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Endothelial Function and Physical Exercise: A Key to Cardiovascular Protection?

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Exercise, Sports and Hypertension

Part of the book series: Updates in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection ((UHCP))

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Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction is a complex alteration of the endothelium homeostasis, mainly caused by reduced nitric oxide (NO) availability and increased oxidative stress, and characterized by the presence of a pro-inflammatory state associated with impaired vasodilation and progressive vascular damage, leading to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In this comprehensive review we explore the association between endothelial dysfunction and physical activity, focusing on the possible beneficial role of physical training on endothelial function and analyzing the possible differential effect induced by age and type of physical training. The available evidence shows that physical activity can improve endothelium-dependent vasodilation both in healthy subjects and in patients with cardiovascular risk factors or cardiovascular disease, independently from age. This effect is more evident in subjects who engage in high-intensity physical training.

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Abbreviations

3-NT:

3-Nitrotyrosine

8-OHdG:

8-Hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine

AP-1:

Activator protein 1

AT-II:

Angiotensin II

CAD:

Coronary artery disease

EDHF:

Endothelium derived hyperpolarizing factor

ET-1:

Endothelin-1

FBF:

Forearm blood flow

FGF-β:

Fibroblast growth factor β

FMD:

Flow-mediated dilation

GTN:

Glyceryl trinitrate

HF:

Heart failure

HIIT:

High intensity interval training

IL-1:

Interleukin-1

IL-6:

Interleukin-6

IMT:

Intima–media thickness

MCP-1:

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1

MDA-LDL:

Malondialdehyde-modified LDL

mtROS:

Mithochondrial reactive oxygen species

NADPH:

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

NO:

Nitric oxide

PBF:

Peripheral blood flow

PDGF:

Platelet-derived growth factor

RAAS:

Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

TGF-β:

Transforming growth factor beta

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor α

TOSC:

Total oxyradical scavenging capacity

VCAM-1:

Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Santa Chiara Hospital, Università degli Studi di Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Martina Chiriacò, Stefano Masi, Agostino Virdis & Stefano Taddei

Authors
  1. Martina Chiriacò
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  2. Stefano Masi
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  3. Agostino Virdis
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  4. Stefano Taddei
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martina Chiriacò .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Studium Patavinum, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Paolo Palatini

  2. Dept of Clinical and Experimental Sci, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Enrico Agabiti-Rosei

  3. Emeritus Professor, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy

    Giuseppe Mancia

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Chiriacò, M., Masi, S., Virdis, A., Taddei, S. (2022). Endothelial Function and Physical Exercise: A Key to Cardiovascular Protection?. In: Palatini, P., Agabiti-Rosei, E., Mancia, G. (eds) Exercise, Sports and Hypertension. Updates in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07958-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07958-0_4

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-07958-0

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