We employed counterweighted single-leg cycling as a unique model to investigate the role of exercise intensity in human skeletal muscle remodelling. Ten young active men performed unilateral graded-exercise tests to measure single-leg V̇O2, peak and peak power (W ). Each leg was randomly assigned to complete six sessions of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) [4 × (5 min at 65% W and 2.5 min at 20% W )] or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) (30 min at 50% W ), which were performed 10 min apart on each day, in an alternating order. The work performed per session was matched for MICT (143 ± 8.4 kJ) and HIIT (144 ± 8.5 kJ, P > 0.05). Post-training, citrate synthase (CS) maximal activity (10.2 ± 0.8 vs. 8.4 ± 0.9 mmol kg protein min ) and mass-specific [pmol O •(s•mg wet weight) ] oxidative phosphorylation capacities (complex I: 23.4 ± 3.2 vs. 17.1 ± 2.8; complexes I and II: 58.2 ± 7.5 vs. 42.2 ± 5.3) were greater in HIIT relative to MICT (interaction effects, P < 0.05); however, mitochondrial function [i.e. pmol O •(s•CS maximal activity) ] measured under various conditions was unaffected by training (P > 0.05). In whole muscle, the protein content of COXIV (24%), NDUFA9 (11%) and mitofusin 2 (MFN2) (16%) increased similarly across groups (training effects, P < 0.05). Cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV (COXIV) and NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit A9 (NDUFA9) were more abundant in type I than type II fibres (P < 0.05) but training did not increase the content of COXIV, NDUFA9 or MFN2 in either fibre type (P > 0.05). Single-leg V̇O2, peak was also unaffected by training (P > 0.05). In summary, single-leg cycling performed in an interval compared to a continuous manner elicited superior mitochondrial adaptations in human skeletal muscle despite equal total work.

Fyfe JJ, Bishop DJ, Zacharewicz E, Russell AP, Stepto NK. Concurrent exercise incorporating high-intensity interval or continuous training modulates mTORC1 signaling and microRNA expression in human skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 310: R1297-R1311, 2016. First published April 13, 2016 doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00479.2015.-We compared the effects of concurrent exercise, incorporating either high-intensity interval training (HIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), on mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling and microRNA expression in skeletal muscle, relative to resistance exercise (RE) alone. Eight males (mean Ϯ SD: age, 27 Ϯ 4 yr; V O2 peak, 45.7 Ϯ 9 ml·kg Ϫ1 ·min Ϫ1 ) performed three experimental trials in a randomized order: 1) RE (8 ϫ 5 leg press repetitions at 80% 1-repetition maximum) performed alone and RE preceded by either 2) HIT cycling [10 ϫ 2 min at 120% lactate threshold (LT); HIT ϩ RE] or 3) work-matched MICT cycling (30 min at 80% LT; MICT ϩ RE). Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained immediately before RE, either without (REST) or with (POST) preceding endurance exercise and ϩ1 h (RE ϩ 1 h) and ϩ3 h (RE ϩ 3 h) after RE. Prior HIT and MICT similarly reduced muscle glycogen content and increased ACC Ser79 and p70S6K Thr389 phosphorylation before subsequent RE (i.e., at POST). Compared with MICT, HIT induced greater mTOR Ser2448 and rps6 Ser235/236 phosphorylation at POST. REinduced increases in p70S6K and rps6 phosphorylation were not influenced by prior HIT or MICT; however, mTOR phosphorylation was reduced at RE ϩ 1 h for MICT ϩ RE vs. both HIT ϩ RE and RE. Expression of miR-133a, miR-378, and miR-486 was reduced at RE ϩ 1 h for HIT ϩ RE vs. both MICT ϩ RE and RE. Postexercise mTORC1 signaling following RE is therefore not compromised by prior HIT or MICT, and concurrent exercise incorporating HIT, but not MICT, reduces postexercise expression of miRNAs implicated in skeletal muscle adaptation to RE. concurrent training; interference; exercise intensity; high-intensity interval training; continuous training INCORPORATING BOTH RESISTANCE (RE) and endurance exercise into a periodized training program is termed concurrent training (56). Compared with undertaking RE alone, concurrent training attenuates skeletal muscle hypertrophy and maximal strength development in some (10,19,33,48,53), but not all (5,58,63,75,76), studies. Given that skeletal muscle mass plays an important role in overall metabolic health (87), and many athletes require elements of strength and muscle hypertrophy, concomitantly with a high aerobic capacity (47), minimizing interference during concurrent training has implications for optimizing both health and performance outcomes.

Skeletal muscle makes up approximately 40% of the total body mass, providing structural support and enabling the body to maintain posture, to control motor movements and to store energy. It therefore plays a vital role in whole body metabolism. Skeletal muscle displays remarkable plasticity and is able to alter its size, structure and function in response to various stimuli; an essential quality for healthy living across the lifespan. Exercise is an important stimulator of extracellular and intracellular stress signals that promote positive adaptations in skeletal muscle. These adaptations are controlled by changes in gene transcription and protein translation, with many of these molecules identified as potential therapeutic targets to pharmacologically improve muscle quality in patient groups too ill to exercise. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recently identified regulators of numerous gene networks and pathways and mainly exert their effect by binding to their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), resulting in mRNA degradation or preventing protein translation. The role of exercise as a regulatory stimulus of skeletal muscle miRNAs is now starting to be investigated. This review highlights our current understanding of the regulation of skeletal muscle miRNAs with exercise and disease as well as how they may control skeletal muscle health.

BackgroundOver the course of ageing there is a natural and progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass. The onset and progression of age-related muscle wasting is associated with an attenuated activation of Akt-mTOR signalling and muscle protein synthesis in response to anabolic stimuli such as resistance exercise. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are novel and important post-transcriptional regulators of numerous cellular processes. The role of miRNAs in the regulation of muscle protein synthesis following resistance exercise is poorly understood. This study investigated the changes in skeletal muscle miRNA expression following an acute bout of resistance exercise in young and old subjects with a focus on the miRNA species predicted to target Akt-mTOR signalling.ResultsTen young (24.2±0.9 years) and 10 old (66.6±1.1 years) males completed an acute resistance exercise bout known to maximise muscle protein synthesis, with muscle biopsies collected before and 2 hours after exercise. We screened the expression of 754 miRNAs in the muscle biopsies and found 26 miRNAs to be regulated with age, exercise or a combination of both factors. Nine of these miRNAs are highly predicted to regulate targets within the Akt-mTOR signalling pathway and 5 miRNAs have validated binding sites within the 3′ UTRs of several members of the Akt-mTOR signalling pathway. The miR-99/100 family of miRNAs notably emerged as potentially important regulators of skeletal muscle mass in young and old subjects.ConclusionThis study has identified several miRNAs that were regulated with age or with a single bout of resistance exercise. Some of these miRNAs were predicted to influence Akt-mTOR signalling, and therefore potentially skeletal muscle mass. These miRNAs should be considered as candidate targets for in vivo modulation.

The reduced muscle mass in CD may be explained, in part, by impaired activation of muscle protein synthesis pathways, notably the IGF1-Akt pathway. Normal vitamin D levels and regular exercise may be protective in CD against this trend, though confirmatory longitudinal studies are needed.