Exercise-Produced Protein Reveals Ability to Restore Aging Muscles

The phrase “exercise is good for your health” has long been an axiom, but until recently scientists did not fully understand how and why regular physical activity helps strengthen the body and slow down the aging process. Now, an international team of scientists has identified a key protein — CLCF1 (cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1), which plays a central role in the restoration and strengthening of muscle and bone tissue in people of different ages.

The research work has become a breakthrough in the field of aging biology and human physiology. A team from the Korea Research Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology (KRIBB) discovered that the protein CLCF1 is released by muscles during exercise and helps strengthen the musculoskeletal system, suppressing the aging process.

Scientists conducted a series of experiments to understand how the protein level in the blood of young and old people changes after physical exercise. It turned out that in young participants, the level of cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 significantly increases after just one workout. At the same time, in older people, the level of CLCF1 increased only after more than 12 weeks of regular exercise.

Additional experiments in older mice confirmed the importance of CLCF1. When the scientists injected the protein into older mice, they showed significant improvements in muscle strength and bone density. In contrast, blocking the protein’s action made any exercise less effective, confirming its key role in realizing the benefits of exercise.

"Further analysis showed that CLCF1 enhances mitochondrial function in muscle tissue, which helps to increase their endurance and recovery. In addition, the protein inhibits the formation of osteoclasts - cells that destroy bone - and stimulates the differentiation of osteoblasts, which are responsible for the formation of new bone tissue. Thus, CLCF1 helps not only to restore muscles, but also to prevent the development of osteoporosis, which is typical for older people," the experts explain.

The experts concluded that changes in the secretion of the protein under study were the main reason for the decrease in the effectiveness of physical exercise in aging people. As a result, physical activity in older people becomes less effective, which contributes to the acceleration of aging processes and the development of age-related diseases.

Yong Ryul Yang of the CRIBB noted that the findings open up new horizons in the development of methods to combat age-related sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass) and osteoporosis. In the future, it may be possible to create drugs that stimulate the production of CLCF1 or imitate its action, which will make it possible to improve the effectiveness of physical exercise in older and frail people.

According to the scientist, this study lays the foundation for the development of new therapeutic strategies aimed at slowing down the aging process and improving the quality of life of older people. In particular, the use of the CLCF1 protein or its analogues can become part of complex programs for the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

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