Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk
Journal of Eexercise & Organ Cross Talk

Combined Endurance Swimming Exercise and Epigallocatechin Gallate Supplementation Restore Autophagic–Lysosomal Homeostasis in the Soleus Muscle of Elderly Male Rats: Evidence from the TFEB–mTORC1–LAMP2A–Cathepsin D Signaling Axis

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Samaneh Eidel 1
Foad Feizolahi 2
Amir Sarshin 1
Fariba Aghaei 2
Mitra Azizi Masouleh 1

1 Department of Exercise Physiology, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.

2 Department of Exercise Physiology, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

10.22122/jeoct.2026.591678.1215
Abstract
Aging impairs the autophagic-lysosomal system in skeletal muscle, contributing to sarcopenia via accumulation of damaged proteins and organelles. Aged muscle paradoxically shows increased TFEB, LAMP2A, and Cathepsin D as a compensatory response to lysosomal overload, yet hyperactive mTORC1 retains TFEB in the cytoplasm, limiting autophagic flux. The combined effects of endurance exercise and EGCG on this pathway in aged oxidative muscle remain unclear. This study investigated the individual and synergistic effects of six weeks of endurance swimming and EGCG supplementation on mRNA expression of TFEB, mTORC1, LAMP2A, Cathepsin D, and lysosomal acid phosphatase activity in soleus muscle of aged male Wistar rats.Twenty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=5 each): Young Control (YC, 8–10 weeks), Elderly Control (EC, 22–24 months), Elderly+EGCG, Elderly+Endurance Swimming, and Elderly+EGCG+Endurance Swimming. Swimming was performed 5 days/week for 6 weeks with progressive overload. EGCG (100 mg/kg/day) was given by oral gavage. Gene expression was quantified by real-time PCR, and acid phosphatase activity by fluorometric assay. Data analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test (α=0.05). Aged controls showed significantly elevated TFEB, mTORC1, LAMP2A, Cathepsin D mRNA, and acid phosphatase activity versus young controls (all p<0.0001). Exercise and EGCG alone attenuated these markers. The combined intervention produced the greatest normalization, closest to young controls and superior to single treatments. Combined endurance swimming and EGCG restore autophagic-lysosomal homeostasis in aged soleus muscle by normalizing the TFEB–mTORC1–LAMP2A–Cathepsin D axis, offering a promising non-pharmacological strategy against sarcopenia.

Keywords

Sarcopenia
Autophagy
TFEB
mTORC1
Endurance exercise
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Soleus muscle
Subjects
Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 January 2027

  • Receive Date 28 August 2026
  • Revise Date 21 October 2026
  • Accept Date 31 October 2026

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us