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Myogenically differentiated mesenchymal stem cell insulin sensitivity is associated with infant adiposity at 1 and
Filip Jevtovic1,2,3, Donghai Zheng1,2,3, Joseph A Houmard1,2,3
1Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Insights
Maternal exercise during pregnancy improves infant skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity (SI) and fatty acid oxidation (FAO). This enhanced metabolic function in offspring is associated with reduced body fat percentage in early infancy.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic Health
- Perinatal Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity (SI) and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) are crucial for metabolic health and are linked to obesity predisposition in adults.
- Understanding factors influencing early-life metabolic programming is vital for long-term health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of maternal exercise interventions during pregnancy on infant skeletal muscle SI and FAO.
- To examine the association between maternal exercise, infant skeletal muscle metabolic function, and infant body composition.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant individuals (<16 weeks gestation) were randomized to moderate-intensity aerobic, resistance, or combination exercise, or a non-exercising control group.
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from umbilical cords, differentiated into muscle cells, and assessed for SI and FAO.
- Infant body fat percentage and fat-free mass were measured at 1 and 6 months postpartum.
Main Results:
- Infants born to mothers who exercised showed significantly higher skeletal muscle SI compared to the control group.
- Infant skeletal muscle SI was inversely associated with body fat percentage at both 1 and 6 months of age.
- Higher SI in infant muscle cells correlated with increased fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and lower body fat percentage.
Conclusions:
- In utero exposure to any form of maternal exercise positively influences offspring skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity.
- Maternal exercise may be a strategy to mitigate adiposity and promote metabolic health in early infancy.
Objective:
In adults, skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity (SI ) and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) are linked with a predisposition to obesity. The current study aimed to determine the effects of maternal exercise on a model of infant skeletal muscle tissue (differentiated umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs]) SI and FAO and analyzed for associations with infant body composition.
Methods:
Females <16 weeks' gestation were randomized to either 150 min/wk of moderate-intensity aerobic, resistance, or combination exercise or a nonexercising control. At delivery, MSCs were isolated from umbilical cords and myogenically differentiated, and SI and FAO were measured using radiolabeled substrates. Infant body fat percentage (BF%) and fat-free mass were calculated using standard equations at 1 and 6 months of age.
Results:
MSCs from infants of all exercisers had significantly (p < 0.05) higher SI . MSC SI was inversely associated with infant BF% at 1 (r = -0.38, p < 0.05) and 6 (r = -0.65, p < 0.01) months of age. Infants with high SI had lower BF% at 1 (p = 0.06) and 6 (p < 0.01) months of age. MSCs in the high SI group had higher (p < 0.05) FAO.
Conclusions:
Exposure to any type of exercise in utero improves offspring SI and could reduce adiposity in early infancy.
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