Heart and Vessels / Long-term physical activity leads to a significant increase in serum sRAGE levels : a sign of decreased AGE-mediated inflammation due to physical activity?

There is growing evidence that low levels of the circulating soluble receptor of advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) are a valuable predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the influence of long-term physical activity on serum sRAGE levels. 109 subjects were recruited, and 98 completed the study. Participants were asked to perform exercise within the calculated training pulse for 8 months. The performance gain was measured/quantified by bicycle stress tests at the beginning and end of the observation period. sRAGE was measured at baseline and after 2/6/8 months by ELISA. Backwards, multiple linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the association of co-variables age, sex, BMI, and performance at baseline, HbA1c, and lipoprotein a with baseline sRAGE levels. We identified BMI and lipoprotein a as significant predictors for baseline sRAGE levels. Compared to subjects with a performance gain 4.9% subjects with a gain > 5% showed a significant increase in sRAGE levels up to 22%. sRAGE serum levels correlate negatively with lipoprotein a levels and BMI and long-term physical activity leads to a significant increase in serum sRAGE levels (922%), whereby the sRAGE increase is most pronounced in subjects with initially low-performance levels, suggesting that in particular, these subject profit the most from increased physical activity. The sport-mediated increase of sRAGE might be a sign of decreased AGE-mediated inflammation and highlight the protective effect of sports on CVD and other disease which are at least partly mediated by an increased inflammation status. Clinical trials registration NCT02097199.(VLID)359103

Endurance training significantly increases serum endocan but not osteoprotegerin levels: a prospective observational study

Background Endocan (EN) was suggested a potential inflammatory and cardiovascular disease (CVD) marker which might also be involved in renal failure and/or renal failure-associated vascular events. It is not clear whether osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a pro- or anti-atherogenic factor, however, it is agreed upon that OPG is elevated in subjects with increased calcification status. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of long-term physical activity on serum endocan (EN) and osteoprotegerin-levels. Methods One hundred nine subjects were told to increase their amount of physical activity for 8 months by performing 150min/week moderate or 75min/week vigorous exercise. Incremental cycle ergometer tests were performed at the beginning and the end of the study to prove and quantify the performance gain. Blood samples were drawn at baseline and every 2 months for the determination of EN and OPG. To investigate the difference between baseline and 8 months levels of EN and OPG we used a paired sample t-test. To investigate the significance of the tendency of the progression (baseline/2 months/4 months/6 months/8 months) we used a Friedman test. Results Thirty-eight female and 60 male subjects completed the study. In the group of 61 subjects who had a performance gain by >4,9% EN-levels increased from 146 110 to 196 238 pg/ml (p = 0,036) equivalent to an increase of 33,5% but there was no significant change in OPG (4,4 2,4 pmol/l vs. 4,3 2,1 pmol/l; p = 0,668). Conclusions Physical activity increases significantly EN-levels relativizing the status of EN as proinflammatory factor. EN should rather be considered as a mediator which is involved in several physiological (e.g., angiogenesis) but also pathological processes (e.g., CVD, tumour progression or endothelium-dependent inflammation) and whose expression can be significantly influenced by long term endurance training.(VLID)484340

International Journal of Medical Sciences / Sports and HDL-Quality Reflected By Serum Amyloid A and Surfactant Protein B

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the influence of long-term physical activity on HDL quality, reflected by serum amyloid A (SAA) and surfactant protein B (SPB). Methods and results: 109 healthy subjects were recruited, 98 completed the study. Participants perform within the calculated training pulse for 8 months. The performance gain was measured/quantified by bicycle stress tests at the beginning and end of the observation period. SAA and SPB were measured at baseline and after 4 and 8 months by ELISA. In contrary to HDL-quantity, there was no sports-induced change in SAA or SPB observable. However, significant predictors for SPB-levels were smoking status, BMI and weekly alcohol consumption and for SAA weekly alcohol consumption together with sex and hsCRP-levels. Conclusions: Long-term physical activity increases HDL-quantity but has no impact on HDL-quality reflected by SAA and SPB. Smoking is associated with higher SPB-levels and the weekly alcohol intake is associated with both higher SAA and SPB-levels suggesting a damaging effect of smoking and drinking alcohol on the HDL-quality. We assume that HDL-quality is at least as important as HDL-quantity when investigating the role of HDL in (cardiovascular) disease and should receive attention in further studies dealing with HDL.(VLID)486411

Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) / Long-term endurance training increases serum cathepsin S levels in healthy female subjects

Background Circulating cathepsin S (CS) has been associated with a lower risk for breast cancer in a large Swedish cohort. Long-term physical activity has been shown to have beneficial effects on the development of various cancer subtypes, in particular breast and colorectal cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term endurance sport on CS levels in females. Material and methods Thirty-six of 40 subjects completed the study. Subjects were told to increase their activity pensum for 8 months reaching 150 min/week moderate or 75 min/week intense exercise. Ergometries were performed at the beginning and the end of the study to prove/quantify the performance gain. Blood samples were drawn at baseline and every 2 months. Serum CS levels were measured by ELISA. To analyse the change and the progression of CS, Wilcoxon rank sum and Friedman tests were used. Results The sportive group (performance gain by > 4.9%) showed a significant increase of CS levels from 3.32/2.73/4.09 to 4.00/3.09/5.04 ng/ml (p = 0.008) corresponding to an increase of 20.5%. Conclusions We could show a significant increase of circulating CS levels in healthy female subjects induced by long-term physical activity. CS, occurring in the tumour microenvironment, is well-known to promote tumour growth, e.g. by ameliorating angiogenesis. However, the role of circulating CS in cancer growth is not clear. As physical activity is known as preventive intervention, in particular concerning breast and colorectal cancers, and long-term physical activity leads to an increase of CS levels in female subjects, circulating CS might even be involved in this protective effect. Trial registration Clinical trial registration: NCT02097199(VLID)366407

Physical Exercise Promotes DNase Activity Enhancing the Capacity to Degrade Neutrophil Extracellular Traps

(1) Background: An unhealthy lifestyle is a significant contributor to the development of chronic diseases. Physical activity can benefit primary and secondary prevention. Higher DNase activity is associated with favourable outcomes after cardiovascular (CV) events. In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of consequent endurance exercise on DNase activity. (2) Methods: 98 subjects with at least one CV risk factor but the physical ability to perform endurance training were included. Individuals performed a bicycle stress test at the beginning and after 8 months to assess physical performance. In between, all participants were instructed to engage in guideline-directed physical activity. Blood samples were drawn in two-month intervals to assess routine laboratory parameters, cell-free DNA (cfDNA), and DNase activity. (3) Results: Prevailing CV risk factors were overweight (65.9%), a positive family history (44.9%), hypertension (32.7%) and smoking (20.4%). Performance changed by 7.8 ± 9.1% after 8 months. Comparison of baseline to 8 months revealed a decrease in cfDNA and an increase in DNase activity. This effect was driven by participants who achieved a performance gain. (4) Conclusions: Regular physical activity might improve CV health by increasing DNase activity and thereby, the capacity to lower pro-inflammatory signalling, complementing measures of primary and secondary prevention