Endothelial Cell Inflammation and Antioxidant Capacity are Associated With Exercise Performance and Microcirculation...

Area of Science:

• Vascular Biology
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) significantly impairs exercise performance and lower extremity microcirculation.
• Endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress are implicated in PAD pathophysiology.
• Circulating biomarkers may reflect disease severity and prognosis in PAD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between exercise performance and microcirculation with endothelial cell inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.
• To examine the relationship with circulating biomarkers of inflammation and antioxidant capacity in symptomatic PAD patients.

Main Methods:

• 160 patients with symptomatic PAD were assessed.
• Multivariate regression models were used to analyze associations.
• Key measurements included peak walking time, calf muscle oxygen saturation (StO2), ankle-brachial index, endothelial cell nuclear factor K-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activity, and hydroxyl radical antioxidant capacity.

Main Results:

• Peak walking time was independently associated with ankle-brachial index, age, hydroxyl radical antioxidant capacity, and endothelial cell NF-κB activity.
• Time to minimum exercise calf muscle StO2 was associated with endothelial cell NF-κB activity and resting calf muscle StO2.
• Endothelial cell inflammation and circulating inflammatory/antioxidant biomarkers correlated with exercise capacity and microcirculation.

Conclusions:

• Endothelial cell inflammation and circulating biomarkers are linked to exercise performance and microcirculation in PAD.
• Interventions targeting endothelial inflammation and inflammatory biomarkers, such as antioxidant therapy, may enhance exercise capacity in symptomatic PAD patients.