The "Angiogenic Switch" and Functional Resources in Cyclic Sports Athletes

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Sports Medicine
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Regular physical activity in cyclic sports impacts the "angiogenic switch," an imbalance between proangiogenic and anti-angiogenic molecules.
• Excessive physical exertion can disrupt angiogenic molecule synthesis due to oxidative stress, hypoxia, acidosis, and injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review publications on signaling pathways regulating angiogenesis in skeletal muscle, myocardium, lung, and nervous tissue under intense physical activity in cyclic sports.
• To understand the role of the "angiogenic switch" in athletic adaptation and performance.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Clinical keys, and e-LIBRARY databases.
• Inclusion of full-text articles published between 2000 and 2020, using specific keywords and combinations.

Main Results:

• Increased capillary number in muscle fibers is a key adaptation to training, enhancing metabolism in skeletal muscle, myocardium, and nervous/lung tissues.
• Myocardial endothelial cells actively participate in heart remodeling, influencing cardiomyocyte growth and contractility.
• Angiogenesis in the myocardium is critical for preventing the transition from hypertrophy to heart failure; lung response to high-intensity loads is often overlooked.

Conclusions:

• Angiogenesis is vital for the function of skeletal muscles, myocardium, lungs, and nervous tissue in athletes.
• Disruption of the "angiogenic switch" can decrease functional capacity in athletes' systems, leading to reduced sports performance.
• Careful consideration of growth factor effects is necessary in sports practice, particularly for aerobic athletes.