Muscles that are already primed with certain immune system signals before training tend to grow more after lifting weights, as if the immune system helps muscles respond better to exercise.
Scientific Claim
Skeletal muscle gene networks related to immune function and antigen presentation at rest are positively associated with greater muscle growth after resistance training in older adults, indicating immune-related pathways may support adaptive capacity.
Original Statement
“The majority of key red module genes... were associated with antigen presentation... A number of other red module genes are involved in immune function... The continual appearance of factors related to immunity and inflammation in key gene networks highlights the potential importance of skeletal muscle immune health in preparing muscle for adaptation to exercise training.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The claim uses 'associated with' and is grounded in statistically significant correlations between baseline gene expression and hypertrophy outcomes, consistent with the observational design.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Muscle Transcriptional Networks Linked to Resistance Exercise Training Hypertrophic Response Heterogeneity.
This study found that how your muscles are wired at rest—before you start lifting weights—can predict how much they’ll grow, and some of those wiring patterns might involve your immune system, even if it wasn’t directly named.