Effects of marathon race on selected myokines and sclerostin in middle-aged male amateur runners

Abstract In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the homeostatic response to extreme exercises, especially in the integrated function of muscle and bone. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a marathon race on selected myokines and sclerostin in 10 male recreational runners (mean age 41 ± 7.7 years). Body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), and the serum concentration of myostatin, irisin, sclerostin, osteoprotegerin (OPG), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), parathyroid hormone (PTH), high-sensitivity interleukin-6 (hsIL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and myoglobin, were determined 24 h before and 24 h and 72 h after a marathon race. Post-marathon increases were observed in the levels of myostatin (1.2-fold), OPG (1.5-fold), and PTH (1.3-fold), hsIL-6 (1.9-fold), myoglobin (4.1-fold), hsCRP (fivefold), TNFα (2.6-fold), after 24 h; and in myostatin (1.2-fold), irisin (1.1-fold), sclerostin (1.3-fold), OPG (1.3-fold), and PTH (1.4-fold), hsIL-6 (1.4-fold), TNFα (1.9-fold), after 72 h compared to the baseline level. The results show that in response to the marathon run, a complex network of endocrine interactions is initiated. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the long-term impact of prolonged high intensity exercise on the human body

Serum irisin and myostatin levels after 2 weeks of high-altitude climbing

<div><p>Exposure to high-altitude hypoxia causes physiological and metabolic adaptive changes by disturbing homeostasis. Hypoxia-related changes in skeletal muscle affect the closely interconnected energy and regeneration processes. The balance between protein synthesis and degradation in the skeletal muscle is regulated by several molecules such as myostatin, cytokines, vitamin D, and irisin. This study investigates changes in irisin and myostatin levels in male climbers after a 2-week high-altitude expedition, and their association with 25(OH)D and indices of inflammatory processes. The study was performed in 8 men aged between 23 and 31 years, who participated in a 2-week climbing expedition in the Alps. The measurements of body composition and serum concentrations of irisin, myostatin, 25(OH)D, interleukin-6, myoglobin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, osteoprotegerin, and high-sensitivity soluble receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (sRANKL) were performed before and after expedition. A 2-week exposure to hypobaric hypoxia caused significant decrease in body mass, body mass index (BMI), free fat mass and irisin, 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels. On the other hand, significant increase in the levels of myoglobin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and osteoprotegerin were noted. The observed correlations of irisin with 25(OH)D levels, as well as myostatin levels with inflammatory markers and the OPG/RANKL ratio indicate that these myokines may be involved in the energy-related processes and skeletal muscle regeneration in response to 2-week exposure to hypobaric hypoxia.</p></div

Systemic Interleukins’ Profile in Early and Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by mutual interactions of the tumor, stromal and immune cells. Early and advanced colorectal tumors differ in structure and present altered serum cytokine levels. Mutual crosstalk among TME infiltrating cells may shift the balance into immune suppressive or pro-inflammatory, antitumor response this way influencing patients’ prognosis. Cancer-related inflammation affects all the body and this way, the systemic level of cytokines could reflect TME processes. Despite numerous studies, it is still not known how systemic cytokines levels change during colorectal cancer (CRC) tumor development. Better understanding tumor microenvironment processes could help in planning therapeutic interventions and more accurate patient prognosis. To contribute to the comprehension of these processes within TME, we reviewed cytokines levels from clinical trials in early and advanced colorectal cancer. Presented data were analyzed in the context of experimental studies and studies analyzing tumor infiltration with immune cells. The review summarizes clinical data of cytokines secreted by tumor microenvironment cells: lymphocytes T helper 1 (Th1), lymphocytes T helper 2 (Th2), lymphocytes T helper 17 (Th17), regulatory T cells (Treg cells), regulatory T cells (Breg cells), M1/M2 macrophages, N1/N2 neutrophils, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), dendritic cells (DC), innate lymphoid cells (ILC) natural killer (NK) cells and tumor cells

Changes in A: 25(OH)D, B: Irisin and C: Myostatin levels after 2-week exposure to hypobaric hypoxia.

<p>Values are means ± SD. * <i>P</i> < 0.05, significant change from baseline.</p

The Predictive Role of Serum Levels of Soluble Cell Adhesion Molecules (sCAMs) in the Therapy of Advanced Breast Cancer&mdash;A Single-Centre Study

Background and Objectives: Soluble cell adhesion molecules (sCAMs) play a significant role in the metastatic potential of breast cancer (BC). They might block lymphocytes and promote angiogenesis and migration of cancer cells. We assessed the usefulness of sCAMs in the prognosis and monitoring of the progression of advanced BC. Materials and Methods: We assessed soluble E-selectin, P-selectin, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, EpCAM, IL-6Ra, TNF-R1, and TNF-R2 in 39 women with aBC. Blood samples were obtained at the beginning of the treatment and after 2 months. Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9 months, and overall survival (OS) was 27 months. The higher levels of sICAM-1 (HR = 2.60, p = 0.06) and lower levels of sEpCAM (HR = 2.72, p &lt; 0.05) were associated with faster progression of aBC. High levels of sEpCAM through the follow-up period were significantly associated with a lower risk of progression (HR = 0.40, p &lt; 0.01). We found the independent predictive value of higher than median sICAM-1 levels for PFS (HR = 2.07, p = 0.08) and of sVCAM-1 levels for OS (HR = 2.59, p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Our data support the predictive value of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 and suggest that they could become markers for tailoring new therapies in aBC. sEpCAM level could be used as an early indicator of response to the therapy

Somatic parameters of the participants before and after the high-altitude climbing expedition.

<p>Somatic parameters of the participants before and after the high-altitude climbing expedition.</p

Changes in A: Myoglobin, B: hsCRP and C: IL-6 levels after 2-week exposure to hypobaric hypoxia.

<p>Values are means ± SD. * <i>P</i> < 0.05, significant change from baseline.</p

Changes in A: OPG, B: sRANKL levels and C: OPG/sRANKL ratio after 2-week exposure to hypobaric hypoxia.

<p>Values are means ± SD. * <i>P</i> < 0.05, significant change from baseline.</p

Vitamin D and Its Metabolites Status before and during Chemotherapy in Caucasian Breast Cancer Patients

Background: The predictive role of vitamin D (VD) in breast cancer (BC) patients’ survival is still being investigated. This paper aims to evaluate the changes in VD metabolites during chemotherapy (CTH) and the predictive role of VD status in Caucasian BC patients treated with CTH. Methods: Vitamin D and its metabolites were assessed with reference LC–MS/MS methodology in 98 consecutive BC patients starting CHT, after 3 and 6 months, and compared to the control group. Results: The frequency of VD deficiency in BC patients was greater than in the control group (56.1% vs. 37.2%). After 6 months of CTH, the number of VD-deficient BC patients slightly increased to 60%. The concentrations of VD active forms [25(OH)D2, 25(OH)D3], and catabolites [24,25(OH)2D3 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3] decreased after 3 and 6 months of CTH compared to the baseline values. Strong positive correlations between concentrations of 3-epi-25(OH)D3 and 25(OH)D in both groups were found. Similar correlations were also observed between 24,25(OH)2D3 and 25(OH)D levels. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed significantly longer survival in BC patients without deficiency (>20 ng/mL) at baseline (HR = 2.44 (95% CI 1.07–5.59), p = 0.026). Conclusions: (1) Our data provide further evidence that BC patients before CTH are more VD-deficient than the general population and this deficiency increases further during CTH treatment, as observed using the reference LC-MS methodology. (2) Presented results show that VD catabolism is not affected in BC patients. (3) The poorer survival in VD-deficient BP patients supports the importance of VD supplementation in BC patients with 25(OH)D levels below 20 ng/mL

Serum cytokine profile as a potential prognostic tool in colorectal cancer patients one center study

AIM: Comparison of 14 cytokines levels between a control group and prospectively enrolled CRC patients to confirm their significance in CRC development. We tested if a model based on 14 cytokines levels could predict prognosis in Caucasian CRC patients treated with 5-FU based chemotherapy. BACKGROUND: Novel prognostic tools in colorectal cancer (CRC) are necessary to optimize treatment, reduce toxicity and chemotherapy (CHT) costs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed prognostic significance of 14 cytokines: IL-1 beta, IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL12p70, IL-13, IL-17A in 75 prospectively enrolled CRC patients before initiation of palliative or adjuvant CHT and in 22 control subjects. Readings were taken using the Bio-Plex 200 System. Response to treatment was assessed after 6 months from initiation of CHT. The treated group was divided depending on the response into a progressors (death, progression of disease) and non-progressors group (stable disease, partial response, complete response). RESULTS: We found that increased concentration of IL-8 was a negative prognostic factor in the whole group and palliative subgroup, whereas increased level of IL-10, IL-7, and IL-12p70 was a negative predictor in the adjuvant group CHT. CONCLUSIONS: We proposed a statistical model based on circulating cytokine levels, showing a good prognostic value in prediction of the response to CHT (AUC = 0.956). The model, including combined IL-2, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-13 levels, established in the whole treated group, should be validated in larger trials