BDNF coexpresses with MTOR and is associated with muscle fiber size, lean mass and power-related traits

dc.contributor.authorBulgay, Celal
dc.contributor.authorZorba, Erdal
dc.contributor.authorKazan, Hasan H.
dc.contributor.authorBayraktar, Isik
dc.contributor.authorUca, Merve
dc.contributor.authorErgun, Mehmet A.
dc.contributor.authorJohn, George
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-23T20:44:15Z
dc.date.available2025-07-23T20:44:15Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.departmentİstanbul Esenyurt Üniversitesi
dc.description.abstractPurposeRecent research suggests a link between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the mTOR signaling pathway, a key regulator of protein synthesis and muscle growth. However, it remains unclear whether BDNF influences muscle growth and power performance. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between the expression of BDNF and MTOR genes in human skeletal muscle and examine the association between genetically predicted higher expression of the BDNF gene and muscle fiber size, lean mass, power performance, and power athlete status. MethodsThe study involved 456,382 subjects, including 285 athletes, 112 physically active individuals with muscle fiber composition data, 291 sedentary individuals with gene expression data, 5451 controls, and 450,243 UK Biobank participants. The muscle fiber composition was evaluated using immunohistochemistry, while gene expression analysis was performed using RNA sequencing. BDNF genotyping was carried out using real-time PCR or microarrays. ResultsWe found that BDNF gene expression was positively associated with MTOR gene expression in the vastus lateralis (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, genetically predicted higher BDNF expression (i.e., carriage of the C allele of the rs6265 (Val66Met) BDNF polymorphism) was positively associated with the cross-sectional area of fast-twitch muscle fibers in athletes (p = 0.0069), appendicular lean mass (p = 2.6 x 10(-)(7)), personal best scores of power athletes (p = 0.029), and power athlete status (p = 0.0056). ConclusionOur study demonstrates a positive correlation between BDNF and MTOR gene expression in human skeletal muscle, with genetically predicted higher BDNF expression associated with greater muscle fiber size, lean mass, enhanced power performance, and power athlete status.
dc.description.sponsorshipRussian Science Foundation
dc.description.sponsorshipThe authors are grateful to all participants who kindly provided their samples for DNA analysis. Part of the data were taken from Celal Bulgay's doctoral dissertation.
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s00421-025-05804-3
dc.identifier.issn1439-6319
dc.identifier.issn1439-6327
dc.identifier.pmid40299026
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-105003837545
dc.identifier.scopusqualityN/A
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-025-05804-3
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14704/1124
dc.identifier.wosWOS:001478885500001
dc.identifier.wosqualityN/A
dc.indekslendigikaynakWeb of Science
dc.indekslendigikaynakScopus
dc.indekslendigikaynakPubMed
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSPRINGER
dc.relation.ispartofEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
dc.relation.publicationcategoryMakale - Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi - Kurum Öğretim Elemanı
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.snmzKA_WoS_20250711
dc.subjectDNA
dc.subjectPolymorphism
dc.subjectSNP
dc.subjectGene expression
dc.subjectSprint
dc.subjectSports
dc.titleBDNF coexpresses with MTOR and is associated with muscle fiber size, lean mass and power-related traits
dc.typeArticle

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