Scientists at The University of Western Australia and the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science have made a breakthrough in understanding how cells in our body respond to physical activity and exercise.
Researchers discovered a direct mechanical signal that travels from outside the cell into the energy-producing parts of the cell, which could change the way we think about exercise and its benefits.
Dr Ziming Chen, from UWA's School of Biomedical Sciences, and Professor Minghao Zheng, also from UWA's School of Biomedical Sciences and Perron Institute, led the study published in Science Advances.
Researchers found a protein production factory in the cell, the endoplasmic reticulum, can sense external mechanical forces, such as stretching or strain and transmit them deep into the cell.
The process helps regulate energy production in the cell and maintains tissue health.
"Cells constantly experience physical forces, especially in load-bearing tissues such as tendon, muscle and lung," Dr Chen said.
"We found endoplasmic reticulum plays a central role in converting these mechanical cues into metabolic responses, controlling how cells produce energy and prevent tissue damage."
The team used custom-designed bioreactors and a suite of advanced genetic and microscopy techniques to study the effects of mechanical strain on cells.
They discovered that while moderate physical activity and exercise could enhance energy production in cells, excessive strain or injury could disrupt this process, leading to cellular damage.
Researchers identified a "sweet spot" of mechanical loading that can boost energy production and promote cellular health.
"This research has significant implications for understanding how our tendons and ligaments respond to exercise and physical activity," Professor Zheng said.
"The discovery could lead to a better understanding of how to prevent injuries and improve tissue health, opening the door for new treatments that mimic the benefits of exercise, particularly for patients with neurodegenerative conditions, such as motor neurone disease, who are unable to engage in physical activity.
"It could also have broader implications for various conditions including tendinopathy, osteoporosis, hypertension and asthma."
The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers in Australia, Poland and China, and supported by the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies and the Western Australian Innovation Seed Fund.
Image above: Professor Minghao Zheng and Dr Ziming Chen
