Title
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The effects of exercise on post-burn muscle wasting
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Author
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Abstract
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Severe burns induce several acute and chronic metabolic perturbations. A prominent hallmark persisting up to two years post-burn is skeletal muscle wasting. After a burn injury, the specific molecular pathways orchestrating muscle wasting and the precise impact of exercise remain elusive. This research project was initiated to shed light on the fundamental effects of exercise on post-burn muscle wasting. By elucidating the underlying mechanisms, we can lay the foundation for the implementation of early exercise as a viable treatment strategy for burn survivors, addressing several metabolic sequelae. In Chapter 3, we provided an overview of the current literature, emphasizing that the existing knowledge concerning the effects of burns and the possible beneficial effects of exercise on the molecular mechanisms of muscle wasting is still in its infancy. In Chapter 4 we demonstrated that 10 days post-burn muscle wasting is present, as shown by lower body and muscle weights. Analyzed proteins involved in protein synthesis pathways showed lower expressions post-burn. However, for protein breakdown pathways, no higher expressions were found. At 40 days post-burn severely burned animals still show lower total body and muscle weights, as demonstrated in Chapter 5. Molecular analysis showed lower expressions of anabolic and higher expressions of catabolic proteins in SOL of severely burned animals. Surprisingly, in EDL the opposite result was found. We also looked into the expression of myokines. Anabolic Decorin showed a lower expression in SOL of burned animals, similar to Irisin in EDL. Catabolic myokine Myostatin showed a higher expression in SOL, but not in EDL 40 days post-burn. These results provide evidence that muscle wasting persists during the later stages post-burn, but the specific mechanisms are time and muscle dependent. In Chapter 6 we showed that a progressive treadmill training protocol has protective effects on post-burn muscle wasting. Anthropomorphic analysis shows an increase in total body and skeletal muscle weights in exercised animals after burn. Catabolic signaling pathways show lower expressions after exercise in both muscles. Anabolic signaling was not observed to be significantly increased by exercise. Besides, exercise resulted in lower Myostatin and higher Irisin expressions after burns. These findings further support the beneficial effects of exercise in mitigating muscle wasting after burn injuries. In conclusion, we can confirm that an early physical exercise protocol can effectively mitigate skeletal muscle wasting within a severe burns rat model by attenuating catabolic signaling and positively affecting myokine expression. |
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Language
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English
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Publication
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Antwerpen
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Universiteit Antwerpen, Faculteit Geneeskunde en Gezondheidswetenschappen, Departement Revalidatiewetenschappen en Kinesitherapie
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2024
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DOI
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10.63028/10067/2031330151162165141
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Volume/pages
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155 p.
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Note
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van Breda, Eric [Supervisor]
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van Daele, Ulrike [Supervisor]
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Guns, Pieter-Jan [Supervisor]
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Full text (open access)
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