There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
Abstract
<p class="first" id="d6889834e77">Endocrine mechanisms have been largely associated
with metabolic control and tissue
cross talk in mammals. Classically, myokines comprise a class of signaling proteins
released in the bloodstream by the skeletal muscle, which mediate physiological and
metabolic responses in several tissues, including the brain. Recent exciting evidence
suggests that myokines (e.g. cathepsin B, FNDC5/irisin, interleukin-6) act to control
brain functions, including learning, memory, and mood, and may mediate the beneficial
actions of physical exercise in the brain. However, the intricate mechanisms connecting
peripherally released molecules to brain function are not fully understood. Accumulating
findings further indicates that impaired skeletal muscle homeostasis impacts brain
metabolism and physiology. Here we review recent findings that suggest that muscle-borne
signals are essential for brain physiology and discuss perspectives on how these signals
vary in response to exercise or muscle diseases. Understanding the complex interactions
between skeletal muscle and brain may result in more effective therapeutic strategies
to expand healthspan and to prevent brain disease. This article is part of the special
Issue on 'Cross Talk between Periphery and the Brain'.
</p>