Inter-Organ Communication

In this article we aim for a comprehensive review of many gene variants of PGC-1a gene that have been discovered by our and other groups. We have learned that they give PGC-1 an ability to adapt its functionality to specific tissues and stimuli.

When exercising, our muscles take the brunt of the effort. In order to cope with increased demands, molecular pathways orchestrated by PGC-1 gene are activated. The changes however don't stop there, so we decided to have a closer look on how exercised muscle affects the rest of the body.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease in which the motor neurons that control movement gradually die, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and ultimately loss of vital functions like breathing. Although the brain and spinal cord are directly affected, muscles themselves play a critical role in keeping motor neurons healthy through a constant exchange of molecular signals.