Exercise, diabetes and obesity
Latest research on obesity indicates that chronic inflammation in skeletal muscle tissues could be the catalyst for development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Skeletal or voluntarily controlled muscles are required for physical activity. These cells are central in the uptake of glucose after a meal and therefore the main target in insulin resistance development. The AMPKANTIINFLAMMATION project found that the stem cells found in muscle — called satellite cells — can be grown in lab conditions. Satellite cells retain changes brought about by lifestyle as they have a memory of past diet and exercise. As such, these cells can serve as a convenient model of human lifestyle diseases to investigate and potentially reverse damaging modifications. Scientists found that satellite cells in obese and type 2 diabetic people are significantly more inflamed than those from their lean and overweight non-diabetic counterparts. Significantly, a molecule that can be activated in muscle by exercise — AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) — reduces this inflammation. The project team found that a sedentary lifestyle and exposure to saturated fat makes satellite cells insulin resistant but there is no inflammation. Research results give the thumbs up for exercise throughout life as it partially eliminated fat-induced insulin resistance in satellite cells. Moreover, short periods of inactivity (two weeks) combined with a high fat diet can increase insulin resistance without causing inflammation. The significance of this research is huge as obesity is a major health problem and is associated with low quality of life, increased illness and mortality. Satellite cells are thought to have important roles in muscle repair and function and lifestyle changes such as could have a positive impact on health. AMPK as a powerful anti-inflammatory could be harnessed or activated in the body against many inflammatory diseases. Exercise is a natural and powerful way to prevent or delay insulin resistance. A wide range of groups including researchers, doctors, government health agencies and the general public stand to benefit from AMPKANTIINFLAMMATION research.
Keywords
Obesity, inflammation, diabetes, skeletal muscle, insulin resistance, satellite cell, exercise, AMP-activated protein kinase
