Decreased Circulating mtDNA Levels in Professional Male Volleyball Players

Area of Science:

• Exercise immunology
• Inflammation research
• Mitochondrial biology

Background:

• Exercise impacts the immune system, with emerging evidence of anti-inflammatory effects.
• Mechanisms behind exercise-induced immune modulation are not fully understood.
• Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can trigger sterile inflammation and is linked to aging and inflammatory diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate plasma mtDNA levels in professional male volleyball players (PVPs) during seasonal training.
• To explore correlations between plasma mtDNA and clinical parameters, body composition, and physical performance.
• To understand the role of exercise in regulating cell-free mtDNA and inflammation.

Main Methods:

• Plasma mtDNA was quantified using real-time PCR every two months over two consecutive seasons.
• A cohort of 12 professional volleyball players (PVPs) was studied.
• A control group of 20 healthy non-athlete male volunteers (NAs) was included for comparison.

Main Results:

• Professional volleyball players exhibited lower plasma mtDNA levels compared to non-athletes.
• A decrease in circulating mtDNA was observed in PVPs during the first season, but not the second.
• No significant correlations were found between plasma mtDNA levels and hematochemical or anthropometric parameters.

Conclusions:

• Regular physical activity, exemplified by PVPs, is associated with reduced circulating mtDNA levels.
• These findings reinforce the protective and anti-inflammatory role of exercise.
• Exercise may play a role in mitigating inflammation triggered by cell-free mtDNA.