The Influence of Aging on the Unfolded Protein Response in Human Skeletal Muscle at Rest and after Acute Exercise.

Background: The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a proteostatic process that is activated in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress. It is currently unclear how aging influences the chronic and adaptive UPR in human skeletal muscle. Here we determined the effect of aging on UPR activation at rest, in response to exercise, and the associations with muscle function.

Methods: Thirty young (20-35 yr) and 50 older (65-85 yr) individuals were enrolled. Vastus lateralis biopsies were performed at rest and 3 and 48 h after a single bout of resistance exercise. The abundance of UPR-related transcripts and proteins was measured by RNA sequencing and Western blotting, respectively. Fractional synthetic rates of muscle protein were determined by mass spectrometry after intravenous infusion of 13 C 6 phenylalanine.

Results: Older adults demonstrated elevated transcriptional and proteomic markers of UPR activation in resting muscle. Resting UPR gene expression was negatively associated with muscle strength and power in older adults. The UPR is similarly activated by acute resistance exercise in young and older adults and positively associated with muscle function but not the anabolic response to exercise.

Conclusions: Skeletal muscle from older adults exhibits chronically activated UPR, which accompanies functional decline. The adaptive UPR is a proteostatic mechanism that is upregulated in response to exercise in young and older adults and positively associated with muscle function.