Effects on the Profile of Circulating miRNAs after Single Bouts of Resistance Training with and without Blood Flow Restriction—A Three-Arm, Randomized Crossover Trial

Abstract

Background: The effects of blood flow restriction (training) may serve as a model of peripheral artery disease. In both conditions, circulating micro RNAs (miRNAs) are suggested to play a crucial role during exercise-induced arteriogenesis. We aimed to determine whether the profile of circulating miRNAs is altered after acute resistance training during blood flow restriction (BFR) as compared with unrestricted low- and high-volume training, and we hypothesized that miRNA that are relevant for arteriogenesis are affected after resistance training. Methods: Eighteen healthy volunteers (aged 25 ± 2 years) were enrolled in this three-arm, randomized-balanced crossover study. The arms were single bouts of leg flexion/extension resistance training at (1) 70% of the individual single-repetition maximum (1RM), (2) at 30% of the 1RM, and (3) at 30% of the 1RM with BFR (artificially applied by a cuff at 300 mm Hg). Before the first exercise intervention, the individual 1RM (N) and the blood flow velocity (m/s) used to validate the BFR application were determined. During each training intervention, load-associated outcomes (fatigue, heart rate, and exhaustion) were monitored. Acute effects (circulating miRNAs, lactate) were determined using pre-and post-intervention measurements. Results: All training interventions increased lactate concentration and heart rate (p < 0.001). The high-intensity intervention (HI) resulted in a higher lactate concentration than both lower-intensity training protocols with BFR (LI-BFR) and without (LI) (LI, p = 0.003; 30% LI-BFR, p = 0.008). The level of miR-143-3p was down-regulated by LI-BFR, and miR-139-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-195-5p, miR-197-3p, miR-30a-5p, and miR-10b-5p were up-regulated after HI. The lactate concentration and miR-143-3p expression showed a significant positive linear correlation (p = 0.009, r = 0.52). A partial correlation (intervention partialized) showed a systematic impact of the type of training (LI-BFR vs. HI) on the association (r = 0.35 remaining after partialization of training type). Conclusions: The strong effects of LI-BFR and HI on lactate- and arteriogenesis-associated miRNA-143-3p in young and healthy athletes are consistent with an important role of this particular miRNA in metabolic processes during (here) artificial blood flow restriction. BFR may be able to mimic the occlusion of a larger artery which leads to increased collateral flow, and it may therefore serve as an external stimulus of arteriogenesis.

Effect of miR-195-5p on cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats with heart failure by regulating TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway

“…Recently, miRNA has been found to be effective in all kinds of diseases, including cardiovascular diseases [6]. miR-195-5p has been proved to be down-regulated in coronary artery blood flow disorders in the past [7], which suggests that miR-195-5p may be effective in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. However, it is not clear whether miR-195-5p can affect cardiomyocyte apoptosis in HF.…”

Exercise-Induced Vascular Adaptations under Artificially Versus Pathologically Reduced Blood Flow: A Focus Review with Special Emphasis on Arteriogenesis

“…The hemodynamic stimuli amplified by BFR lead to an increased release of endothelial NO synthase, among other responses [71]. Additionally, recent studies have shown that a single bout of strength training under BFR leads to changes in the miRNA expression profile [72]. So far, the parameters in animal and human studies to determine the mechanisms have only been identified by invasive measures such as muscle biopsies and whole blood samples.…”

Emerging Challenges of Radiation-Associated Cardiovascular Dysfunction (RACVD) in Modern Radiation Oncology: Clinical Practice, Bench Investigation, and Multidisciplinary Care

“…In the literature, many clinical studies assessed circulating miRNA levels in peripheral blood for diagnosing, predicting, and monitoring human diseases (158)(159)(160)(161)(162)(163), including cardiac and vascular disease (CVD) (164)(165)(166)(167)(168)(169). For example, the combination of miR-34a-5p and fibrinogen levels have been reported as a useful tool in differentiating pre-thrombotic status in patients with stable coronary artery disease (165).…”