Turner, J. E. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-39903-0_101908
Brown, F. F., & Turner, J. E. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_101908-1
Osteoimmunological Aspects of Biomechanics
Kerschan‐Schindl, K., & EBENBICHLER, G. R. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-34238-2_5
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Body Kines and Organ Crosstalks: A Mini Review
Elnaggar, N. K., & Elnaggar, M. (2025) · International Journal of Diabetes and Endocrinology · doi:10.11648/j.ijde.20251002.13
Effects of combined training on interleukin-7 plasma levels in obese middle-aged men
Fatori, R. F., Bonfante, I. L. P., Ramkrapes, A. P. B., Chacon‐Mikahil, M. P. T., Brunelli, D. T., & Cavaglieri, C. R. (2026) · Revista Brasileira de Atividade Física & Saúde · doi:10.12820/rbafs.31e0432
Vermeersch, V. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/208ba22bz2ec2z47d3z9889z4157016e475d
Skeletal muscle as an endocrine and paracrine organ in breast cancer biology: a narrative review
Carpenter, D. J., Peluso, C., Xiao, K., Rosenberg, J., Lee, P. L., & Champ, C. E. (2026) · Discover Oncology · doi:10.1007/s12672-026-05027-8
“Cytokine released from myotubes during muscle contraction [23] Immune cell modulation [53] Improved immune cell function”
Minuzzi, L. G., Castro, A., Cavaglieri, C. R., & Simionato, A. V. C. (2026) · Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry · doi:10.1146/annurev-anchem-091024-095826
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“Thirdly, interleukin-7 (IL-7) is speculated to have a role in anabolism, as it is both expressed and secreted by skeletal muscle in vitro and in vivo [131]; however, further direct evidence linking IL-7 to skeletal muscle hypertrophy and anabolism is required to confirm these initial results.”
Sarcopenia and sepsis fuel a self-perpetuating cycle of immunometabolism decline
Gutman, E. G., Muniz‐Santos, R., da Silva, A. M., Costa, G. L. A., da Cunha, C. M. C., de Moraes, B. P. T., & Gonçalves-de-Albuquerque, C. F. (2026) · Frontiers in Immunology · doi:10.3389/fimmu.2026.1867909
The Myokine Landscape: Sources, Signaling, and Context-Dependent Actions
Casadevall, C., Ramírez-Sarmiento, A., Camps-Ubach, R., Barreiro, E., Orozco‐Levi, M., & Gea, J. (2026) · Cells · doi:10.3390/cells15181682
“Such a model is biologically plausible on the basis of the available cellular data but remains hypothetical [19].”
InfluentialExercise Modulates the Osteoimmune Axis: Myokine‐Mediated Mechanisms in Diabetic Bone Disease
Wu, C., Zou, J., & Yuan, Y. J. (2026) · Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews · doi:10.1002/dmrr.70245
“Studies have confirmed that skeletal muscle can express and secrete IL‐7 [176] and that its serum levels decline with age but can be partially preserved by exercise [177].”
Metadata
- Authors
- Haugen, F., Norheim, F., Lian, H., Wensaas, A. J., Dueland, S., Berg, O., Funderud, A., Skålhegg, B. S., Raastad, T., & Drevon, C. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Oslo (NO)
- Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NO)
- Corresponding author
- Haugen, Fred
- Venue
- American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 2010-04
- Volume
- 298
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- C807-C816
- ISSN
- 0363-6143 (ISSN-L)
- 1522-1563
- OpenAlex
- W2112164340
- Cited by
- 237
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 5.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Keywords
- IL-7, myokines, skeletal muscle, satellite cells, myotubes, myogenesis, IL-7 receptor, myosin heavy chain, myogenin, resistance training, vastus lateralis, trapezius, muscle fiber phenotype
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cell Differentiation, Cells, Cultured, Culture Media, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, RNA, Messenger, Biomarkers, Interleukin-7, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Myosin Heavy Chains, Receptors, Interleukin-7, Muscle Development, Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle, Cell Proliferation, Resistance Training
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