Myokine levels after resistance exercise in young adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)

Am J Med Genet A. 2020 Jan;182(1):115-121. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.61391. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

Abstract

Individuals with PWS require marked caloric restriction and daily exercise to prevent morbid obesity. Lower energy expenditure, hypotonia, decreased muscle mass, and cognitive impairment make exercise challenging for this population. Exercise guidelines include resistance training as an important component. Myokine responses to resistance exercise may mediate beneficial metabolic effects. We aimed to determine if young PWS adults can perform a resistance exercise program and to measure myokine responses in PWS versus age- and BMI-matched controls. Each group included 11 participants (7M/4F). Ages and BMI for PWS and controls were 30.7 ± 4.6 versus 30.1 ± 4.3 years and 28.3 ± 4.3 versus 28.2 ± 4.2 kg/m2 , respectively. Glucose, creatine kinase (CK), lactate, and myokines were measured before, after, 30, and 60 min after completing eight resistance exercises. Myokines were assayed using a multiplex myokine panel (Merck Millipore). CK was lower in PWS versus controls (62 ± 16 vs.322 ± 100 U/L, p < .04). Peak lactate was 3.7 ± 0.7 in PWS versus 7.3 ± 0.7 mmol/Lin controls (p < .001). The increase in interleukin-6 was similar in PWS and controls (41 ± 16% and 35 ± 10%, respectively). Pre- and post-exercise levels of the six myokines assayed showed no consistent differences between the PWS and control participants. PWS young adults are capable of performing resistance/strength-building exercise. The lower CK and peak lactate levels in PWS may reflect decreased muscle mass in this population. Further studies are needed to determine optimal exercise regimens and assess the role of myokines incontributing to the metabolic phenotype of PWS.

Keywords: brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF); exercise; interleukin-6 (IL-6); lactate; obesity.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Mass Index
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / blood
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood*
  • Male
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome / blood*
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Resistance Training*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Insulin
  • BDNF protein, human