Whole Blood Transcriptomics and Urinary Metabolomics to Define Adaptive Biochemical Pathways of High-Intensity Exercise in 50-60 Year Old Masters Athletes

Abstract

Exercise is beneficial for a variety of age-related disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating the beneficial adaptations to exercise in older adults are not well understood. The aim of the current study was to utilize a dual approach to characterize the genetic and metabolic adaptive pathways altered by exercise in veteran athletes and age-matched untrained individuals. Two groups of 50–60 year old males: competitive cyclists (athletes, n = 9; VO2peak 59.1±5.2 ml·kg−1·min−1; peak aerobic power 383±39 W) and untrained, minimally active individuals (controls, n = 8; VO2peak 35.9±9.7 ml·kg−1·min−1; peak aerobic power 230±57 W) were examined. All participants completed an acute bout of submaximal endurance exercise, and blood and urine samples pre- and post-exercise were analyzed for gene expression and metabolic changes utilizing genome-wide DNA microarray analysis and NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomics, respectively. Our results indicate distinct differences in gene and metabolite expression involving energy metabolism, lipids, insulin signaling and cardiovascular function between the two groups. These findings may lead to new insights into beneficial signaling pathways of healthy aging and help identify surrogate markers for monitoring exercise and training load.

Changes of Differential Urinary Metabolites after High-Intensive Training in Teenage Football Players

“…The tricarboxylic acid cycle is essential for the catabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and protein. This metabolic pathway not only provides the energy needed for body movement but also provides intermediates for the biosynthesis of many substances [29]. A study conducted by Suzhou University found that the succinate content was decreased and that the citric acid content was increased in athletes after longdistance running, while these parameters did not significantly change in athletes after weight-lifting exercise [28].…”

Metabolite Concentration Changes in Humans After a Bout of Exercise: a Systematic Review of Exercise Metabolomics Studies

“…5). Blood pyruvate and lactate then decline within an hour after exercise but high urine concentrations are also measured 24 h after exercise [36,37]. In contrast to pyruvate and lactate, glycolytic intermediates did only appear in blood in one study [34] and are therefore not shown in the graphs.…”

Immune adaptation to chronic intense exercise training: new microarray evidence

“…It has been widely accepted that assessing changes in transcript abundance in blood on a genome-wide scale, via transcript profiling using microarrays, affords a comprehensive view of the status of the immune system in health and disease, because leukocytes present in the blood convey valuable information about the status of the immune system [7]. Microarray has been used to study peripheral blood leukocytes in response to exercise [8–10]. However, the majority of studies have been undertaken to investigate the immune response to acute exercise in either the trained [8] or untrained state [9, 10].…”

“…Microarray has been used to study peripheral blood leukocytes in response to exercise [8–10]. However, the majority of studies have been undertaken to investigate the immune response to acute exercise in either the trained [8] or untrained state [9, 10]. Less is known concerning the alterations in the transcriptional profile of leukocytes induced by chronic high-intensity endurance exercise training, although it has been demonstrated that training influences the effect of acute exercise on immune cells [11].…”