Aerobic Training Improves Angiogenic Potential Independently of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Modifications in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of walking-training on the balance between pro- and antiangiogenic signals and on the angiogenic potential in postmenopausal women.

Materials and methods: Thirty-four postmenopausal women (56.18 ± 4.24 years) participated in a 13 weeks program of walking-training. Anthropometric measures, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein, insulin, IGF-1, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), leptin, visfatin, resistin, and adiponectin were evaluated before and after training. Moreover, serum samples were tested for their ability to chemo-attract endothelial cells and to support the in vitro formation of capillary-like structures.

Results: After training, the levels of IL-8, TNF-α, leptin, and resistin were significantly lower, levels of DHEA-S and adiponectin increased, serum angiogenic properties improved, whereas no changes in anthropometric parameters or VEGF were detected.

Conclusion: Walking training reduces inflammatory status and leads to a significant improvement in serum angiogenic properties in the absence of modifications in body composition and VEGF level.

Keywords: adipokines; angiogenesis; exercise; inflammation; menopause; vascular endothelial growth factor.

Figure 1

Pearson’s correlation coefficients in basal conditions (T₀). (A) r = 0.343, P = 0.047; (B) r = 0.438, P = 0.01; (C) r = 0.468, P = 0.005; (D) r = 0.361, P = 0.036. BMI, body mass index; WC, waist circumference; FM%, fat mass percent.

Figure 2

Endothelial cell migration assays. The chemoattractive potential of serum obtained from menopausal women before (T₀) and after (T₁) training was assessed. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (10 ng/ml) was used as procedure control. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) that had migrated were stained with the vital dye calcein AM (green fluorescence). Original magnification: 20×. Bar scale: 10 µm. The graph shows the number of migrated cells expressed as the fold increase relative to the control. *Significantly different from T₀ (t = −10.84, P < 0.001).

Figure 3

Analysis of capillary-like tube formation. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured in Matrigel with 5% serum obtained from the women before (T₀) and after (T₁) the training period. After 16 h, live endothelial cells were labeled with calcein AM (green fluorescence) and the tubes formation was analyzed by measuring the capillary-like structure width and area. Original magnification: 5×. Bar scale: 40 µm.