Skeletal Muscle Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and DNA Repair in Age-Related Sarcopenia

Inclusion Criteria: * males and females aged 20-35. * willing and able to give informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * High physical activity level (i.e., the subject has spent greater than 300 minutes per week in the past 2 month performing structured physical activity, such as exercising at a gym and/or weight training) * Active treatment for cancer or history of cancer in the past 3 years * Congestive heart failure NYHA Class III or IV * Previous stroke with upper and/or lower extremities involvement within the last 6 months * Peripheral vascular disease Fontaine Class III/IV * History of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, stroke, severe Parkinson's disease or severe neurological disorders likely to interfere with physical function * Renal disease requiring dialysis * Lung disease requiring steroids * Lower extremity amputation * Complicated diabetes * Life-threatening illnesses with an estimated life expectancy less than 1 year * Anticoagulant therapy (aspirin use is allowed, but participants will be asked to stop taking it 48 hours prior to muscle biopsy) * Involved in active weight loss \> 5 kg in prior 3 months * Pregnancy (determined by a pregnancy test) * Lidocaine allergy Temporary exclusion criteria: * Recent bacterial infection (\< 2 weeks) * Acute febrile illness in previous 2 months * High blood pressure (i.e., BP ≥ 160/90 mm Hg) at the visit (subject will be referred to his/her physician and reevaluated after appropriated therapy being instituted) * Tak…