Gene expression profiling of whole blood samples following marathon running in non-elite athletes

Endurance exercise exerts profound physiological effects on non-elite athletes, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study investigated transcriptomic changes induced by running a marathon and their progression during recovery. Blood samples were collected from 60 non-elite athletes (42 men, 18 women) at three time points: baseline (START), immediately after the marathon (FINISH), and 24 hours post-race (24REST). Differential gene expression analyses, along with Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment, were performed for three comparisons: C1 (START vs FINISH), C2 (FINISH vs 24REST), and C3 (START vs 24REST). The analysis identified 9,874 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in C1, indicating widespread gene expression changes following the marathon. GO and KEGG analyses highlighted significant enrichments in biological processes such as immune function, oxidative stress response, and lipid metabolism. At 24REST, gene expression had not fully returned to baseline, with 279 DEGs observed in C3. These genes were predominantly associated with mitochondrial function and energy production pathways, suggesting differences in mitochondrial and energy associated gene expression compared with baseline. Clustering analyses identified two clusters of recovered genes and three clusters of differentially expressed genes at 24REST, reflecting distinct temporal expression trajectories. These findings underscore the substantial impact of endurance exercise on gene expression in non-elite athletes, providing a foundation for understanding transcriptomic regulation in non-elite athletes and may inform strategies to optimize recovery. Future research is necessary to explore the long-term physiological and health implications of these transcriptional changes.