Systemic and muscle tissue-specific metabolic adaptations to EXercise and POlyphenol supplementation in aging: modulatory effects of SEstrins (EXPOSE)

Project/agreement No.

RSU/LSPA-PA-2024/1-0007

Project funding

199 117.00 EUR, The project No. 5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/005, "RSU internal and RSU with LASE external consolidation", is financed by the investment of the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Mechanism and the state budget.

Project manager

asoc.prof. Dace Reihmane

Project realization

01.04.2024. - 31.03.2026.

Aim

Sestrins (SESNs), a family of evolutionarily conserved proteins, emerge as key physiological regulators in cellular adaptation to diverse stress stimuli. Scientific evidence highlights SESNs as potential biomarkers and significant regulators of muscle function in aging, therefore the aim of this study is: a) to provide reference of plasma SESN values in healthy young and older adults at baseline, during exercise, and in recovery in relation to their physical performance capacity; b) to investigate the systemic and muscle tissue-specific SESN-mediated metabolic adaptations to a polyphenol supplementation (PS), resistance training (RT) and their combined effect by performing comprehensive analysis of multiple factors involved. Scientific objectives: 1. Determine plasma SESN concentrations in healthy young and older adults at baseline, during acute continuous exercise, and in recovery and estimate SESN associations with physical performance capacity and body composition. 2. Determine SESNs expression and transcriptome in muscle tissue; lipidome, RONS, and antioxidant status in plasma in response to PS, RT and mixed intervention in older adults. 3. Perform comprehensive, integrated data analysis revealing potential systemic and muscle tissue-specific SESN-mediated molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of PS, RT and mixed intervention in prevention of muscle wasting in older adults.

Description

Declining fertility rates and a remarkable increase in life expectancy have led to profound demographic shifts globally, resulting in a dramatic increase in older adults in the general population. The aging population inevitably results in a higher prevalence and severity of various age-related chronic conditions, including sarcopenia - progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder that involves the accelerated loss of muscle mass and function. Recently published data suggests that the prevalence of sarcopenia in Europe reaches 20% in older adults, and often this condition is combined with other chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes and cancer), reducing quality of life and increasing the health care costs. Leading health and sport science specialists from Rīga Stradiņš University and the Latvian Academy of Sports Education in collaboration with partners across the Europe will work together to a) understand the biological mechanisms underlying countermeasures for the loss of muscle mass and function in humans and b) design interventions to increase a healthy lifespan.