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Biological and Molecular Aspects of Exercise Adaptation

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2026) | Viewed by 7583

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Prof. Dr. Alessandra Modesti

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Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università di Firenze, Florence, Italy
Interests: redox homeostasis; metabolic profile; exercise training; proteomics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Regular physical activity causes a range of changes to occur in the body as it acts to re-establish a new dynamic balance, which occurs at the level of redox homeostasis and metabolic states. These adaptations demonstrate numerous health benefits; however, when training is too intense, prolonged, or not followed by adequate rest, it can have the opposite effect.

Differences in physical activity protocols, the choice of sampling time points, and the physiological characteristics of subjects are just some of the factors that can influence studies on adaptation to physical activity; however, the use of molecular biology techniques such as omics allows us to explore this complex interplay.

Our aim in launching this Special Issue is to evaluate the molecular aspects of exercise adaptation, focusing on the role of sport type, sex, age, and other biological factors that can influence exercise adaptation. The studies included will help to elucidate the biological processes involved in exercise adaptation. A better understanding of how physical activity exerts beneficial effects will allow the identification of molecules and biological pathways that can be used to monitor the health status of athletes and to develop more effective training programs that avoid harmful phenomena such as overtraining and overreaching, as well as maximizing health benefits for the prevention and treatment of diseases.

This Special Issue will be supervised by Prof. Alessandra Modesti, with assistance from Dr. Rosamaria Militello (University of Florence).

Prof. Dr. Alessandra Modesti
Guest Editor

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Keywords

exercise
redox homeostasis
metabolic state
biological
physiological

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 857 KB

Open AccessArticle

Acute and Chronic Effects of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Oxidative Stress and Cellular Damage Markers in Young Healthy Women

by Halina Gattner, Justyna Adamiak, Olga Czerwińska-Ledwig, Sylwia Mętel, Magdalena Kępińska-Szyszkowska and Anna Kurkiewicz-Piotrowska

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(2), 899; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27020899 - 16 Jan 2026

Viewed by 736

Abstract

The acute (single-session) and chronic (12-week) effects of whole-body vibration training (WBVT) on oxidative stress, muscle damage, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage were evaluated in inactive women (20.48 ± 1.72 years). Participants were assigned to vibration training (EVG, n = 17), traditional exercise (EXG, n = 12), or control groups (CON, n = 17). Blood was collected pre- and post- the first and last sessions for EVG and EXG and at baseline and after 12 weeks for the CON. A significant main effect of time was observed for total antioxidant capacity (TAC, p < 0.001), indicating long-term enhancement of the antioxidant barrier across all groups. Analysis of change scores (Δ) revealed that the 12-week intervention significantly dampened the acute post-exercise response for white blood cells (WBCs, p < 0.001), neutrophils (NEUTs, p = 0.010), and myoglobin (Mb, p = 0.004), confirming systemic adaptation in both training groups. A significant reduction in total oxidant status (TOS, p = 0.042) was also noted between the first and last sessions. Significant main effects of group were found for WBCs, NEUTs, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), Mb, body mass, and fat-free mass, reflecting persistent baseline differences; however, no significant group-by-time interactions were identified. In conclusion, while WBVT did not show superior effects, it is a safe modality, comparable to traditional exercise, for improving oxidative stress tolerance and muscle recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Molecular Aspects of Exercise Adaptation)

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17 pages, 2326 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Protective Mechanism of Moderate Intensity Continuous Training on TMAO-Induced Myocardial Injury Based on NMR Metabolomics

by Hong Zou, Lijing Gong, Caihua Huang, Donghai Lin and Yimin Zhang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(18), 8902; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26188902 - 12 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 964

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the protective effect of 8 weeks of Moderate Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) on TMAO-induced myocardial injury in mice and its metabolic regulatory mechanism based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics methods. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly allocated into the following groups: Control group (Con, n = 15), TMAO-induced myocardial injury group (TMAO, n = 15), and TMAO-induced with MICT intervention group (Exe, n = 15). TMAO and Exe groups underwent 8 weeks of high-dose TMAO gavage to establish a myocardial injury model, with the Exe group additionally receiving 8 weeks of MICT intervention (60 min/session, 5 sessions/week, 50% MRC). After the 8 weeks of interventions, the mouse heart function was tested using cardiac ultrasound equipment; myocardial histology was evaluated using HE staining; and myocardial tissue samples were collected for NMR metabolomics analysis. Compared with the Con group, the HR in the TMAO group was significantly increased, while EF and LVFS were significantly decreased. Compared with the TMAO group, the HR in the Exe group was significantly reduced, and EF and LVFS were significantly increased; NMR metabolomics analysis showed that, compared with the Con group, five metabolic pathways including phenylalanine metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, and TCA cycle were significantly altered in the TMAO group; compared with the TMAO group, ten metabolic pathways related to amino acid metabolism (such as alanine, glycine, etc.), energy metabolism (TCA cycle), and oxidative stress (purine metabolism) were significantly regulated in the Exe group. MICT could effectively alleviate TMAO-induced myocardial injury in mice by regulating multiple targets within the myocardial metabolic pathways. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of exercise intervention in myocardial injury treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Molecular Aspects of Exercise Adaptation)

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12 pages, 2645 KB

Open AccessArticle

Urinary Metabolites Variation After High-Intensity Rowing Training and Potential Biomarker Screening for Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

by Jie Wu, Junjie Ding, Ziyue Zhao, Baoguo Wang, Yang Cheng, Yuxian Li, Liming Wang, Shumin Bo, Aiqin Luo, Changyong Zhang and Yue Yi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7897; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167897 - 15 Aug 2025

Viewed by 1505

Abstract

Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) is the most common health risk in physical exercise. However, instant and non-invasive methods for EIMD prediction have not been reported. Urine is a promising tool for EIMD prediction. However, urinary metabolite variations after EIMD occurrence have not been revealed, and potential biomarkers have not been identified. In this study, eighteen young students without regular exercise habits were recruited to perform high-intensity rowing exercise. EIMD occurrence was determined using blood biochemical analyses and pain assessment. The changes in urinary metabolites were revealed by quasi-targeted metabolomics. Results demonstrated that high-intensity rowing exercise induced EIMD and obviously changed urinary metabolites, including 23 upregulated metabolites and 26 downregulated metabolites. These differential metabolites were related to energy metabolism, exercise performance, and antioxidant metabolism. Among these metabolites, potential urinary biomarkers were identified with high sensitivity and specificity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Molecular Aspects of Exercise Adaptation)

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26 pages, 3769 KB

Open AccessArticle

Rest Induces a Distinct Transcriptional Program in the Nervous System of the Exercised L. stagnalis

by Julian M. Rozenberg, Dmitri Boguslavsky, Ilya Chistopolsky, Igor Zakharov and Varvara Dyakonova

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(14), 6970; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26146970 - 20 Jul 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1484

Abstract

In the freshwater snail L. stagnalis, two hours of shallow water crawling exercise are accompanied by the formation of memory, metabolic, neuronal, and behavioral changes, such as faster orientation in a novel environment. Interestingly, rest following exercise enhances serotonin and dopamine metabolism linked to the formation of memory and adaptation to novel conditions. However, the underlying transcriptional responses are not characterized. In this paper, we show that, while two hours of forced crawling exercise in L. stagnalis produce significant changes in nervous system gene expression, the subsequent rest induces a completely distinct transcriptional program. Chromatin-modifying, vesicle transport, and cell cycle genes were induced, whereas neurodevelopmental, behavioral, synaptic, and hormone response genes were preferentially repressed immediately after two hours of exercise. These changes were normalized after two hours of the subsequent rest. In turn, rest induced the expression of genes functioning in neuron differentiation and synapse structure/activity, while mitotic, translational, and protein degradation genes were repressed. Our findings are likely relevant to the physiology of exercise, rest, and learning in other species. For example, chronic voluntary exercise training in mice affects the expression of many homologous genes in the hippocampus. Moreover, in humans, homologous genes are pivotal for normal development and complex neurological functions, and their mutations are associated with behavioral, learning, and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Molecular Aspects of Exercise Adaptation)

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Review

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24 pages, 1141 KB

Open AccessReview

Omics Sciences in Regular Physical Activity

by Rosamaria Militello, Simone Luti and Alessandra Modesti

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(12), 5529; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26125529 - 10 Jun 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2228

Abstract

The multiple health benefits of regular physical activity are well known and are the results of exercise adaptations. The study of physical training biology is not straightforward since it involves organ crosstalk and depends on numerous variables, such as type of exercise or individual physiology. A multiomic approach allows us to analyze proteins, metabolites, lipids, and epigenetic modifications on a wide scale, so it is a valid tool to identify numerous patterns and clarify how exercise exerts its beneficial effects. Stimuli given by physical activity lead the body to re-establish a new dynamic balance at the level of redox homeostasis and metabolic state. Evaluating the effect of specific training is important for maximizing the beneficial effects of physical activity. In this review we provide a brief overview of different omics technologies used in this field. For each “omics” we analyzed studies published in the last 10 years and highlighted the main molecules identified with that approach. We then described future challenges in their application from the perspective of using new bioinformatics and artificial intelligence tools. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Molecular Aspects of Exercise Adaptation)

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