Physical activity intervention improved the number and functionality of endothelial progenitor cells in low birth weight children

Author(s)

Souza, V, Livia ; De Meneck, Franciele ^[1] ; Fernandes, Tiago ^[2] ; Oliveira, Edilamar M. ^[2] ; Franco, Maria do C. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Souza, Livia, V, Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Med Dept, Div Nephrol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Phys Educ & Sport, Biochem & Mol Biol Lab, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NUTRITION METABOLISM AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES; v. 30, n. 1, p. 60-70, JAN 3 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background and aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an intervention with physical activity (PA) would promote positive effects on the angiogenic factors, mobilization, and functionality of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in children with low birth weight (LBW). Methods and results: Thirty-five children participated in a 10-week PA program (intensity: 75 -85% of heart rate reserve, frequency: four times/week, and duration: 45 min). Before and after the PA program, we evaluated anthropometric parameters, blood pressure levels, biochemical profile, number of EPCs, number of EPC colony forming units, and plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), nitric oxide (NO), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9. We found a significant main effect of the PA program on waist circumference (eta(2)(p) = 0.489), cardiorespiratory fitness (eta(2)(p) = 0.463), and MMP-9 (eta(2)(p) = 0.582). Birth weight or the PA program produced significant independent effects on systolic blood pressure (birth weight: eta(2)(p) = 0.431; PA program: eta(2)(p) = 0.615) and EPC colony forming units (birth weight: eta(2)(p) = 0.541; PA program: .eta(2)(p) = 0.698) with no significant interactions. The combination of birth weight and the PA program produced a significant interaction effect on the number of circulating EPCs (eta(2)(p) = 0.123), NO (eta(2)(p) = 0.258), and VEGF-A (eta(2)(p) = 0.175). The variation in the number of EPCs from baseline to 10 weeks of the PA program correlated positively with the change in NO (P = 0.002) and VEGF-A (P = 0.004). Conclusions: A 10-week PA program attenuates the adverse effect of LBW on the number and functionality of EPCs; this effect occurs through an improvement in circulating levels of NO and VEGF-A. (C) 2019 The Italian Society of Diabetology, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/03139-0 - The interrelationship of birth weight, physical training and blood pressure levels: a clinical and experimental approach on the role of endothelial progenitor cells
• Grantee: Maria Do Carmo Pinho Franco
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants