Dynamic Regulation of Circulating microRNAs During Acute Exercise and Long-Term Exercise Training in Basketball Athletes

Abstract

Emerging evidence indicates the beneficial effects of physical exercise on human health, which depends on the intensity, training time, exercise type, environmental factors, and the personal health status. Conventional biomarkers provide limited insight into the exercise-induced adaptive processes. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are dynamically regulated in response to acute exhaustive exercise and sustained rowing, running and cycling exercises. However, circulating miRNAs in response to long-term basketball exercise remains unknown. Here, we enrolled 10 basketball athletes who will attend a basketball season for 3 months. Specifically, circulating miRNAs which were involved in angiogenesis, inflammation and enriched in muscle and/or cardiac tissues were analyzed at baseline, immediately following acute exhaustive exercise and after 3-month basketball matches in competitive male basketball athletes. Circulating miR-208b was decreased and miR-221 was increased after 3-month basketball exercise, while circulating miR-221, miR-21, miR-146a, and miR-210 were reduced at post-acute exercise. The change of miR-146a (baseline vs. post-acute exercise) showed linear correlations with baseline levels of cardiac marker CKMB and the changes of inflammation marker Hs-CRP (baseline vs. post-acute exercise). Besides, linear correlation was observed between miR-208b changes (baseline vs. after long-term exercise) and AT VO₂ (baseline). The changes of miR-221 (baseline vs. after long-term exercise) were significantly correlated with AT VO₂, peak work load and CK (after 3-month basketball matches). Although further studies are needed, present findings set the stage for defining circulating miRNAs as biomarkers and suggesting their physiological roles in long-term exercise training induced cardiovascular adaptation.

Keywords: acute exercise; basketball athletes; cardiovascular adaptation; circulating miRNAs; long-term exercise.

Figure 1

Peak work load increased in response to long-term exercise training. At baseline and after 3-month matches, the parameters of cardiopulmonary exercise testing AT VO₂ (A), peak VO₂ (B), and peak work load (C) were measured in 10 male athletes (n = 10). Values are presented as statistical means, and error bars show SEM; ^**P < 0.01.

Figure 2

Distinct regulatory profiles of circulating miRNAs after acute exercise and long-term exercise training. (A) Serum levels of cardiac or muscle-specific/enriched miRNAs at baseline, post-acute exhaustive exercise and after 3-month basketball match. (B) Serum levels of angiogenesis-related miRNAs at baseline, post-acute exhaustive exercise and after 3-month basketball match. (C) Serum levels of inflammation-related miRNAs at baseline, post-acute exhaustive exercise and after 3-month basketball match. ^*P < 0.05; n = 10.

Figure 3

Correlation analysis between the changes of miR-21 (A), miR-146a (B), miR-210 (C) and miR-221 (D) following acute exercise and cardiac function (EF%), exercise capacity (AT VO₂, peak VO₂, and peak work load) at baseline.

Figure 4

Correlation analysis between the changes of miR-208b (A) and miR-221 (B) following long-term exercise training and cardiac function (EF%), exercise capacity (AT VO₂, peak VO₂, and peak work load) at baseline.

Figure 5

Correlation analysis between the changes of miR-208b (A) and miR-221 (B) following long-term exercise training and cardiac function (EF%), exercise capacity (AT VO₂, peak VO₂, and peak work load) after long-term exercise training.

Figure 6

Correlation analysis between the changes of miR-208b (A) and miR-221 (B) following long-term exercise training and the changes of cardiac function (EF%), exercise capacity (AT VO₂, peak VO₂, and peak work load) after long-term exercise training.