Document Type
Article
Publication Title
npj Microgravity
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which extracellular vesicles (EVs) circulating in blood after exercise training act as an effective mimetic to maintain skeletal muscle mass during unloading and/or accelerate recovery after disuse. Ten healthy males (27.7 ± 7.1 y) were recruited for a 6-week progressive resistance and endurance training program. EVs were isolated from blood before (EVs) or immediately after training (ExerVs). EVs were intraperitoneally injected into male mice (4×; 3 × 108 particles/injection) during 14 days of hindlimb unloading (HU), then the muscles were collected immediately or 7 days after HU. ExerVs did not maintain muscle mass, fiber size (fCSA), or protein synthesis but significantly reduced collagen I during HU. ExerV administration rapidly restored Type I fCSA and capillary quantity concomitant with reduced collagen during the reloading period. Overall, this study demonstrates that ExerVs may represent a novel strategy to preserve skeletal muscle health during disuse.
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-026-00582-4
Volume
12
Publication Date
2026
Keywords
biochemistry, biotechnology, cell biology, physiology
Disciplines
Biotechnology | Kinesiology | Physiology
ISSN
2373-8065
Recommended Citation
Fliflet, A.M., Tan, Y., Barnes, T.M. et al. Human plasma extracellular vesicles as an exercise mimetic to preserve skeletal muscle plasticity during disuse. npj Microgravity 12, 48 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-026-00582-4
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