Physical Training Status Determines Oxidative Stress and Redox Changes in Response to an Acute Aerobic Exercise

Regular moderate physical activity potentially accelerates and strengthens both the pro-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediator response after acute exercise stress

The PUFA-derived lipid mediator response shifts from pro-inflammatory to inflammation resolution over time and may be modified by regular moderate exercise. This pre-post-test study aimed to compare the expression of PTGES2 (COX2) and ALOX15 in leucocytes and the plasma 5- and 15-HETE, 18-HEPE and 17-HDHA responses after unaccustomed resistance exercise between 18-35-year-old male recreational runners (n = 18) and less-active controls (n = 15). One repetition maximum (1RM) was determined for squats, 45° leg presses and leg extensions. Subsequently three sets of 8-10 repetitions were performed at 80 % 1RM and blood collected over 72 hours. PTGES2 and ALOX15 expression changed over time in runners (P = 0.016, P = 0.007) but not controls (P = 0.631, P = 0.539). 5- and 15-HETE changed over time in runners (P < 0.001, P = 0.022), but not controls (P = 0.457, P = 0.985). 18-HEPE changed in runners and controls (P < 0.001, P = 0.024), 17-HDHA changed borderline in runners (P = 0.076). In conclusion, pro-inflammatory and inflammation-resolving lipid mediators may respond sooner and more robust in recreational runners than less-active controls after strenuous resistance exercise.

Physical Activity as an Adjunct Treatment for People Living with HIV?

This review evaluates physical activity as a candidate for an adjunct treatment, in conjunction with antiretroviral therapy (ART), for people living with HIV (PLWH). Evidence is summarized that chronic, non-resolving inflammation (a principal feature of immune system dysfunction) and a dysfunctional state of the gut environment are key factors in HIV infection that persist despite treatment with ART. In addition, evidence is summarized that regular physical activity may restore normal function of both the immune system and the gut environment and may thereby ameliorate symptoms and non-resolving inflammation-associated comorbidities that burden PLWH. Physicians who care for PLWH could thus consider incorporating physical activity into treatment plans to complement ART. It is also discussed that different types of physical activity can have different effects on the gut environment and immune function, and that future research should establish more specific criteria for the design of exercise regimens tailored to PLWH.

Seasonal Oxy-Inflammation and Hydration Status in Non-Elite Freeskiing Racer: A Pilot Study by Non-Invasive Analytic Method

Freeskiing is performed in an extreme environment, with significant physical effort that can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and dehydration. This study aimed to investigate the evolution of the oxy-inflammation and hydration status during a freeskiing training season with non-invasive methods. Eight trained freeskiers were investigated during a season training: T0 (beginning), T1-T3 (training sessions), and T4 (after the end). Urine and saliva were collected at T0, before (A) and after (B) T1-T3, and at T4. ROS, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO) derivatives, neopterin, and electrolyte balance changes were investigated. We found significant increases in ROS generation (T1A-B +71%; T2A-B +65%; T3A-B +49%; p < 0.05-0.01) and IL-6 (T2A-B +112%; T3A-B +133%; p < 0.01). We did not observe significant variation of TAC and NOx after training sessions. Furthermore, ROS and IL-6 showed statistically significant differences between T0 and T4 (ROS +48%, IL-6 +86%; p < 0.05). Freeskiing induced an increase in ROS production, which can be contained by antioxidant defense activation, and in IL-6, as a consequence of physical activity and skeletal muscular contraction. We did not find deep changes in electrolytes balance, likely because all freeskiers were well-trained and very experienced.

Leisure-time regular exercise and prevention of the side effects of immune system activity in middle-aged healthy subjects

Regular exercise is recommended to improve immune system function and antioxidant activity, while conversely, it may cause inflammation by increasing neutrophil-derived main enzyme, myeloperoxidase, which produces reactive oxygen species. The present study aimed to investigate changes in myeloperoxidase level, its influence on total oxidant status, and the capacity of the antioxidant defence system to counteract oxidative stress in middle-aged men participating in leisure-time regular exercise compared to untrained peer subjects. Twenty trained (age 53.58±2.94 years, body mass index (BMI) 25.47±1.6) and 17 untrained (age 54.17±2.83 years, BMI 27.83±1.12) healthy middle-aged men participated in this study [Rasht, Gilan, Iran]. Participants performed a modified Bruce treadmill test as a model of progressive exercise training. Blood samples were taken before, immediately after, and one hour after the end of the test. A mixed ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test was used for the analysis of variables. A significant difference was observed in myeloperoxidase levels between groups, while the trained group showed a significantly lower concentration than the untrained group (P<0.018). This result was also consistent with the lower total oxidant status in this group (P<0.001). Total antioxidant capacity changed significantly in both groups with higher concentration in the trained group (P<0.001). The leisure-time regular exercise can reduce myeloperoxidase concentration and total oxidant status in healthy middle-aged men while increasing the total antioxidant capacity, which may potentially protect them from the side effects of immune system activity induced by exercise training.

Exercise Training Improves Memory Performance in Older Adults: A Narrative Review of Evidence and Possible Mechanisms

As human life expectancy increases, cognitive decline and memory impairment threaten independence and quality of life. Therefore, finding prevention and treatment strategies for memory impairment is an important health concern. Moreover, a better understanding of the mechanisms involved underlying memory preservation will enable the development of appropriate pharmaceuticals drugs for those who are activity limited. Exercise training as a non-pharmacological tool, has been known to increase the mean lifespan by maintaining general body health and improving the cardiovascular and nervous systems function. Among different exercise training protocols, aerobic exercise has been reported to prevent the progression of memory decline, provided adequate exertion level, duration, and frequency. Mechanisms underlying exercise training effects on memory performance have not been understood yet. Convergent evidence suggest several direct and indirect mechanisms at molecular and supramolecular levels. The supramolecular level includes improvement in blood circulation, synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis which are under controls of complex molecular signaling of neurotransmitters, neurotrophic factors, exerkines, and epigenetics factors. Among these various factors, irisin/BDNF signaling seems to be one of the important mediators of crosstalk between contracted skeletal muscles and the brain during exercise training. This review provides an affordable and effective method to improve cognitive function in old ages, particularly those who are most vulnerable to neurodegenerative disorders.

Exercise Training Induces a Shift in Extracellular Redox Status with Alterations in the Pulmonary and Systemic Redox Landscape in Asthma

Redox dysregulation and oxidative stress have been implicated in asthma pathogenesis. Exercise interventions improve symptoms and reduce inflammation in asthma patients, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that a personalised exercise intervention would improve asthma control by reducing lung inflammation through modulation of local and systemic reactive species interactions, thereby increasing antioxidant capacity. We combined deep redox metabolomic profiling with clinical assessment in an exploratory cohort of six female patients with symptomatic asthma and studied their responses to a metabolically targeted exercise intervention over 12 weeks. Plasma antioxidant capacity and circulating nitrite levels increased following the intervention (p = 0.028) and lowered the ratio of reduced to oxidised glutathione (p = 0.029); this was accompanied by improvements in physical fitness (p = 0.046), symptoms scores (p = 0.020), quality of life (p = 0.046), lung function (p = 0.028), airway hyperreactivity (p = 0.043), and eosinophilic inflammation (p = 0.007). Increased physical fitness correlated with improved plasma antioxidant capacity (p = 0.019), peak oxygen uptake and nitrite changes (p = 0.005), the latter also associated with reductions in peripheral blood eosinophil counts (p = 0.038). Thus, increases in “redox resilience” may underpin the clinical benefits of exercise in asthma. An improved understanding of exercise-induced alterations in redox regulation offers opportunities for greater treatment personalisation and identification of new treatment targets.

Saliva testing as noninvasive way for monitoring exercise-dependent response in teenage elite water polo players: A cohort study

Excessively increased training volume and/or intensity and competition can lead to development of overtraining syndrome, causing a performance decrement in athletes. Tracking individual response to exercise intensity is crucial for establishing recovery strategies.We assessed the exercise intensity-dependent variability of stress response biomarkers, namely cortisol (C), testosterone (T), s-IgA, and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), in saliva samples of teenage elite water polo players. Saliva was collected on a day of training match (T1) and a day of competitive match (T2), at morning, before and after match.Cortisol/proteins and testosterone/proteins concentrations decreased throughout day T1, whereas increased throughout day T2. The highest values were measured after match on day T2 (2.5 ± 0.5 vs 14.6 ± 6.3 ng/mg; 0.061 ± 0.024 vs 0.371 ± 0.15 ng/mg, respectively). sIgA/proteins and AOPP/proteins concentrations increased throughout both days, and were higher after T2 match than T1 one (respectively, 1073.0 ± 438.2 vs 71.0 ± 17.3 μg/mg; 78.05 ± 24.2 vs 15.98 ± 3.16 nmol/mg, P = .003). Significant differences between concentrations of different biomarkers recorded on T1 and T2 were found only for AOPP, suggesting an increased oxidative stress on day T2. Free testosterone/cortisol ratio on day T2 was lower than that at morning (0.053 ± 0.021 vs 0.107 ± 0.031), indicating an increased catabolic response after competitive match.A highly significant positive correlation was found between Cortisol/Proteins and Testosterone as well as s-IgA/Proteins on day T1, and between Cortisol/Proteins and AOPP on day T2.In conclusion, we found that different types of activities, such a training or competitive session can affect the hormonal response, immunity, and oxidative stress, thereby modulating athletic performance.Our findings also confirm the usefulness of saliva testing as noninvasive way for monitoring the individual response to changes in exercise intensity in teenage elite water polo players.

Molecular hydrogen downregulates acute exhaustive exercise-induced skeletal muscle damage

Physical exercise-induced skeletal muscle damage may be characterized by increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis which may be beneficial when exercise is regular, but it is rather harmful when exercise is exhaustive and performed acutely by unaccustomed individuals. Molecular hydrogen (H2) has emerged as a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic agent, but its action on the deleterious effects of acute exhaustive exercise in muscle damage remain unknown. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that H2 decreases acute exhaustive exercise-induced skeletal muscle damage of sedentary rats. Rats ran to exhaustion on a sealed treadmill inhaling an H2-containing mixture or the control gas. We measured oxidative stress (SOD, GSH, and TBARS), inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and NF-κB phosphorylation), and apoptotic (expression of caspase-3, Bcl-2, and HSP70) markers. Exercise caused no changes in SOD activity but increased TBARS levels. H2 caused increases in exercise-induced SOD activity and blunted exercise-induced increased TBARS levels. We observed exercise-induced TNF-α and IL-6 surges as well as NF-κB phosphorylation, which were blunted by H2. Exercise increased cleaved caspase-3 expression, and H2 reduced this response. In conclusion, H2 effectively downregulates muscle damage, reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis after acute exhaustive exercise performed by an unaccustomed organism.

The effect of strength-endurance training on serum and urine metabolic profiles of female adolescent volleyball athletes

Aim

Limited investigations on metabolic responses to exercise training in female adolescent volleyball athletes exist. The aim of this study was to obtain serum and urine metabolite markers in female adolescent volleyball athletes within 2-week strength-endurance training using a metabolomics approach coupled with biochemical analysis, which would be potential biomarkers for evaluating the physiological state of athletes.

Methods

Twelve female adolescent volleyball athletes were recruited for 2-week strength-endurance training. Differential serum and urine metabolic profiles between the pre- and post-training group were obtained on gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and data subsequently underwent orthogonal partial least-squares analysis (OPLS).

Results

Strength-endurance training exerted a significant influence on the athletes' serum and urine metabolic profiles. The changed metabolites were primarily involved in energy metabolism, lipid metabolism and amino acids metabolism. Results support the hypothesis that female athletes displayed an increased propensity to oxidize lipids as the major energy source. Exposure to strength-endurance training also led to a significant increase in cortisol, but a decrease in testosterone, indicating disordered hormone adjustment. Exercise-induced oxidative stress occurred, as was evidenced by the decrease in reduced glutathione, and increases in blood malondialdehyde and oxidized glutathione. Since the muscle damage markers creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase did not show significant changes, the training might not cause cell membrane damage and the athletes did not cross the adaptive injury level.

Conclusion

By measurement of endogenous metabolites, the metabolomics study has the potential to reveal the global physiological changes in response to exercise training.

Metabolomics study on the intervention effect of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae extract in exercise-induced exhaustion rat using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry

The metabolomics approach based on the gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was adopted to explore the underlying mechanism of the anti-fatigue effect of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RSM), a famous herbal medicine in China used for multiple biological functions, in load-weighted swimming test in rat, combined with biochemical parameters evaluations. As a result, the metabolomics study followed by orthogonal partial least-square (OPLS) analysis could differentiate metabolic profiling between the control and exhaustive exercise group, showing the rats underwent an obvious metabolic perturbation, whereas RSM treatment restored scores plot close to normal and showed regulatory effects on the muscle metabolic profiles. The changed metabolic pathways of the potential biomarkers in response to the effect of RSM treatment for exhaustive exercise rats included in glucose metabolism (glucose, lactic acid, alanine), glutathione metabolism (glycine, glutamate, 5-oxo-proline), TCA cycle (succinic acid), arginine biosynthesis (glutamine, ornithine, urea), glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism (serine, glycine), oxidative stress (taurine) and purine metabolism (inosine). In addition, intervention of RSM increased hepatic glycogen, muscle glycogen and serum glucose, and decreased triglyceride and blood urea nitrogen levels, indicating RSM treatment may regulate energy metabolism by increasing the rate of fat utilization, decrease the protein and carbohydrate utilization. Furthermore, RSM reduced exhaustive exercise-induced accumulation of the lipid peroxidation byproduct malonaldehyde and elevated antioxidants' levels, including reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase, which might be a positive reflection of improved oxidant-antioxidant balance. Moreover, RSM could protect against exercise-induced muscle damage by attenuating creatine kinase release. In summary, RSM provided a good anti-fatigue effect by regulating energy metabolism, oxidant-antioxidant balance, and the endogenous metabolites in the exercising muscle. This study demonstrates that metabolomics is an effective tool for the estimation of the potential anti-fatigue effect of RSM and for the illustration of its pharmacological mechanism.

Concurrent vitamin D supplementation and exercise training improve cardiac fibrosis via TGF-β/Smad signaling in myocardial infarction model of rats

Although the role of vitamin D in various types of disorders such as cancer and diabetes has been well recognized, its relation to cardiovascular diseases still remains equivocal. The present study aims to investigate the interactive effects of aerobic-resistance training (ART) and vitamin D₃ (VD₃) on both cardiac fibrosis and heart functions considering TGF-β1/Smad2, 3 (transforming growth factor-β1/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2/3) signaling in the myocardial infarction (MI) model of rats. Fifty-six male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups of sham (n = 8), and MI (n = 48). Then, MI rats were divided into six groups of VD₃, ART, VD₃+ART, Veh, Veh+ART, and sedentary MI. The animals received the related treatments for 8 weeks, and then their functional exercise capacity (FEC) and strength gain (SG) were estimated through exercise tests. Ejection fraction (EF%) and fractional shortening (FS%) and serum level of VD₃ were measured by echocardiography and ELISA, respectively. Cardiac expressions of TGF-β1, Smad2/3, and collagen I/III were assessed by western blotting and fibrosis by Masson's trichrome staining. The highest EF, parallel with the lowest expression of cardiac TGF-β1, Smad2/3, collagen I, and collagen III were observed in MI + VD₃ (P = 0.021), MI + ART (P = 0.001), and MI + VD₃ + ART (P < 0.001). Furthermore, similar to FS, the highest FEC and SG were related to the groups of MI + VD₃ + ART and MI + ART compared to the MI group. In conclusion, our data indicate that concurrent vitamin D supplementation and ART, compared with monotherapy, successfully improve cardiac function and alleviate myocardial fibrosis via downregulating TGF-β1, Smad2/3 signaling, and also regulating collagen I and III expressions.

Ten Marathons in Ten Days: Effects on Biochemical Parameters and Redox Balance – Case Report

Production of free radicals and oxidative damage during physical activity is a topic that is intensively studied and paid a lot of attention, first of all in professional sports. Marathon is categorized as extremely demanding sports discipline, as it induces high energy consumption and also requires special mental self-control. We presented cases of two athletes of different age, who have been on dissimilar level of sports readiness, and also had various approach to physical activity and exercise. During 10 days they ran out 10 marathons, partly on a flat terrain, and partly on hilly, which produced different level of effort in conquering the terrain. Also, both athletes had complex supplementation scheme in order to prevent electrolyte imbalance and excessive production of free radicals. Blood samples were taken in the morning and immediately after the end of the marathon. Measured oxidative stress biomarkers changed without a noticeable pattern, but these changes did not vary greatly among themselves. Catalase activity in both marathon runners was higher after marathon almost after every race for 10 days. On the other hand, amount of reduced glutathione was lower after marathon in both athletes in the same manner. Based on the obtained results we can conclude that adequate supplementation could have crucial role in prevention of oxidative damage.

Exercise-Induced Regulation of Redox Status in Cardiovascular Diseases: The Role of Exercise Training and Detraining

Although low levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are beneficial for the organism ensuring normal cell and vascular function, the overproduction of ROS and increased oxidative stress levels play a significant role in the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This paper aims at providing a thorough review of the available literature investigating the effects of acute and chronic exercise training and detraining on redox regulation, in the context of CVDs. An acute bout of either cardiovascular or resistance exercise training induces a transient oxidative stress and inflammatory response accompanied by reduced antioxidant capacity and enhanced oxidative damage. There is evidence showing that these responses to exercise are proportional to exercise intensity and inversely related to an individual’s physical conditioning status. However, when chronically performed, both types of exercise amplify the antioxidant defense mechanism, reduce oxidative stress and preserve redox status. On the other hand, detraining results in maladaptations within a time-frame that depends on the exercise training intensity and mode, as high-intensity training is superior to low-intensity and resistance training is superior to cardiovascular training in preserving exercise-induced adaptations during detraining periods. Collectively, these findings suggest that exercise training, either cardiovascular or resistance or even a combination of them, is a promising, safe and efficient tool in the prevention and treatment of CVDs.

Increased Gene Expression of RUNX2 and SOX9 in Mesenchymal Circulating Progenitors Is Associated with Autophagy during Physical Activity

Lack of physical exercise is considered an important risk factor for chronic diseases. On the contrary, physical exercise reduces the morbidity rates of obesity, diabetes, bone disease, and hypertension. In order to gain novel molecular and cellular clues, we analyzed the effects of physical exercise on differentiation of mesenchymal circulating progenitor cells (M-CPCs) obtained from runners. We also investigated autophagy and telomerase-related gene expression to evaluate the involvement of specific cellular functions in the differentiation process. We performed cellular and molecular analyses in M-CPCs, obtained by a depletion method, of 22 subjects before (PRE RUN) and after (POST RUN) a half marathon performance. In order to prove our findings, we performed also in vitro analyses by testing the effects of runners' sera on a human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem (hBM-MSC) cell line. PCR array analyses of PRE RUN versus POST RUN M-CPC total RNAs put in evidence several genes which appeared to be modulated by physical activity. Our results showed that physical exercise promotes differentiation. Osteogenesis-related genes as RUNX2, MSX1, and SPP1 appeared to be upregulated after the run; data showed also increased levels of BMP2 and BMP6 expressions. SOX9, COL2A1, and COMP gene enhanced expression suggested the induction of chondrocytic differentiation as well. The expression of telomerase-associated genes and of two autophagy-related genes, ATG3 and ULK1, was also affected and correlated positively with MSC differentiation. These data highlight an attractive cellular scenario, outlining the role of autophagic response to physical exercise and suggesting new insights into the benefits of physical exercise in counteracting chronic degenerative conditions.

Short-term exercise training improves cardiac function associated to a better antioxidant response and lower type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase activity after myocardial infarction

Aims

We assessed the effects of a short-term exercise training on cardiac function, oxidative stress markers, and type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase (D3) activity in cardiac tissue of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) following experimental myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods

Twenty-four SHR (aged 3 months) were allocated to 4 groups: sham+sedentary, sham+trained, MI+sedentary and MI+trained. MI was performed by permanent ligation of the coronary artery. Exercise training (treadmill) started 96 hours after MI and lasted for 4 weeks (~60% maximum effort, 4x/week and 40 min/day). Cardiac function (echocardiography), thioredoxin reductase (TRx), total carbonyl levels, among other oxidative stress markers and D3 activity were measured. A Generalized Estimating Equation was used, followed by Bonferroni’s test (p<0.05).

Results

MI resulted in an increase in left ventricular mass (p = 0.002) with decreased cardiac output (~22.0%, p = 0.047) and decreased ejection fraction (~41%, p = 0.008) as well as an increase in the carbonyl levels (p = 0.001) and D3 activity (~33%, p<0.001). Exercise training resulted in a decrease in left ventricular mass, restored cardiac output (~34%, p = 0.048) and ejection fraction (~20%, p = 0.040), increased TRx (~85%, p = 0.007) and reduced carbonyl levels (p<0.001) and D3 activity (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Our short-term exercise training helped reverse the effects of MI on cardiac function. These benefits seem to derive from a more efficient antioxidant response and lower D3 activity in cardiac tissue.

Exercise-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in a Police Officer with Hereditary Renal Hypouricemia

Hereditary renal hypouricemia is characterized by hypouricemia with hyper-uric acid clearance due to a defect in renal tubular transport. Patients with hereditary renal hypouricemia have a higher risk of exercise-induced acute kidney injury (EAKI) and reduced kidney function. Although the best preventive measure is avoiding exercise, there are many kinds of jobs that require occupational exercise. A 27-year-old male police officer suffered from stage 3 AKI after performing a 20-m multistage shuttle run test. His mother had previously been diagnosed as having renal hypouricemia at another facility. The patient had reported having hypouricemia during a health check at a previous police station, but his serum uric acid concentration was within the normal range at our hospital. After treatment, he recovered from EAKI and exhibited low serum uric acid and hyper-uric acid clearance. Since the patient desired to continue his career requiring strenuous exercise, it was difficult to establish a preventive plan against the recurrence of EAKI. Patients with hereditary renal hypouricemia who must undergo strenuous occupational anaerobic exercise are at higher risk of developing EAKI than other workers. The risks of EAKI among patients with hypouricemia should be considered when undergoing physical occupational training.

Impairment between Oxidant and Antioxidant Systems: Short- and Long-term Implications for Athletes' Health

The role of oxidative stress, an imbalance between reactive oxygen species production (ROS) and antioxidants, has been described in several patho-physiological conditions, including cardiovascular, neurological diseases and cancer, thus impacting on individuals' lifelong health. Diet, environmental pollution, and physical activity can play a significant role in the oxidative balance of an organism. Even if physical training has proved to be able to counteract the negative effects caused by free radicals and to provide many health benefits, it is also known that intensive physical activity induces oxidative stress, inflammation, and free radical-mediated muscle damage. Indeed, variations in type, intensity, and duration of exercise training can activate different patterns of oxidant-antioxidant balance leading to different responses in terms of molecular and cellular damage. The aim of the present review is to discuss (1) the role of oxidative status in athletes in relation to exercise training practice, (2) the implications for muscle damage, (3) the long-term effect for neurodegenerative disease manifestations, (4) the role of antioxidant supplementations in preventing oxidative damages.

The Effect of Exhaustive Exercise on Plasma Metabolic Profiles of Male and Female Rats

The objective of the study was to evaluate the alteration in biochemical composition and gender difference within exhaustive exercise in male and female rats using a metabolomics strategy. Sixty male and female rats were randomly assigned to control, exhaustive exercise and one-week recovery groups, respectively. The metabolic profiles of plasma were investigated by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and data further underwent orthogonal partial least-squares (OPLS) analysis. The current study found that gender was a significant determinant of the effects of exhaustive exercise on the cortisol, blood urea nitrogen, creatine kinase, and the ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione, whereas, no significant interaction effects between gender and exhaustive exercise were found on the levels of testosterone, malonaldehyde, reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione and lactic dehydrogenase. In male rats, the altered metabolites within exhaustive exercise included increased tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates (citric acid, fumaric acid, butanedioic acid), branch-chain amino acids (valine, leucine), fatty acids and metabolite (oleic acid, linoleic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid), phosphate and decreased glucose, lactic acid, serine, and glutamic acid. In female rats, the levels of fatty acids and metabolite (linoleic acid, oleic acid, arachidonic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid), amino acids (valine, leucine, glutamic acid, 5-oxo-proline, methionine, ornithine), other metabolites urea, myo-inositol and phosphate were increased. The results indicated that exhaustive exercise increased the rates of energy metabolism, glucose metabolism, amino acid catabolism and fatty acid metabolism in male rats, whereas, female rats showed an increased propensity to oxidize lipid and conserve carbohydrate and protein metabolism against physical stress. Disordered urea cycle and inositol metabolism also occurred in female rats with exhaustive exercise. Exhaustive exercise affected the balance of hormone adjustment and caused oxidative stress, subsequent cell membrane damage both in male and female rats. A significant gender-related difference in the metabolic profiles was also found between male and female rats within exhaustive exercise.

Melatonin Ameliorates Busulfan-Induced Spermatogonial Stem Cell Oxidative Apoptosis in Mouse Testes

AIMS

Many men endure immunosuppressive or anticancer treatments that contain alkylating agents before the age of sexual maturity, especially the increasing number of preadolescent males who undergo busulfan treatment for myeloablative conditioning before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Before sperm production, there are no sperm available for cryopreservation. Thus, it is necessary to identify a solution to ameliorate the busulfan-induced damage of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs).

RESULTS

In this study, we demonstrated that melatonin relieved the previously described SSC loss and apoptosis in mouse testes. Melatonin increased the expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), which regulated the production of busulfan-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, melatonin promoted sirtuin type 1 (SIRT1) expression. SIRT1 participated in the deacetylation of p53, which promotes p53 ubiquitin degradation. Decreased concentrations of deacetylated p53 resulted in spermatogonial cell resistance to apoptosis. Acute T cell leukemia cell assay demonstrated that melatonin does not affect busulfan-induced cancer cell apoptosis and ROS.

INNOVATION

The current evidence suggests that melatonin may alleviate the side effects of alkylating drugs, such as busulfan.

CONCLUSION

Melatonin promoted MnSOD and SIRT1 expression, which successfully ameliorated busulfan-induced SSC apoptosis caused by high concentrations of ROS and p53. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 28, 385-400.

Redox status alterations during the competitive season in élite soccer players: focus on peripheral leukocyte-derived ROS

It is well known that exercise training can deeply affect redox homeostasis by enhancing antioxidant defenses. However, exhaustive exercise can induce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to oxidative stress-related tissue injury and impaired muscle contractility. Hence, ROS represent important signaling molecules whose level has to be maintained to preserve normal cellular function, but which can also accumulate in response to repetitive muscle contraction. In fact, low levels of oxidants have been suggested to be essential for muscle contraction. Both aerobic and anaerobic exercise induce ROS production from several sources (mitochondria, NADPH oxidases and xanthine oxidases); however, the exact mechanisms underlying exercise-induced oxidative stress remain undefined. Professional athletes show a high risk for oxidative stress, and consequently muscle injury or decreased performance. Based on this background, we investigated leukocyte redox homeostasis alterations during the soccer season in élite soccer players. Overall blood redox status was investigated in twenty-seven male soccer players from primary division (Italian "Serie A" team) at four critical time points during the soccer season: T0: just before the first team training session; T1: at the beginning of the season; T2: in the middle of the season and T3: at the end of the season. The main markers of muscular damage (CK, myoglobin, LDH), assessed by standard routine methods, are significantly altered at the considered time points (T0 vs T1 P < 0.01). In peripheral leukocyte subpopulations, ROS production shows significant alterations at the considered time points during the soccer season, and strictly and significantly correlates with CK values at every considered time point. Our experimental data indicate that deep redox homeostasis alterations are evident during the soccer season in élite soccer players, and that oxidative stress can be easily monitored, besides using the standard plasma biochemical parameters, by leukocyte ROS production analysis.