Combined Analysis of Gene and MicroRNA Expression in Natural Killer Cells in Response to Exercise

Abstract

Natural Killers (NK) cells are unique innate immune cells that increase up to 5 fold in the circulating blood with brief exercise and are known to play a key role in first‐response defense against pathogens and cancer immunosurveillance. Whether exercise alters NK cell gene (GE) and microRNA (miRNA) expression is not known. 12 healthy men (20–29 y/o) performed 10, 2‐min bouts of cycle ergometer exercise interspersed with 1‐min rest at a constant work equivalent to □77% of V̇O2max). We used Affymetrix U133+2.0 arrays for GE and Agilent Human miRNA V2 Microarray for miRNAs. A stringent statistical approach (FDR<0.05) was used to determine that exercise significantly altered the expression of 986 genes, and 25 miRNAs. When we compared the GE changes that have been altered by exercise, with the miRNAs altered by exercise, we identified mainly pathways that are related to cancer and cell communication: p53 signaling pathway, Melanoma, Glioma, Prostate cancer, Adherens junction, and Focal adhesion, in which an interaction of miRNA and gene expression was plausible. Brief exercise alters GE and miRNA expression level in circulating NK cells in humans. These data support the hypothesis that exercise‐associated changes in NK miRNA expression play a role in NK gene expression in response to exercise stimulus, and ultimately, perhaps, in NK cell function in health and disease. Supported by NIH Grants P01HD048721 and UL1RR031985.