Molecular mechanical regulation of skeletal muscle extracellular matrix under exercise-induced conditions: From mechanical signals to dynamic mechanisms of muscle regeneration
Abstract
The maintenance of skeletal muscle function depends on the structure and mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which not only offers mechanical support but also regulates muscle cell behavior. Exercise, as a non-pharmacological intervention, can modulate ECM remodeling through various mechanical signals, hence facilitating muscle adaptation, regeneration, and repair. However, the molecular mechanical mechanisms underlying ECM remodeling during exercise remain systematically unexplored. Our review seeks to explore how exercise regulates skeletal muscle ECM remodeling through mechanical signals, elucidates the role of ECM in muscle regeneration and repair, and summarizes the molecular mechanisms by which various types of exercise modulate ECM. Besides, we assess the potential applications of exercise in muscle injury repair and fibrosis inhibition. Research reveals that exercise regulates ECM stiffness and elasticity through mechanical signals such as stretching, compression, and shear stress. These signals are transmitted via integrin receptors, which activate intracellular signaling pathways such as YAP/TAZ and PI3K/Akt, facilitating muscle cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Exercise plays a significant role in muscle injury repair by strengthening ECM synthesis and degradation, slowing down, or preventing excessive fibrosis. Especially in aging and muscle-related diseases, exercise intervention displays potential for promoting muscle function and slowing aging.
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