Skeletal Muscle in Health, Exercise and Aging

Dear Colleagues,

Skeletal muscle is a highly dynamic tissue that permanently adapts to external stimuli, such as exercise. Neuronal, mechanical, hormonal and metabolic signals induce characteristic changes in muscle morphology and physiology, such as hypertrophy or changes in fiber type distribution.

In recent years, data have suggested that physical activity might also induce long-term epigenetic changes in skeletal muscle, which is called “epigenetic memory”. Thus, prior exercise experience might determine how a person reacts to training, even after a long period of inactivity.

On the other hand, aging and chronic diseases, which are often associated with ongoing, low-grade inflammation, lead to muscle decay, resulting in syndromes such as sarcopenia and cachexia. Decreased skeletal muscle mass is associated with immobility, which, in turn, causes skeletal muscle decay—a vicious circle, Remarkably, regular exercise can slow down the rate of decay, even in chronically ill and elderly subjects, and alternative methods, such as electro-myo-stimulation (EMS), have been developed and are evaluated for those who cannot efficiently exercise.

This Special Issue will focus on multiple mechanisms involved in regulating skeletal muscle plasticity in health and disease.

Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle adaptation to exercise;
• Different exercise regimens and skeletal muscle plasticity;
• Exercise and skeletal muscle epigenetic memory;
• Molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle decay in cachexia and sarcopenia;
• Molecular effects of EMS.

Both original and review articles are welcome.

Dr. Barbara Munz
Guest Editor

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• skeletal muscle
• molecular mechanisms of exercise adaptation
• aging
• cachexia
• sarcopenia