Exercise increases plasma levels of sphingoid base‐1 phosphates in humans

Abstract

Aim: In recent years, blood sphingolipids attracted much attention and have been implicated in both pathophysiology and prevention of cardiovascular diseases and insulin resistance. However, factors affecting concentration and metabolism of sphingolipids in blood remain poorly recognized. We have previously found that exercise alters skeletal muscle sphingolipid metabolism. This finding prompted us to examine whether physical activity induces similar effects in blood. Methods: Twenty healthy male patients were assigned to either untrained (UT, n = 10) or endurance trained (ET, n = 10) group. The patients performed either a 30 (UT group) or 60 (ET group) min exercise on a cycloergometer at a workload corresponding to 70% of V̇O2max. Blood samples were taken just before exercise, after 30 and 60 (ET group only) min of pedalling and following a 30‐min rest. Results: ET patients were characterized by higher basal plasma sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) concentration and decreased content of sphingosine, S1P, sphinganine‐1‐phosphate (SA1P) and ceramide in erythrocytes. In ET group, plasma concentrations of all measured sphingolipids remained stable both during and after exercise. On the other hand, in UT patients, the post‐exercise levels of S1P and SA1P were markedly higher compared with the baseline values and this effect was accompanied by decreased erythrocyte ceramide content. Conclusion: It is likely that single bout of exercise and endurance training enhances production and release of S1P by erythrocytes. We speculate that exercise‐induced increase in plasma S1P concentration might be one of the mechanisms underlying beneficial effects of physical activity on cardiovascular health and insulin sensitivity.

Serum sphingolipids: relationships to insulin sensitivity and changes with exercise in humans

“…However, the contribution of changes in serum ceramides to exercise-induced insulin sensitization is relatively unknown. One study found that chronic exercise training increased serum sphingosine 1-phosphate concentration only, whereas serum ceramide and sphingolipids were stable during acute exercise (2). Another study reported decreased plasma ceramide content after weight loss and exercise training in obese subjects with and without type 2 diabetes (19).…”

“…Intervention studies in humans showing commensurate change in insulin sensitivity or secretion with change in serum ceramides are lacking. Despite the known insulin-sensitizing effects of exercise, chronic endurance exercise has been shown to have no impact on plasma ceramide and sphingolipid content (2). However, it should be pointed out that most would contend that it is the acute, rather than chronic, effect of exercise that exerts its most potent influence on insulin action (30).…”

Sphingosine-1-phosphate: distribution, metabolism and role in the regulation of cellular functions

“…Exercise-induced muscle ceramide metabolism changes were found in both groups of subjects and it was proposed that the sphingolipid metabolites may be involved in muscle adaptation to exercise [124]. Untrained subjects demonstrated an increase in S1P and sphin ganine-1-phosphate blood levels and a decrease in erythrocyte ceramide content after a single bout of exercise, whereas endurance trained subjects showed stable levels of sphingolipids in blood [126]. However, the basal plasma level of S1P in enduran ce trained subjects was higher compared to the untrained group, while sphingolipids (sphingosine, S1P, sphinganine-1-phosphate and ceramide) concentrations appeared to be reduced in erythrocytes.…”

“…However, the basal plasma level of S1P in enduran ce trained subjects was higher compared to the untrained group, while sphingolipids (sphingosine, S1P, sphinganine-1-phosphate and ceramide) concentrations appeared to be reduced in erythrocytes. Plasma S1P increase during exercise may be one of the mechanisms providing favorable effects of physical training on the cardiovascular system [126]. Myocardial ceramide content and metabolism appear to depend on exercise duration, as 30-min of treadmill running led to decreased ceramide content in rat hearts, but prolonging exercise duration to 90 min normali zed this variable, and running until exhaustion caused increased ceramide levels [127].…”

“…There is evidence that exercise affects S1P and other sphingolipids metabolism in both skeletal muscles and blood [124][125][126]. Helge et al [124] compared sphingolipid content in vastus lateralis biopsies of trained and untrained humans at rest and after prolonged exercise.…”