Cited by 675Exercise and Physiological ResponsesMuscle Physiology and DisordersAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases

Muscles and their myokines

Open access
Pedersen, Bente Klarlund·2011·Journal of Experimental Biology

Abstract

Summary: In the past, the role of physical activity as a life-style modulating factor has been considered as that of a tool to balance energy intake. Although it is important to avoid obesity, physical inactivity should be discussed in a much broader context. There is accumulating epidemiological evidence that a physically active life plays an independent role in the protection against type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, dementia and even depression. 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 be released from skeletal muscle during contraction and mediate some of the exercise-induced metabolic changes in other organs such as the liver and the adipose tissue. We have suggested that cytokines or other peptides that are produced, expressed and released by muscle fibres and exert autocrine, paracrine or endocrine effects should be classified as ‘myokines’. Given that skeletal muscle is the largest organ in the human body, our discovery that contracting skeletal muscle secretes proteins sets a novel paradigm: skeletal muscle is an endocrine organ producing and releasing myokines, which work in a hormone-like fashion, exerting specific endocrine effects on other organs. Other myokines work via paracrine mechanisms, exerting local effects on signalling pathways involved in muscle metabolism. It has been suggested that myokines may contribute to exercise-induced protection against several chronic diseases.

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Crossref · 10.1242/jeb.048074

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152 of 152 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Skeletal muscle contraction during resistance training triggers the production and release of cytokines such as interleukin and irisin.

    “Skeletal muscle contraction during RT triggers the production and release of cytokines such as interleukin (IL) and irisin, which exert effects both locally and in a crosstalk manner with other organs, such as the liver and adipose tissue, to cope with muscle repair, hypertrophy and fuel metabolism [6].”

    From β-hydroxy-β -methylbutyrate supplementation benefits the effects of resistance training on body fat reduction via increased irisin expression in white adipose tissue (2021) · cites this paper as [6]

    The “IL6 -summary” section (page not provided) states that muscle contractions cause IL-6 production and release, with effects in muscle, liver and adipose tissue. It also reports increased muscle IL-15 mRNA after strength training, but does not establish its release during that training. The cited passages do not mention irisin or establish that resistance training releases it, so the full claim is not supported. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Several metabolic syndrome risk factors are associated with physical inactivity, including low-grade inflammation and impaired metabolism.

    “Several risk factors for MS are associated with physical inactivity, including low-grade inflammation and impaired metabolism (403, 404).”

    From Lack of Exercise Is a Major Cause of Chronic Diseases (2012) · cites this paper as [403]

  • Several metabolic syndrome risk factors are associated with physical inactivity, including low-grade inflammation and impaired metabolism.

    “Several risk factors for MS are associated with physical inactivity, including low-grade inflammation and impaired metabolism (403, 404).”

    From Lack of Exercise Is a Major Cause of Chronic Diseases (2012) · cites this paper as [404]

  • Physical activity improves inflammatory markers by reducing resting CRP, interleukin-6, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha concentrations.

    “Conversely, prevention of physical inactivity through physical activity improves inflammatory markers by reducing resting CRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-α concentration (403).”

    From Lack of Exercise Is a Major Cause of Chronic Diseases (2012) · cites this paper as [403]

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Authors
Pedersen, B. K.
Affiliations
Rigshospitalet (DK)
Corresponding author
Pedersen, Bente Klarlund
Venue
Journal of Experimental Biology
Published
2011-01-15
Volume
214
Issue
2
Pages
337-346
ISSN
  • 0022-0949 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-9145
OpenAlex
W2033127864
Cited by
668
References
155
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 55 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 46 · 2021: 58 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 49 · 2017: 50 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 41
FWCI
32.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Experimental Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Strategiske Forskningsråd (09-067009 and 09-075724, 09–067009, 09 – 075724)
  • Sundhed og Sygdom, Det Frie Forskningsråd
  • National Research Foundation
  • Danmarks Grundforskningsfond (# 02-512-55, 09-067009, 09-075724)
  • Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação
  • Medical Research Council
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, skeletal muscle, physical activity, paracrine signaling, autocrine signaling, exercise-induced metabolic changes, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, depression, physical inactivity, obesity
MeSH terms
Adipose Tissue, Animals, Cardiovascular Diseases, Chronic Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Humans, Motor Activity, Neoplasms, Exercise, Interleukin-6, Cytokines, Muscle, Skeletal, Neurodegenerative Diseases

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