Circulating microRNAs and endothelial cell migration rate are associated with metabolic syndrome and fitness level in postmenopausal African American women

Abstract

Postmenopausal African American women are at elevated risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS), which predisposes them to cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases. Circulating microRNAs (ci‐miR) are potential mediators of cardiometabolic diseases also impacted by cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) level. Using real‐time quantitative PCR, we compared the expression of vascular‐related ci‐miRs (miR‐21‐5p, miR‐92a‐3p, miR‐126‐5p, miR‐146a‐5p, miR‐150‐5p, miR‐221‐3p) in sedentary, overweight/obese, postmenopausal African American women based on 1) presence ( n = 31) or absence ( n = 42) of MetS and 2) CRF level (VO 2peak ) (Very Low < 18.0 mL·kg −1 ·min −1 [ n = 31], Low = 18.0–22.0 mL·kg −1 ·min −1 [ n = 24], or Moderate >22.0 mL·kg −1 ·min −1 [ n = 18]). Endothelial migration rate in response to subjects’ serum was assessed to determine the effect of circulating blood‐borne factors on endothelial repair. Ci‐miR‐21‐5p was the only ci‐miR that differed between women with MetS compared to those without MetS (0.93 ± 0.43 vs. 1.28 ± 0.71, P = 0.03). There were borderline significant differences ( P = 0.06–0.09) in ci‐miR‐21‐5p, 126‐5p, and 221‐3p levels between the CRF groups, and these three ci‐miRs correlated with VO 2peak ( r = −0.25 to −0.28, P < 0.05). Endothelial migration rate was impaired in response to serum from women with MetS compared to those without after 16–24 h. Serum from women with Moderate CRF induced greater endothelial migration than the Very Low and Low CRF groups after 4 and 16–24 h, that was also not different from a young, healthy reference group. Ci‐miR‐21‐5p is lower in postmenopausal African American women with MetS, while ci‐miRs‐21‐5p, 126‐5p, and 221‐3p are associated with CRF. Factors which impair endothelial cell migration rate are present in serum of women with MetS, though having Moderate CRF may be protective.

Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Insufficiently Active African American Women With Obesity

“…The cardiorespiratory fitness levels of participants were low (mean VO 2 peak, 18.7 mL/kg/min). However, the values were comparable with those seen in other studies assessing fitness among similar populations of insufficiently active AA women at risk for cardiometabolic diseases 27,28 . The average fitness level for our participants was 41% lower than the normative reference value (mean VO 2 peak, 31.3 mL/kg/min) for our sample's corresponding age group (30–39 years), as established by the Fitness Registry and Importance of Exercise National Database (FRIEND) study 29 .…”

“…However, the values were comparable with those seen in other studies assessing fitness among similar populations of insufficiently active AA women at risk for cardiometabolic diseases. 27,28 The average fitness level for our participants was 41% lower than the normative reference value (mean VO 2 peak, 31.3 mL/kg/min) for our sample's corresponding age group (30-39 years), as established by the Fitness Registry and Importance of Exercise National Database (FRIEND) study. 29 Given cardiorespiratory fitness has emerged as a more powerful predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality risk when compared with traditional risk factors (ie, hypertension, obesity, serum, and blood measures of cardiometabolic risk), 5 the low cardiorespiratory fitness levels of our sample suggest an important area for intervention.…”

Circulating MicroRNA Profiling in Non-ST Elevated Coronary Artery Syndrome Highlights Genomic Associations with Serial Platelet Reactivity Measurements

“…In contrast, miR-126-3p, the 3' strand of pre-miR-126 was positively correlated with PR in the Singapore cohorts. Both the 5' and 3' strand of miR-126 have been shown to be functional in platelet and vascular biology, with miR-126-3p showing significant effects in platelet activation and coagulation 31,32 , while miR-126-5p showing activity in regulating endothelial inflammation and promoting vascular health [33][34][35] . It is likely that both miR-126-3p and miR-126-5p play a role in post-ACS inflammatory regulation at the platelet and endovascular levels respectively, and additional functional work will be needed to delineate the modes and locations of miR-126 modulation within this dynamic time period following an ischemic event.…”

Acute response in circulating microRNAs following a single bout of short-sprint and heavy strength training in well-trained cyclists

“…Additional participants would most likely have provided better statistics. Secondly, we assessed miRNAs in serum samples; a sample type reported to contain lower miRNA diversity than plasma samples, possibly as a result of the coagulation process or cellular remnants ( Sapp et al, 2017 ). Another preanalytical variable is hemolysis which can increase some miRNAs and be a confounder in these studies ( McDonald et al, 2011 ).…”

“…Further, miRNAs are actively or passively secreted into human biofluids where they can have systemic effects ( Kosaka et al, 2013 ; Shah and Calin, 2013 ). As miRNAs are quite stable molecules ( Tsui et al, 2002 ; Mitchell et al, 2008 ) and easily accessible via blood samples, c-miRNAs represent interesting biological markers associated with the physiological responses to exercise and adaption ( Horak et al, 2018 ; Sapp et al, 2019 ). Circulating miRNA are found to be regulating proliferation, differentiation, hypertrophy, and nutrient metabolism in skeletal muscle functions ( Domanska-Senderowska et al, 2019 ), in angiogenesis, inflammation ( Li et al, 2018 ), and in metabolic change ( Massart et al, 2021 ).…”