Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Intramuscular MAPK signaling following high volume and high intensity resistance exercise protocols in trained men

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family of signaling proteins following typical high volume (HV) and high intensity (HI) lower body resistance exercise protocols in resistance-trained men.

Methods

Ten resistance-trained men (24.7 ± 3.4 year; 90.1 ± 11.3 kg; 176.0 ± 4.9 cm) performed each resistance exercise protocol in a random, counterbalanced order. The HV protocol utilized a load of 70 % 1-RM for sets of 10–12 repetitions with a 1-min rest period length between sets and exercises. The HI protocol utilized a load of 90 % 1-RM for sets of 3–5 repetitions with a 3-min rest period length between sets and exercises. Both protocols included six sets of barbell back squats and four sets of bilateral leg press, bilateral hamstring curls, bilateral leg extensions, and seated calf raises. Fine needle muscle biopsies of the vastus lateralis were completed at baseline (BL) and 1-h post exercise (1H).

Results

No significant differences over time were noted for phosphorylation of MEK1, ERK1/2, p38, MSK1, ATF2, p53, or c-Jun (p > 0.05). No significance between trial interactions was noted for phosphorylation of MAPK signaling proteins, including MEK1, ERK1/2, p38, JNK, MSK1, ATF2, STAT1, p53, c-Jun, or HSP27 (p > 0.05). However, significant time effects were observed for phosphorylation of JNK (p < 0.01), HSP27 (p < 0.01), and STAT1 (p = 0.03). Phosphorylation of JNK, HSP27, and STAT1 was significantly elevated from BL at 1H for both HV and HI.

Conclusions

HV and HI lower body resistance exercise protocols appear to elicit similar MAPK activation in resistance-trained men.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

1-RM:

1-repetition maximum

1H:

1-h post exercise

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

ATF2:

Activating transcription factor 2

AU:

Arbitrary units

BL:

Baseline

ERK1/2:

Extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2

HI:

High intensity

HPL:

Human Performance Laboratory

HSP27:

Heat shock protein 27

HV:

High volume

JNK:

c-Jun N-terminal kinase

MAPK:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase

MEK1:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1

MSK1:

Mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1

mTORC1:

Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1

p70S6k:

p70S6 kinase

RPS6:

Ribosomal protein S6

STAT1:

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1

References

  • Aronson D, Boppart MD, Dufresne SD, Fielding RA, Goodyear LJ (1998) Exercise stimulates c-Jun NH 2 kinase activity and c-Jun transcriptional activity in human skeletal muscle. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 251:106–110

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Begue G, Douillard A, Galbes O, Rossano B, Vernus B, Candau R, Py G (2013) Early activation of rat skeletal muscle IL-6/STAT1/STAT3 dependent gene expression in resistance exercise linked to hypertrophy. PLoS One 8:e57141

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Boppart MD et al (1999) Eccentric exercise markedly increases c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activity in human skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol 87:1668–1673

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brzycki M (1993) Strength testing—predicting a one-rep max from reps-to-fatigue. J Phys Educ Recreat Dance 64:88–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damas F, Phillips S, Vechin FC, Ugrinowitsch C (2015) A review of resistance training-induced changes in skeletal muscle protein synthesis and their contribution to hypertrophy. Sports Med 45:801–807

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deldicque L, Atherton P, Patel R, Theisen D, Nielens H, Rennie MJ, Francaux M (2008) Decrease in Akt/PKB signalling in human skeletal muscle by resistance exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 104:57–65

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drummond MJ et al (2009) Rapamycin administration in humans blocks the contraction-induced increase in skeletal muscle protein synthesis. J Physiol 587:1535–1546

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Egan B, Zierath JR (2013) Exercise metabolism and the molecular regulation of skeletal muscle adaptation. Cell Metab 17:162–184

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farooq A, Zhou MM (2004) Structure and regulation of MAPK phosphatases. Cell Signal 16:769–779

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez AM (2016) Acute anabolic response and muscular adaptation following hypertrophy-style and strength-style resistance exercise. J Strength Cond Res [Epub ahead of print]

  • Gonzalez AM, Hoffman JR, Stout JR, Fukuda DH, Willoughby DS (2015a) Intramuscular anabolic signaling and endocrine response following resistance exercise: implications for muscle hypertrophy. Sports Med 46:671–685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez AM et al (2015b) Intramuscular anabolic signaling and endocrine response following high volume and high intensity resistance exercise protocols in trained men. Physiol Reports 3:e12466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez AM et al (2015c) Association between myosin heavy chain protein isoforms and intramuscular anabolic signaling following resistance exercise in trained men. Physiol Reports 3:e12268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman CA (2014) The role of mTORC1 in regulating protein synthesis and skeletal muscle mass in response to various mechanical stimuli. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 166:43–95

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green S, Salkind N, Akey T (2000) Methods for controlling type I error across multiple hypothesis tests. Using SPSS for Windows Anal Underst Data 2:395–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenhaff PL et al (2008) Disassociation between the effects of amino acids and insulin on signaling, ubiquitin ligases, and protein turnover in human muscle. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 295:E595–E604

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Guan KL (1994) The mitogen activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway: from the cell surface to the nucleus. Cell Signal 6:581–589

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haddad F, Adams GR (2004) Inhibition of MAP/ERK kinase prevents IGF-I-induced hypertrophy in rat muscles. J Appl Physiol 96:203–210

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman J (2006) Norms for fitness, performance, and health. Human Kinetics, Champaign

    Google Scholar 

  • Holm L, van Hall G, Rose AJ, Miller BF, Doessing S, Richter EA, Kjaer M (2010) Contraction intensity and feeding affect collagen and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates differently in human skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 298:E257–E269

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hulmi J, Walker S, Ahtiainen J, Nyman K, Kraemer W, Häkkinen K (2012) Molecular signaling in muscle is affected by the specificity of resistance exercise protocol. Scand J Med Sci Sports 22:240–248

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang J (2011) Using the MILLIPLEX MAP Akt/mTOR 11-plex Panel (Technical Report). EMD Millipore, Billerica, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlsson HK, Nilsson PA, Nilsson J, Chibalin AV, Zierath JR, Blomstrand E (2004) Branched-chain amino acids increase p70S6k phosphorylation in human skeletal muscle after resistance exercise. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 287:E1–E7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar V et al (2009) Age-related differences in the dose–response relationship of muscle protein synthesis to resistance exercise in young and old men. J Physiol 587:211–217

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Landry J, Huot J (1995) Modulation of actin dynamics during stress and physiological stimulation by a signaling pathway involving p38 MAP kinase and heat-shock protein 27. Biochem Cell Biol 73:703–707

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGlory C, Phillips SM (2015) Exercise and the regulation of skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Prog Mol Biol Translational Sci 135:153–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell WK, Phillips BE, Williams JP, Rankin D, Lund JN, Smith K, Atherton PJ (2015) A Dose-rather than delivery profile–dependent mechanism regulates the “muscle-full” effect in response to oral essential amino acid intake in young men. J Nutr 114:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison DK (2012) MAP kinase pathways. Cold Spring Harbor Perspect Biol 4:a011254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nader GA, von Walden F, Liu C, Lindvall J, Gutmann L, Pistilli EE, Gordon PM (2014) Resistance exercise training modulates acute gene expression during human skeletal muscle hypertrophy. J Appl Physiol 116:693–702

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sasai N, Agata N, Inoue-Miyazu M, Kawakami K, Kobayashi K, Sokabe M, Hayakawa K (2010) Involvement of PI3K/Akt/TOR pathway in stretch-induced hypertrophy of myotubes. Muscle Nerve 41:100–106

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma N, Castorena CM, Cartee GD (2012a) Tissue-specific responses of IGF-1/insulin and mTOR signaling in calorie restricted rats. PLoS One 7:e38835

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma N, Sequea DA, Arias EB, Cartee GD (2012b) Greater insulin-mediated Akt phosphorylation concomitant with heterogeneous effects on phosphorylation of Akt substrates in soleus of calorie-restricted rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 303:R1261–R1267

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Shi H, Scheffler JM, Zeng C, Pleitner JM, Hannon KM, Grant AL, Gerrard DE (2009) Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling is necessary for the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 296:C1040–C1048

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tannerstedt J, Apró W, Blomstrand E (2009) Maximal lengthening contractions induce different signaling responses in the type I and type II fibers of human skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol 106:1412–1418

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor LW, Wilborn CD, Kreider RB, Willoughby DS (2012) Effects of resistance exercise intensity on extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in men. J Strength Cond Res 26:599–607

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Terzis G, Spengos K, Mascher H, Georgiadis G, Manta P, Blomstrand E (2010) The degree of p70S6k and S6 phosphorylation in human skeletal muscle in response to resistance exercise depends on the training volume. Eur J Appl Physiol 110:835–843

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson H, Maynard E, Morales E, Scordilis S (2003) Exercise-induced HSP27, HSP70 and MAPK responses in human skeletal muscle. Acta Physiol Scand 178:61–72

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trenerry MK, Della Gatta PA, Larsen AE, Garnham AP, Cameron-Smith D (2011) Impact of resistance exercise training on interleukin-6 and JAK/STAT in young men. Muscle Nerve 43:385–392

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Widegren U, Ryder J, Zierath J (2001) Mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction in skeletal muscle: effects of exercise and muscle contraction. Acta Physiol Scand 172:227–238

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williamson D, Gallagher P, Harber M, Hollon C, Trappe S (2003) Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation: effects of age and acute exercise on human skeletal muscle. J Physiol 547:977–987

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • You JS, Frey JW, Hornberger TA (2012) Mechanical stimulation induces mTOR signaling via an ERK-independent mechanism: implications for a direct activation of mTOR by phosphatidic acid. PLoS One 7:e47258

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Exercise Physiology and Wellness, Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education and Human Performance, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 161250, Orlando, FL, 32816-1250, USA

    Jay R. Hoffman, Jeremy R. Townsend, Adam R. Jajtner, Carleigh H. Boone, Kyle S. Beyer, Kayla M. Baker, Adam J. Wells, Gerald T. Mangine, Edward H. Robinson IV, David D. Church, Leonardo P. Oliveira, David H. Fukuda & Jeffrey R. Stout

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Leonardo P. Oliveira

  3. Department of Health Professions, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA

    Adam M. Gonzalez

Authors
  1. Adam M. Gonzalez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jay R. Hoffman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jeremy R. Townsend
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Adam R. Jajtner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carleigh H. Boone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Kyle S. Beyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Kayla M. Baker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Adam J. Wells
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Gerald T. Mangine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Edward H. Robinson IV
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. David D. Church
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Leonardo P. Oliveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. David H. Fukuda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Jeffrey R. Stout
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jay R. Hoffman.

Additional information

Communicated by William J. Kraemer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gonzalez, A.M., Hoffman, J.R., Townsend, J.R. et al. Intramuscular MAPK signaling following high volume and high intensity resistance exercise protocols in trained men. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 1663–1670 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3417-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3417-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation