Alterations in global gene expression patterns resulting from 10 days of endurance training in humans

Abstract

The gene profile of human skeletal muscle can be altered via chronic increases in contractile activity, leading to alteration in skeletal muscle metabolism and ultra-structure. We investigated how short-term endurance training alters skeletal muscle global gene expression patterns, using H19K oligonucleotide micro-arrays, in response to cycling exercise and training. Seven healthy, sedentary individuals participated in a 10-d intensified endurance training regimen which increased VO2max by 12±8% (P<0.05). Differential gene expression (n=4; P<0.05) of 1.5 fold was determined in from muscle biopsies taken before and 3h after a single bout of cycling exercise (~73% pre-training VO2max) pre-training, (199 genes were differentially expressed (DE); 145 up regulated and 54 down regulated) and post-training (188 genes were DE; 107 up regulated and 81 down regulated). A comparison of pre-exercise gene expression patterns (post- vs. pre-training; 235 genes were DE; 121 up regulated and 114 down regulated). Post exercise (post- vs. pre-training) gene expression patterns revealed 191 genes as DE (69 up regulated and 122 down-regulated). Thus short-term training in previously untrained individuals resulted in marked changes in skeletal muscle global gene expression profiles, with genes like peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α), calsyphosine (CAPS), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), kaptin (KPTN), and sarcomeric muscle protein (SARCOSIN) responding to cycle exercise and training.