Whole Blood Transcriptomics and Urinary Metabolomics to Define Adaptive Biochemical Pathways of High-Intensity Exercise in 50-60 Year Old Masters Athletes

Exercise is beneficial for a variety of age-related disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating the beneficial adaptations to exercise in older adults are not well understood. The aim of the current study was to utilize a dual approach to characterize the genetic and metabolic adaptive pathways altered by exercise in veteran athletes and age-matched untrained individuals. Two groups of 50–60 year old males: competitive cyclists (athletes, n = 9; VO2peak 59.1±5.2 ml·kg−1·min−1; peak aerobic power 383±39 W) and untrained, minimally active individuals (controls, n = 8; VO2peak 35.9±9.7 ml·kg−1·min−1; peak aerobic power 230±57 W) were examined. All participants completed an acute bout of submaximal endurance exercise, and blood and urine samples pre- and post-exercise were analyzed for gene expression and metabolic changes utilizing genome-wide DNA microarray analysis and NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomics, respectively. Our results indicate distinct differences in gene and metabolite expression involving energy metabolism, lipids, insulin signaling and cardiovascular function between the two groups. These findings may lead to new insights into beneficial signaling pathways of healthy aging and help identify surrogate markers for monitoring exercise and training load.

运动对多种年龄相关性疾病具有益处。然而，介导老年人运动获益性适应的分子机制仍未得到充分阐明。本研究旨在采用双重方法，对资深运动员与年龄匹配的未训练个体在运动后发生改变的遗传与代谢适应通路进行表征。本研究纳入两组50至60岁男性受试者：竞技自行车运动员（运动员组，n=9；峰值摄氧量（VO2peak）为59.1±5.2 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹；峰值有氧功率为383±39 W），以及未接受训练、日常活动量极低的个体（对照组，n=8；峰值摄氧量为35.9±9.7 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹；峰值有氧功率为230±57 W）。所有受试者均完成一次亚极量耐力运动测试，并分别在运动前与运动后采集血液与尿液样本；其中基因表达变化通过全基因组DNA微阵列分析进行检测，代谢变化则采用基于核磁共振（NMR）波谱学的代谢组学方法进行分析。研究结果显示，两组受试者在能量代谢、脂质代谢、胰岛素信号通路以及心血管功能相关的基因与代谢物表达方面存在显著差异。本研究结果可为健康衰老的获益性信号通路研究提供新视角，并有助于识别用于监测运动与训练负荷的替代标志物。