This commentary explains how single-cell sequencing can help exercise medicine move beyond tissue-level averages toward cell-type-specific biomarkers. By resolving responses in skeletal muscle, circulating immune cells, vascular cells, adipose tissue and other organs, single-cell and multi-omic technologies can identify which cells respond to different exercise modes and doses, how these cellular states change over time, and why individuals may show different biological responses to training. The paper highlights applications in muscle repair, immune regulation, ageing-related cellular states, chronic disease research and responder profiling. It also proposes a translational pathway in which single-cell discoveries are converted into measurable biomarkers and then validated using accessible assays such as flow cytometry, targeted RNA panels, proteomics, methylation assays and clinical chemistry. The article emphasizes that future studies should integrate precise exercise protocols, repeated sampling, spatial context, physiological outcomes and independent validation to support precision exercise medicine.
LabMed Discovery
News article
Single-cell sequencing in exercise medicine: from tissue responses to precision exercise biomarkers
28-May-2026