Running a marathon can halt cell death

It may hurt at the time but strenuous activity could halt programmed cell death.

Strenuous physical activity can halt natural programmed cell death according to a study which discovered a family of proteins may exert a protective effect over cells during exercise.

Researchers studied peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from whole blood samples taken from ten amateur athletes who had just completed a 42km run. They discovered that the balance of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes had shifted after the race and that exercise modulates the expression of the sirtuin family of proteins – in particular SIRT1.

“Sirtuins may play a crucial role of mediators/effectors in the maintenance of skeletal and cardiac muscle tissues as well as neuron, thus explaining they synergic effects of physical exercise and calorie restriction for survival and ageing,” said Gabriella Marfe, from the University of Rome Tor Vergata.

The study – led by Marfe and published in BMC Physiology – is the first to show that the sirtuin family of proteins may be involved in exercise’s protective effects.