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Impact of acute high-intensity interval exercise on plasma pentraxin 3 and endothelial function in obese individuals—a pilot study

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A Correction to this article was published on 20 May 2021

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Abstract

Purpose

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) has been shown to be a predictor of endothelial dysfunction in patients with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (e.g., obesity). Circulating PTX3 concentrations are dysregulated in obese individuals and are elevated following acute aerobic exercise. High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) has been demonstrated to be as effective as continuous moderate-intensity exercise in improving endothelial function, as indicated by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (BAFMD), in patients with CVD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acute HIIE on plasma PTX3 and BAFMD responses in obese individuals.

Methods

Eight obese and six normal-weight young males participated in acute HIIE (4 intervals of 4 min at 80–90% of VO2max; 3 min of active recovery at 50–60% VO2max). Plasma PTX3 and BAFMD were measured prior to, immediately following exercise, and one and 2 hours into recovery.

Results

Plasma PTX3 concentrations significantly increased following HIIE, yet the PTX3 response to HIIE was significantly blunted in obese compared to normal-weight participants. While the kinetic responses of BAFMD were also significantly different in obese compared to normal-weight participants, similar increases above the baseline were observed 2 hours into recovery in both groups. Finally, plasma PTX3 concentrations were not associated with BAFMD at baseline or in response to HIIE.

Conclusion

The utilization of HIIE may serve as a time-efficient exercise prescription strategy to transiently improve endothelial function, independent of elevated plasma PTX3 concentrations, in obese individuals.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analyses of variance

APMHR:

Age-predicted maximal heart rate

AUC:

Area under the curve

AUCi:

Area under the curve with respect to increase

BAFMD:

Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation

BMI:

Body mass index

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

EDTA:

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

HIIE:

High-intensity interval exercise

MICE:

Moderate-intensity continuous exercise

NO:

Nitric oxide

PTX3:

Pentraxin 3

RPE:

Rating of perceived exertion

VO2max :

Maximal oxygen consumption

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Florida Atlantic University Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion for supporting the completion of this work. In addition, we thank those who donated their time to participate in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Aaron L. Slusher

  2. Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

    Brandon G. Fico

  3. Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA

    Katelyn M. Dodge, Alexandra A. Rodriguez & Chun-Jung Huang

  4. Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA

    Ryan S. Garten

  5. College of Graduate Health Sciences, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA

    Peter J. Ferrandi

  6. Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    Gabriel Pena

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  1. Aaron L. Slusher
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  2. Brandon G. Fico
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Contributions

Conception and design: BGF and C-JH; Data collection: BGF, KMD, PJF, AAR, GP, C-JH; Data analysis and interpretations: ALS, BGF, KMD, RSG, AAR, C-JH; Manuscript writing and revisions: ALS, BGF, KMD, RSG, and C-JH; Final approval: ALS, BGF, KMD, RSG, PJF, AAR, GP, and C-JH.

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Correspondence to Aaron L. Slusher.

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Communicated by Massimo pagani.

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The original online version of this article was revised: Modifications have been made to the title and text. Full information regarding the corrections made can be found in the erratum/correction for this article.

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Slusher, A.L., Fico, B.G., Dodge, K.M. et al. Impact of acute high-intensity interval exercise on plasma pentraxin 3 and endothelial function in obese individuals—a pilot study. Eur J Appl Physiol 121, 1567–1577 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04632-5

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