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The role of exercise and PGC1α in inflammation and chronic disease

Abstract

Inadequate physical activity is linked to many chronic diseases. But the mechanisms that tie muscle activity to health are unclear. The transcriptional coactivator PGC1α has recently been shown to regulate several exercise-associated aspects of muscle function. We propose that this protein controls muscle plasticity, suppresses a broad inflammatory response and mediates the beneficial effects of exercise.

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Figure 1: Inflammation and chronic diseases.
Figure 2: Effect of PGC1α on chronic systemic inflammation.
Figure 3: Inactivity and obesity as risk factors for developing chronic diseases.

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Acknowledgements

We thank E. Smith for assistance with graphics. We also thank our colleagues and the members of our laboratories for comments on the manuscript, in particular S. Loffredo, J. Estall, Z. Arany, G. Hansson, S. Summermatter, M. Toigo and U. A. Meyer. C.H. is supported by the University Research Priority Program 'Integrative Human Physiology' of the University of Zurich, an SNSF-Professorship of the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. B.M.S. is supported by several grants from the National Institutes of Health.

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Correspondence should be addressed to the authors (christoph.handschin@access.uzh.ch; bruce_spiegelman@dfci.harvard.edu).

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Handschin, C., Spiegelman, B. The role of exercise and PGC1α in inflammation and chronic disease. Nature 454, 463–469 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07206

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