Longevity & AgingExercise Protein CLCF1 Fights Age-Related Muscle and Bone Loss in Mice
Researchers identified CLCF1, a muscle-derived protein (myokine), as an exercise-induced factor that declines with aging in both humans and rodents. By analyzing human muscle transcriptome data and conducting experiments in aged male mice, they showed that restoring CLCF1 levels improved physical performance, glucose tolerance, and mitochondrial activity. CLCF1 also protected against age-related bone loss by simultaneously inhibiting osteoclasts (bone-breaking cells) and promoting osteoblasts (bone-building cells). Blocking CLCF1 abolished the musculoskeletal benefits of exercise training, confirming its central role as a mediator of exercise's positive effects on aging muscle and bone.
