Yoda1 molecule can make your bod think it's exercising
- 7 years ago
LEEDS, UNITED KINGDOM — Researchers at the University of Leeds are exploring activating the body's exercise sensor with a molecule named Yoda1.
During physical activity, the heart pumps more blood around the body, putting more pressure on the walls of the blood vessels.
According to the study, the Piezo1 protein in the endothelium, which takes blood from the heart to stomach and intestines, senses the change and becomes activated, which constricts the blood vessels. As a result, more blood is directed to the brain and the muscles involved in the physical activity.
"We know that exercise can protect against heart disease, stroke and many other conditions. This study has identified a physiological system that senses when the mammalian body is exercising," Professor David Beech, from the Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and lead investigator of the study told Eurekalert.
Based on experiments on mice, the team discovered an experimental molecule named Yoda1 can increase the blood flow in the endothelium similar to the effect of exercise and thus can activate Piezo1 protein without undergoing exercise. Researchers believe the same results could happen on human bodies.
The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
During physical activity, the heart pumps more blood around the body, putting more pressure on the walls of the blood vessels.
According to the study, the Piezo1 protein in the endothelium, which takes blood from the heart to stomach and intestines, senses the change and becomes activated, which constricts the blood vessels. As a result, more blood is directed to the brain and the muscles involved in the physical activity.
"We know that exercise can protect against heart disease, stroke and many other conditions. This study has identified a physiological system that senses when the mammalian body is exercising," Professor David Beech, from the Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and lead investigator of the study told Eurekalert.
Based on experiments on mice, the team discovered an experimental molecule named Yoda1 can increase the blood flow in the endothelium similar to the effect of exercise and thus can activate Piezo1 protein without undergoing exercise. Researchers believe the same results could happen on human bodies.
The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.