Low macrophage content in diabetic and aging human skeletal muscle

An accumulation of muscle macrophages is accompanied by altered insulin sensitivity after reduced activity and recovery

BACKGROUND

Mechanisms underlying physical inactivity-induced insulin resistance are not well understood. In addition to a role in muscle repair, immune cell populations such as macrophages may regulate insulin sensitivity.

AIM

The aim of this study was to examine if the dynamic changes in insulin sensitivity during and after recovery from reduced physical activity corresponded to changes in skeletal muscle macrophages.

METHODS

In this prospective clinical study, we collected muscle biopsies from healthy older adults (70 ± 2 years, n = 12) before and during a hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp and this occurred before (PRE) and after 2-week reduced physical activity (RA), and following 2-week of recovery (REC). Insulin sensitivity (hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp), skeletal muscle mRNA expression of inflammatory markers, and immunofluorescent quantification of skeletal muscle macrophages, myofibre-specific satellite cell and capillary content were assessed.

RESULTS

Insulin sensitivity was decreased following reduced activity and rebounded following recovery above PRE levels. We observed an increase (P < 0.01) in muscle macrophages (CD68⁺ CD206⁺ : 190 [55, 324]; CD11b⁺ CD206⁺ : 117 [28, 205]% change from PRE) and CD68 (2.4 [1.4, 3.4]-fold) and CCL2 (1.9 [1.3, 2.5]-fold) mRNA following RA concurrent with increased (P < 0.03) satellite cells (55 [6, 104]%) in slow-twitch myofibres. Moreover, the distance of satellite cells to the nearest capillary was increased 7.7 (1.7, 13.7) µm in fast-twitch myofibres at RA (P = 0.007). Changes in macrophages were positively associated with increased insulin sensitivity following RA (R > 0.57, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggested that a dynamic response of skeletal muscle macrophages following acute changes in physical activity in healthy older adults is related to insulin sensitivity.

Aging-related effects of bed rest followed by eccentric exercise rehabilitation on skeletal muscle macrophages and insulin sensitivity

The pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophages are associated with insulin sensitivity and skeletal muscle regeneration. Infiltrating macrophages in skeletal muscle during a period of physical inactivity and subsequent reloading/rehabilitation in older adults is unknown, but may provide insight into mechanisms related to the development of metabolic disease and changes in muscle cell size. The purpose of this study was to determine if skeletal muscle macrophage infiltration is modulated differently between young and older adults after bed rest and exercise rehabilitation and if these responses are related to muscle and insulin sensitivity changes. 14 young and 9 older adults underwent 5-days of bed rest followed by 8-weeks of lower limb eccentric exercise rehabilitation (REHAB). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, magnetic resonance imaging and myofiber analysis were used to identify muscle morphology and CLIX-IR and CLIX-β were used to assess insulin sensitivity. Skeletal muscle macrophages, CD68 (pan), CD11b (M1), CD163 (M2), CD206 (M2), were characterized using immunohistochemistry and gene expression. Insulin sensitivity, independent of age, decreased ~38% following bed rest and was restored following REHAB. We found robust age-related differences in muscle atrophy during bed rest, yet older and younger adults equally hypertrophied during REHAB. Interestingly, there were age-related differences in macrophage content (CD68⁺CD11b⁺ and CD68⁺CD11b^- cells) but both young and old similarly increased macrophages with REHAB. Satellite cell changes during rehab corresponded to macrophage content changes. Muscle tissue resident macrophages and gene expression, were not associated with changes in insulin sensitivity following bed rest and REHAB. These data suggest that muscle macrophages are modulated as a result of exercise rehabilitation following bed rest and may more associated with muscle regrowth/hypertrophy rather than insulin sensitivity in young or older adults. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01669590.