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Exercise adaptation attenuates VEGF gene expression in human skeletal muscle
R S Richardson1, H Wagner, S R Mudaliar
1Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0623, USA. rrichardson@ucsd.edu
Summary
Exercise training enhances skeletal muscle angiogenesis, with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) playing a key role. VEGF
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Skeletal Muscle Adaptation
Background:
- Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is crucial for skeletal muscle adaptation to exercise.
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is implicated in processes like endothelial cell proliferation, but its role in exercise training response is not well-established.
- Limited evidence exists on VEGF's direct involvement in exercise-induced angiogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mRNA levels of VEGF in human skeletal muscle.
- To determine the effect of exercise training and acute exercise on VEGF mRNA expression.
- To elucidate the role of VEGF in exercise-induced skeletal muscle angiogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative Northern analysis was used to measure VEGF mRNA levels.
- Human skeletal muscle biopsies (vastus lateralis) were collected from untrained and trained individuals.
- Samples were taken at rest and after a single bout of acute exercise (single leg knee-extension).
Main Results:
- Training increased muscle oxygen consumption by 35% and capillary density by 18%.
- Resting VEGF mRNA levels were similar before and after training.
- Acute exercise significantly elevated VEGF mRNA in untrained muscle but showed a markedly attenuated response in trained muscle.
Conclusions:
- VEGF is involved in exercise-induced skeletal muscle angiogenesis.
- The response of VEGF to acute exercise is diminished following exercise training.
- A negative feedback mechanism for VEGF may operate as exercise adaptations occur.