Abstract
Aim
To evaluate the effects of a multicomponent exercise program in the circulating levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and endothelial damage among adults with cardiovascular risk factors.
Materials and methods
Eleven adults with cardiovascular risk factors underwent an 18-week light-to-moderate intensity multicomponent exercise training program. Participants performed two 45 min supervised sessions per week. Blood samples were collected before and after the exercise program, and the levels of EPCs and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) were quantified by flow cytometry.
Results
The circulating levels of EPCs increased by 5.0 ± 3.3% (5.0 × 10−3 ± 1.6 × 10−3% to 10.0 × 10−3 ± 2.5 × 10−3%, P < 0.001) after the exercise training, whereas no change was observed in CEC count (4.9 × 10−3 ± 2.6 × 10−3% to 6.2 × 10−3 ± 1.5 × 10−3%, P = 0.23).
Conclusions
A multicomponent exercise training program improves endothelial integrity, as reflected by the increased levels of EPCs without changes in endothelial damage. These findings provide evidence to support the use of multicomponent exercise to modulate vascular competence and improve endothelial health among adults with cardiovascular risk factors.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the MEDISIS (CENTRO-01-0246-FEDER-000018) program. iBiMED is a research unit supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (REF: UID/BIM/04501/2020) and FEDER/Compete2020 funds. Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL) is a research unit supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (REF: UID/DTP/00617/2020) and FEDER/Compete2020 funds. iCBR is supported by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal (Strategic Projects UID/NEU/04539/2019 and UIDB/04539/2020 and UIDP/04539/2020 [CIBB]).
Funding
The authors Suiane Cavalcante (SFRH/BD/144466/2019), Manuel Teixeira (2020.08565.BD) and Marisol Gouveia (SFRH/BD/128893/2017) are supported by individual PhD grants from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology). This study was supported by the MEDISIS (CENTRO-01-0246-FEDER-000018) program. Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED) is a research unit supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (REF: UID/BIM/04501/2020) and FEDER/Compete2020 funds. CIAFEL is a research unit supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (REF: UID/DTP/00617/2020) and FEDER/Compete2020 funds. iCBR is supported by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal (Strategic Projects UID/NEU/04539/2019 and UIDB/04539/2020 and UIDP/04539/2020 [CIBB]).
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. The conceptualization was developed by Suiane Cavalcante and Fernando Ribeiro; Data collection, Suiane Cavalcante, Manuel Teixeira, Marisol Gouveia; Data analysis, Suiane Cavalcante; Resources, Ana Duarte, Miriam Ferreira, Maria I. Simões, Maria Conceição, Mariana Costa, Ilda P. Ribeiro, Ana Cristina Gonçalves, José Oliveira and Fernando Ribeiro; Writing (original draft preparation), Suiane Cavalcante; Writing (review and editing), Manuel Teixeira, Marisol Gouveia, Ana Duarte, Miriam Ferreira, Maria I. Simões, Maria Conceição, Mariana Costa, Ilda P. Ribeiro, Ana Cristina Gonçalves, José Oliveira and Fernando Ribeiro. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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S. Cavalcante, M. Teixeira, M. Gouveia, A. Duarte, M. Ferreira, M.I. Simões, M. Conceição, M. Costa, I.P. Ribeiro, A.C. Gonçalves, J. Oliveira and F. Ribeiro declare that they have no competing interests.
The present study was approved by the local ethics committee (ARS Centro Ref. 174211) and was conducted under ethical standards. All participants provided informed consent.
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Cavalcante, S., Teixeira, M., Gouveia, M. et al. Endothelial progenitor cell response to a multicomponent exercise training program in adults with cardiovascular risk factors. Ger J Exerc Sport Res 53, 225–231 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12662-023-00882-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12662-023-00882-x