Long-Term Exercise Reduces Formation of Tubular Aggregates and Promotes Maintenance of Ca ²⁺ Entry Units in Aged Muscle

Tubular aggregates (TAs) in skeletal muscle fibers are unusual accumulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) tubes that are found in different disorders including TA myopathy (TAM). TAM is a muscular disease characterized by muscle pain, cramping, and weakness that has been recently linked to mutations in STIM1 and ORAI1. STIM1 and ORAI1 are the two main proteins mediating store-operated Ca ²⁺ entry (SOCE), a mechanism activated by depletion of intracellular Ca ²⁺ stores (e.g., SR) that allows recovery of Ca ²⁺ from the extracellular space during repetitive muscle activity. We have recently shown that exercise triggers the formation of unique intracellular junctions between SR and transverse tubules named Ca ²⁺ entry units (CEUs). CEUs promote colocalization of STIM1 with ORAI1 and improve muscle function in presence of external Ca ²⁺. TAs virtually identical to those of TAM patients are also found in fast-twitch fibers of aging male mice. Here, we used a combination of electron and confocal microscopy, Western blotting, and ex vivo stimulation protocols (in presence or absence of external Ca ²⁺) to evaluate the presence of TAs, STIM1-ORAI1 localization and expression and fatigue resistance of intact extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles in wild-type male adult (4-month-old) and aged (24-month-old) mice and in mice trained in wheel cages for 15 months (from 9 to 24 months of age). The results collected indicate that (i) aging causes STIM1 and ORAI1 to accumulate in TAs and (ii) long-term exercise significantly reduced formation of TAs. In addition, (iii) EDL muscles from aged mice exhibited a faster decay of contractile force than adult muscles, likely caused by their inability to refill intracellular Ca ²⁺ stores, and (iv) exercise in wheel cages restored the capability of aged EDL muscles to use external Ca ²⁺ by promoting maintenance of CEUs. In conclusion, exercise prevented improper accumulation of STIM1 and ORAI1 in TAs during aging, maintaining the capability of aged muscle to refill intracellular Ca ²⁺ stores via SOCE.