Acute response in circulating microRNAs following a single bout of short-sprint and heavy strength training in well-trained cyclists

Anita Ryningen; Kari Rostad; Elisabeth Ersvær; Gry Sjøholt; Gøran Paulsen; Hilde Gundersen; Morten Kristoffersen; Lise Bjørkhaug

doi:10.3389/fphys.2024.1365357

Acute response in circulating microRNAs following a single bout of short-sprint and heavy strength training in well-trained cyclists

Front Physiol. 2024 Mar 12:15:1365357. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1365357. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Anita Ryningen^#¹, Kari Rostad^#¹, Elisabeth Ersvær^{1

2}, Gry Sjøholt¹, Gøran Paulsen^{3

4}, Hilde Gundersen⁵, Morten Kristoffersen⁵, Lise Bjørkhaug¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Safety, Chemistry and Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway.
² Department of Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Lillehammer, Norway.
³ Department of Sport, Food and Natural Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal, Norway.
⁴ Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
⁵ Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Heavy strength (HS) and short-sprint (SS) are commonly used training methods for competitive road cyclists, with the aim to improve the anaerobic power and short time cycling performance. Knowledge of how such training methods affects biochemical as well as molecular factors, are particularly important for determining individual recovery and long-term adaptations. The primary aim of the current study was to investigate the expression levels of small non-coding RNAs in response to HS and SS training in elite cyclists as potential biomarkers for individual optimal restitution time. Methods: Eleven well trained cyclists performed one session of HS training and one session of SS training on separate days. Blood samples were taken at baseline and 5 min, 1 h and 21 h post training. Along with physiological measurements and biochemical factors (serum creatine kinase, myoglobin, human growth hormone and plasma lactate), real-time quantitative PCR was used to explore whether HS and/or SS training influenced the abundance of 24 circulating miRNAs, in serum, associated with muscle development, angiogenesis, and/or inflammation. Results: Based on complete miRNA profiles from nine cyclists, the miRNAs showing most altered expression after both training sessions included the three striated muscle-specific miRNAs (myomiRs) miR-1-3p, 133a-3p and 133b-3p. While all three miRNAs showed significantly highest expression at 1 h post HS session, the acute effect of the SS session included a significantly higher level of miR-1-3p alone, at 5 min (highest), as well as at 1 h and 21 h post session. Correlation (negative) with biochemical markers was only shown for miR-133a-3p and CK (r = -0.786, p = 0.041) and between miR-133b-3p and [La^-] (r = -0.711, p = .032), at 21 h post SS session. Conclusion: Our findings support that unique myomiRs are regulated by HS and SS training. Such knowledge may be important for individually adjusted restitution times.

Keywords: MicroRNAs; cycling; heavy strength training; recovery; short-sprint training.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by grant from Olympiatoppen and from the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.