Role of Myokines in Exercise and Metabolism
Abstract
During the past 20 yr, it has been well documented that exercise has a profound effect on the immune system. With the discovery that exercise provokes an increase in a number of cytokines, a possible link between skeletal muscle contractile activity and immune changes was established. For most of the last century, researchers sought a link between muscle contraction and humoral changes in the form of an "exercise factor," which could mediate some of the exercise-induced metabolic changes in other organs such as the liver and the adipose tissue. We suggest that cytokines and other peptides that are produced, expressed, and released by muscle fibers and exert either paracrine or endocrine effects should be classified as "myokines." Since the discovery of interleukin (IL)-6 release from contracting skeletal muscle, evidence has accumulated that supports an effect of IL-6 on metabolism. We suggested that muscle-derived IL-6 fulfils the criteria of an exercise factor and that such classes of cytokines should be named "myokines." Interestingly, recent research demonstrates that skeletal muscles can produce and express cytokines belonging to distinctly different families. Thus skeletal muscle has the capacity to express several myokines. To date the list includes IL-6, IL-8, and IL-15, and contractile activity plays a role in regulating the expression of these cytokines in skeletal muscle. The present review focuses on muscle-derived cytokines, their regulation by exercise, and their possible roles in metabolism and skeletal muscle function and it discusses which cytokines should be classified as true myokines.
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Myokines released during exercise due to mechanical stress, increased energy demand, and local hypoxia play a key role in regulating metabolism and inflammation, suggesting promising targets for obesity prevention and treatment.
“Myokines released during exercise due to mechanical stress, increased energy demand, and local hypoxia play a key role in regulating metabolism and inflammation, suggesting promising targets for obesity prevention and treatment [36].”
From Exercise-Induced Muscle–Fat Crosstalk: Molecular Mediators and Their Pharmacological Modulation for the Maintenance of Metabolic Flexibility in Aging (2025) · cites this paper as [36]
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- Authors
- Pedersen, B. K., Åkerström, T. C. A., Nielsen, A. R., & Fischer, C. P.
- Affiliations
- Rigshospitalet (DK)
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 2007-09
- Volume
- 103
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 1093-1098
- ISSN
- 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
- 8750-7587
- 1522-1601
- OpenAlex
- W1994860823
- Cited by
- 841
- References
- 81
- Citations by year
- 2026: 36 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 66 · 2020: 50 · 2019: 60 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 53 · 2014: 46 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 45
- FWCI
- 34.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Keywords
- myokines, physical activity, skeletal muscle, cytokines, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, IL-15, muscle contraction, paracrine signaling, hormone signaling, metabolism, skeletal muscle function
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Exercise, Interleukin-6, Cytokines, Interleukin-8, Muscle, Skeletal, Interleukin-15
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