A single-cell transcriptomic atlas of exercise-induced anti-inflammatory and geroprotective effects across the body

This study investigated the effects of long-term aerobic exercise on physical function and gene expression regulation in young and old male C57BL/6J mice. A comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic atlas was constructed integrating exercise, aging, and acute infectious challenges across multiple tissues/organs. The researchers found that exercise conferred broad health benefits, including improved physical performance, reduced inflammation, and protection against acute severe infection in young mice. In aged mice, exercise reversed aging-related gene expression changes and associated phenotypes. The study identified BMAL1 as a central mediator of exercise-driven geroprotective effects, coordinating downstream circadian genes in multiple tissues and cell types.

Shuhui Sun, Shuai Ma, Yusheng Cai, Si Wang, Jie Ren, Yuanhan Yang, Jiale Ping, Xuebao Wang, Yiyuan Zhang, Haoteng Yan, Wei Li, Concepcion Rodriguez Esteban, Yan Yu, Feifei Liu, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, Weiqi Zhang, Jing Qu, Guang-Hui Liu