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Physical exercise and epigenetic adaptations of the cardiovascular system

Sport und epigenetische Anpassungen des Herz-Kreislauf-Systems

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Abstract

During the last decade, epigenetics became one of the fastest growing research fields in numerous clinical and basic science disciplines. Evidence suggests that chromatin modifications (e.g., histone modifications and DNA methylation) as well as the expression of micro-RNA molecules play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular diseases. On the one hand, they are involved in the development of general risk factors like chronic inflammation, but on the other hand, epigenetic modifications are conducive to smooth muscle cell, cardiomyocyte, and endothelial progenitor cell proliferation/differentiation as well as to extracellular matrix processing and endothelial function (e.g., endothelial nitric oxide synthase regulation). Therefore, epigenetic medical drugs have gained increased attention and provided the first promising results in the context of cardiovascular malignancies. Beside other lifestyle factors, physical activity and sports essentially contribute to cardiovascular health and regeneration. In this review we focus on recent research proposing physical activity as a potent epigenetic regulator that has the potential to counteract pathophysiological alterations in almost all the aforementioned cardiovascular cells and tissues. As with epigenetic medical drugs, more knowledge about the molecular mechanisms and dose–response relationships of exercise is needed to optimize the outcome of preventive and rehabilitative exercise programs and recommendations.

Zusammenfassung

Die Epigenetik stellte während der letzten Dekade eines der am schnellsten wachsenden Forschungsfelder in vielen klinischen und grundlagenwissenschaftlichen Disziplinen dar. Mittlerweile ist bekannt, dass epigenetische Modifikationen am Chromatin (z. B. postranslationale Histonmodifikationen und DNA-Methylierungen) sowie die Expression von mikro-RNA-Molekülen eine wichtige Rolle bei der Pathogenese zahlreicher kardiovaskulärer Erkrankungen spielen. Veränderungen epigenetischer Faktoren sind sowohl bei der Ausprägung kardiovaskulärer Risikofaktoren als auch bei chronischen Entzündungsprozessen von Bedeutung. Die erwähnten Mechanismen tragen auch zur Proliferation, Differenzierung und Funktion von glatten Muskelzellen in der Gefäßwand, von Kardiomyozyten sowie von Endothelzellen bei und modulieren die Extrazellularmatrix. Es verwundert deshalb nicht, dass die Epigenetik modifizierende Medikamente auch bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen vermehrt getestet werden und erste vielversprechende Ergebnisse zeigen. Neben anderen Lebensstilfaktoren tragen körperliche Aktivität und Sport fundamental zur kardiovaskulären Gesundheit und Regeneration bei. Körperliche Aktivität fungiert als epigenetischer Regulator, der pathophysiologischen Entwicklungen im Herz-Kreislauf-System entgegenwirken kann. Ganz ähnlich wie bei der Erforschung neuer Medikamente wird es zukünftig notwendig sein, das Wissen über die zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen und Dosis-Wirkungs-Beziehungen von körperlicher Aktivität auf epigenetische Modifikationen zu mehren, um präventive und rehabilitative Bewegungsprogramme zu optimieren.

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Compliance with ethical guidelines

Conflict of interest. P. Zimmer and W. Bloch state that there are no conflicts of interest. The accompanying manuscript does not include studies on humans or animals.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mrs. Christine Koliamitra and Mrs. Saskia Schulz for editorial support. Furthermore, the authors thank Mr. Alexander Schenk for graphical support.

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  1. Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

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Zimmer, P., Bloch, W. Physical exercise and epigenetic adaptations of the cardiovascular system. Herz 40, 353–360 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00059-015-4213-7

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