Exercise adaptation attenuates VEGF gene expression in human skeletal muscle

Abstract

Angiogenesis is a component of the multifactoral adaptation to exercise training, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in extracellular matrix changes and endothelial cell proliferation. However, there is limited evidence supporting the role of VEGF in the exercise training response. Thus we studied mRNA levels of VEGF, using quantitative Northern analysis, in untrained and trained human skeletal muscle at rest and after a single bout of exercise. Single leg knee-extension provided the acute exercise stimulus and the training modality. Four biopsies were collected from the vastus lateralis muscle at rest in the untrained and trained conditions before and after exercise. Training resulted in a 35% increase in muscle oxygen consumption and an 18% increase in number of capillaries per muscle fiber. At rest, VEGF/18S mRNA levels were similar before (0.38 +/- 0.04) and after (1.2 +/- 0.4) training. When muscle was untrained, acute exercise greatly elevated VEGF/18S mRNA levels (16.9 +/- 6.7). The VEGF/18S mRNA response to acute exercise in the trained state was markedly attenuated (5.4 +/- 1.3). These data support the concept that VEGF is involved in exercise-induced skeletal muscle angiogenesis and appears to be subject to a negative feedback mechanism as exercise adaptations occur.

The Long-Term Effects of Colostrum Supplementation and Sprint-Endurance Training on Plasma VEGF Levels in Male Wistar Rats

“…In regard to the effects of physical exercise on VEGF levels, several studies have been conducted which have yielded contradictory results. Results of the present study revealed increased VEGF levels for sprint-endurance training groups without supplementation, which are consistent with the results of some studies 23,25,28 while different from the results of some other studies. 8,29 The specific training method applied in this study could account for such contradictory results.…”

“…22 Studies conducted in this field indicate that skeletal muscle capillary density, both in animal and human models, is increased in response to exercise training. 23,24 Although physical exercise can regulate serum levels of angiogenic factors, to prevent creation of pathological conditions such as arteriosclerosis and arthritis, molecular mechanism of capillary network growth in response to exercise training should be elucidated. 25 As shown in some previous studies, serum VEGF values increased after exercise, 26,28 whereas other studies reported no changes in serum VEGF levels after acute exercise.…”

Bilaterally increased VEGF‐levels in muscles during experimental unilateral callus distraction

“…The surprising result of higher VEGF and VEGFR-I mRNA levels at the non-distracted side might be the result of preferable load of the non-distracted leg, since increased mechanical load leads to an increased VEGF expression [3,19,43,45]. It has been shown that VEGF mRNA expression in muscles increased by 178% after a 45 min exercise [2].…”

Skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism in sedentary humans: 31P-MRS assessment of O2 supply and demand limitations

“…THERE IS A GROWING APPRECIATION of the concept that O 2 supply and demand limitations to maximal metabolic rate are dependent on the population studied (4,26,31). However, it should be noted that the preponderance of data have been collected from physically active or endurance-trained subjects who reveal O 2 supply dependence at maximal O 2 uptake (V O 2 max ).…”