Exercise induces systemic biological adaptations across multiple tissues and cell types. Single-cell and multi-omic approaches now allow researchers to resolve these cell-type-specific responses and establish a translational framework for exercise medicine. This paper outlines a pipeline linking the discovery of exercise-responsive cell types and states, mechanism-informed candidate biomarkers, validation using accessible assays, and integration of human and animal evidence to support precision exercise applications. By highlighting how these approaches can guide biomarker discovery and translational validation, the article provides a conceptual roadmap for advancing single-cell exercise research. In exercise medicine, single-cell approaches can clarify how different exercise modes and doses influence muscle adaptation, immune regulation, ageing-related cellular states, and tissue-specific stress responses. Their near-term translational value lies in discovering cell-derived biomarkers that can later be measured using more accessible assays, including flow cytometry, targeted transcript panels, proteomics, methylation assays, and routine laboratory platforms. Future studies should combine clear exercise protocols, longitudinal sampling, spatial context, physiological outcomes, and rigorous validation.
Yan-Wei You (Fri,) studied this question.