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

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2020 Jan 3;30(1):60-70. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2019.08.011. Epub 2019 Aug 30.

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 (ηp2 = 0.489), cardiorespiratory fitness (ηp2 = 0.463), and MMP-9 (ηp2 = 0.582). Birth weight or the PA program produced significant independent effects on systolic blood pressure (birth weight: ηp2 = 0.431; PA program: ηp2 = 0.615) and EPC colony forming units (birth weight: ηp2 = 0.541; PA program: ηp2 = 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 (ηp2 = 0.123), NO (ηp2 = 0.258), and VEGF-A (ηp2 = 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. CLINICAL TRIALS: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique Identifier: NCT02982967. Date: December/2016.

Keywords: Angiogenic factors; Children; Endothelial progenitor cells; Low birth weight; Physical activity intervention.

Publication types

  • Clinical Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Development
  • Age Factors
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Birth Weight
  • Blood Pressure
  • Brazil
  • Cardiorespiratory Fitness
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Child
  • Child Development
  • Endothelial Progenitor Cells / metabolism*
  • Exercise Therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Low Birth Weight*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / blood
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / blood
  • Nitric Oxide / blood*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / blood*
  • Waist Circumference

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Nitric Oxide
  • MMP2 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • MMP9 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02982967