Exerkines and long-term synaptic potentiation: Mechanisms of exercise-induced neuroplasticity

Wouter A J Vints*, Oron Levin, Hakuei Fujiyama, Jeanine Verbunt, Nerijus Masiulis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Physical exercise may improve cognitive function by modulating molecular and cellular mechanisms within the brain. We propose that the facilitation of long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP)-related pathways, by products induced by physical exercise (i.e., exerkines), is a crucial aspect of the exercise-effect on the brain. This review summarizes synaptic pathways that are activated by exerkines and may potentiate LTP. For a total of 16 exerkines, we indicated how blood and brain exerkine levels are altered depending on the type of physical exercise (i.e., cardiovascular or resistance exercise) and how they respond to a single bout (i.e., acute exercise) or multiple bouts of physical exercise (i.e., chronic exercise). This information may be used for designing individualized physical exercise programs. Finally, this review may serve to direct future research towards fundamental gaps in our current knowledge regarding the biophysical interactions between muscle activity and the brain at both cellular and system levels.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100993
Number of pages27
JournalFrontiers in Neuroendocrinology
Volume66
Early online date11 Mar 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2022

Keywords

  • AGE-RELATED ALTERATIONS
  • Biomarkers
  • Brain
  • Cytokines
  • Exercise
  • GROWTH-FACTOR-I
  • INDUCED WEIGHT-LOSS
  • Inflammation
  • Intracellular signaling peptides and proteins
  • LOW-INTENSITY EXERCISE
  • Long-term potentiation
  • Myokine
  • NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR
  • Neurotrophic factor
  • PLASMA GHRELIN LEVELS
  • PROTEIN-KINASE-II
  • RESISTANCE EXERCISE
  • SKELETAL-MUSCLE CELLS
  • Synaptic plasticity
  • VASOACTIVE INTESTINAL POLYPEPTIDE

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