The multifaceted impact of physical exercise on FoxO signaling pathways

This review explores the multifaceted impact of physical exercise on FoxO signaling pathways, which play a central role in cellular homeostasis, stress response, metabolism, and longevity. Exercise influences FoxO proteins—particularly FoxO1, FoxO3, FoxO4, and FoxO6—through diverse mechanisms, inclu...

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Main Authors: Wei Liu, Pengjun Meng, Zhi Li, Yifei Shen, Xin Meng, Shen Jin, Mengdi Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1614732/full
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author Wei Liu
Pengjun Meng
Zhi Li
Yifei Shen
Xin Meng
Shen Jin
Mengdi Hu
author_facet Wei Liu
Pengjun Meng
Zhi Li
Yifei Shen
Xin Meng
Shen Jin
Mengdi Hu
author_sort Wei Liu
collection DOAJ
description This review explores the multifaceted impact of physical exercise on FoxO signaling pathways, which play a central role in cellular homeostasis, stress response, metabolism, and longevity. Exercise influences FoxO proteins—particularly FoxO1, FoxO3, FoxO4, and FoxO6—through diverse mechanisms, including phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination, determining their localization, transcriptional activity, and stability. Regular exercise modulates FoxO signaling by activating pathways like PI3K/AKT, AMPK, SIRT1, and IGF-1, promoting cellular resilience against oxidative stress, apoptosis, and metabolic dysfunction. The review highlights how exercise-induced modulation of FoxO pathways contributes to improved insulin sensitivity, muscle hypertrophy, cardiovascular health, neuroprotection, and reduced risks of chronic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Additionally, it addresses the role of exercise in preventing muscle atrophy under various conditions, such as pharmacological interventions, aging, disease, and dietary factors. By enhancing FoxO signaling, exercise promotes anabolic processes, mitochondrial function, autophagy, and antioxidant defenses. Understanding the intricate relationship between exercise and FoxO pathways offers insights into developing therapeutic strategies to mitigate disease progression.
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spelling doaj-art-b0276c6ae0b840b1adc94bd16a0aa0ea2025-08-20T03:59:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2025-08-011310.3389/fcell.2025.16147321614732The multifaceted impact of physical exercise on FoxO signaling pathwaysWei Liu0Pengjun Meng1Zhi Li2Yifei Shen3Xin Meng4Shen Jin5Mengdi Hu6Department of Physical Education, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Xidian University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaOffice of Scientific Research, Ersha Sports Training Center of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaGynecology Department, Shaanxi Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaThis review explores the multifaceted impact of physical exercise on FoxO signaling pathways, which play a central role in cellular homeostasis, stress response, metabolism, and longevity. Exercise influences FoxO proteins—particularly FoxO1, FoxO3, FoxO4, and FoxO6—through diverse mechanisms, including phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination, determining their localization, transcriptional activity, and stability. Regular exercise modulates FoxO signaling by activating pathways like PI3K/AKT, AMPK, SIRT1, and IGF-1, promoting cellular resilience against oxidative stress, apoptosis, and metabolic dysfunction. The review highlights how exercise-induced modulation of FoxO pathways contributes to improved insulin sensitivity, muscle hypertrophy, cardiovascular health, neuroprotection, and reduced risks of chronic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Additionally, it addresses the role of exercise in preventing muscle atrophy under various conditions, such as pharmacological interventions, aging, disease, and dietary factors. By enhancing FoxO signaling, exercise promotes anabolic processes, mitochondrial function, autophagy, and antioxidant defenses. Understanding the intricate relationship between exercise and FoxO pathways offers insights into developing therapeutic strategies to mitigate disease progression.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1614732/fullFoxO signaling pathwaysphysical exercisemetabolic regulationskeletal musclecomplexleft
spellingShingle Wei Liu
Pengjun Meng
Zhi Li
Yifei Shen
Xin Meng
Shen Jin
Mengdi Hu
The multifaceted impact of physical exercise on FoxO signaling pathways
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
FoxO signaling pathways
physical exercise
metabolic regulation
skeletal muscle
complex
left
title The multifaceted impact of physical exercise on FoxO signaling pathways
title_full The multifaceted impact of physical exercise on FoxO signaling pathways
title_fullStr The multifaceted impact of physical exercise on FoxO signaling pathways
title_full_unstemmed The multifaceted impact of physical exercise on FoxO signaling pathways
title_short The multifaceted impact of physical exercise on FoxO signaling pathways
title_sort multifaceted impact of physical exercise on foxo signaling pathways
topic FoxO signaling pathways
physical exercise
metabolic regulation
skeletal muscle
complex
left
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1614732/full
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