Cell sub-journal interpretation! Special hormones in the brain may help uncover the molecular mechanisms by which exercise improves the body's metabolism

February 5, 2021 // -- In a recent study published in the international journal Cell Metabolism, scientists from the University of Southern California and others studied mice and found that mitochondrial hormones expressed by cells deep in the brain appear to play a key role in improving the body's metabolism and fighting obesity. in the
article, the researchers revealed how moderate exercise promotes the release of a hormone called MOTS-c, a small protein encoded by the mitochondrial genome in cells, in cells, by cells in the lower pasum, a small area of the brain that controls metabolism.
Normally mitochondrials are considered to be energy factors in cells, and in recent years more and more studies have found that mitochondrials may play an important role in the body's health and aging process by providing instructions for cellular processes, and subsequent studies have revealed how mitochondrial-coded MOTS-c interacts with the nucleogenome and regulates the body's cell metabolism and stress responses.
Photo Source: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Pressure is a means of balancing This new study illustrates how stress in mitochondrials promotes the body's healthy metabolic processes when balanced; existing studies have revealed the molecular mechanisms of low levels of stress in mitochondrials that promote health and longevity in the body, a hypnotic effect called mitochondrial toxicity (mitohormesis).
, high levels of stress, such as toxins, promote the body's major injuries, while a small number of stress factors actually enhance healthy mitochondrial function.
To analyze the effects of mitochondrial stress on the body's metabolism, the researchers studied mice in the brain that were partially or completely missing from a single gene in a particular type of cell called hypothyclycermic melanin (POMC, hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin) neurons, and the missing Crif1 gene controls how cells use mitochondrials to encode proteins.
Researchers found that mice that were missing the Crif1 gene experienced severe mitochondrial stress and showed signs of metabolic problems as they grew into adulthood, such as weight gain and reduced energy consumption;
However, mice that partially lost Criff1 (which partially expresses the gene but does not function like a complete gene) experience mild mitochondrial stress and are protected against obesity or insulin tolerance; Mice gained less weight, even though they ate more calories; after further research, the researchers found that affected neurons were able to express more MOTS-c and β-endorphins (β-END), β a pain suppressor that can be released during exercise.
researchers said that mice with mild mitochondrial stress in POMC neurons may avoid obesity due to changes in body adipose tissue, while mice with partial crif1 gene loss showed more heat production and an in-depth analysis of fat cells in their bodies, and found increased levels of brown fat cells in their bodies.
subsequent experiments in which MOTS-c therapy and exercise could bring similar benefits, the researchers simulated these changes, including directly increasing brown fat levels and the body's thermal effects by injecting MOTS-c into the brain.
It's worth noting that the process of balancing mild mitochondrial stress may be a key part of exercise's ability to improve the body's metabolism, a process that appears to be mediated by MOTS-c and complements studies that support hormone metabolic participation. 'Our brain is a control center for many physiological functions,' said Lee, a
researcher. 'This study sheds light on a new mechanism of exercise physiology that may provide some ideas and foundations for the future development of simulated exercise therapies.'
current results show that mitochondrial hormones act not only on local muscle tissue, but also on the brain's metabolic headquarters.
, the researchers point out, the question is whether mitochondrials communicate with the command center or bypass the command center to communicate directly with the external organs while moving. Later they also need to delve into the key role MOTS-c plays in the body's exercise and metabolism.
() References: 1: Gil Myoung Kang, Se Hee Min, Chan Hee Lee, et al. Mitohormesis in Hypothalamic POMC Neurons Mediates Regular Exercise-Induced High-Turnover Metabolism. Cell Metabolism. Volume 33, Issue 2, P334-349. E6, February 02, 2021 DOI： 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.01.003【2】Body and mind： Hormones in the brain may explain how exercise improves metabolismby University of Southern California