Effect of Hypoxia on Expression of Selected Proteins Involved in Regulation of Apoptotic Activity in Striatum of Newborn Piglets

The levels of selected neuroregulatory proteins that inhibit or promote apoptotic cell death were measured in the striatum of piglets subjected to precisely controlled 1 h hypoxic insult followed by 0, 2 and 4 h recovery and compared to sham operated animals. The anti-apoptotic proteins: there were increases in Survivin at 0 (157%, P = 0.031) and 4 h (171%, P = 0.033), in Bcl-XL at 0 (138%, P = 0.028) and 4 h (143%, P = 0.007), in VEGF at 4 h (185%, P = 0.019) and Hsp27 at 2 h (144%, P = 0.05) and 4 h (143%, P = 0.05). The pro-apoptotic proteins: caspases-1 and 7 increased at 4 h (135%, P = 0.05) and (129%, P = 0.038), respectively. Bim increased after 4 h (115%, P = 0.028), Apoptosis Inducing Factor after 2 h (127%, P = 0.048) and Calpain after 4 h (143% of control, P = 0.04). Hypoxia causes increase in levels of both anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins. Their relative activity determines the outcome in terms of cell damage and neuronal deficit

Potential cellular and biochemical mechanisms of exercise and physical activity on the ageing process

Exercise in young adults has been consistently shown to improve various aspects of physiological and psychological health but we are now realising the potential benefits of exercise with advancing age. Specifically, exercise improves cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and metabolic health through reductions in oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation and modulating cellular processes within a variety of tissues. In this this chapter we will discuss the effects of acute and chronic exercise on these processes and conditions in an ageing population, and how physical activity affects our vasculature, skeletal muscle function, our immune system, and cardiometabolic risk in older adults

EFFECTS OF EXERCISE TRAINING ON ENDOTHELIAL PROGENITOR CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE

BACKGROUND: The enhancement of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) obtained by exercise training can be beneficial to patients with cardiac disease. Changes in the levels and differentiation of CD34(pos)/KDR(pos) EPCs, as well as the plasma concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1 EPC-mobilizing cytokines, were evaluated in patients with chronic heart failure after 8 weeks of supervised aerobic training (SAT) and 8 weeks of subsequent discontinued SAT (DSAT). METHODS AND RESULTS: The levels of circulating EPC and EPC differentiation potential of 22 patients who underwent SAT were studied by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis and colony forming-unit assay, respectively. The plasma levels of VEGF and SDF-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In response to SAT, the levels of both EPC and VEGF/SDF-1 markedly increased (P < .001 vs baseline) but returned to the baseline levels after DSAT. A similar change was observed with the EPC clonogenic potential, but on DSAT the baseline level was incompletely attained. CONCLUSIONS: In response to SAT, patients with chronic heart failure show enhanced EPC levels and clonogenic potential that is mirrored by increased plasma VEGF and SDF-1 levels. DSAT can interfere with the maintenance of training-acquired VEGF/SDF-1-related EPC levels and clonogenic potential