Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the association between MCT1 rs1049434 polymorphism and indirect muscle injuries in elite football players. One hundred and seventy-three male elite Italian football players (age = 19.2 ± 5.3 years) were recruited from a first-league football club participating at the Official National Italian Football Championship (Serie A, Primavera, Allievi, Giovanissimi). The cohort was genotyped for the MCT1 rs1049434 polymorphism, and muscle injuries data were collected during the period of 2009–2014 (five football seasons).MethodsGenomic DNA was extracted using a buccal swab, and genotyping was performed using PCR method. Structural-mechanical injuries and functional muscle disorder were included in the acute indirect muscle injury group.ResultsParticipants with the MCT1 AA (AA = 1.57 ± 3.07, n = 69) genotype exhibit significantly higher injury incidents compared to participants with the TT genotype (TT = 0.09 ± 0.25, n = 22, P = 0.04).ConclusionsThe MCT1 rs1049434 polymorphism is associated with the incidence of muscle injuries in elite football players. We anticipate that the knowledge of athletes’ genetic predisposition to sports-related injuries might aid in individualizing training programs.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MCT1 rs1049434 polymorphism and indirect muscle injuries in elite football players
Lactate transport across the plasma membrane is mainly mediated by proton-linked monocarboxylate transporters (MCT1 and MCT4) [1,2,3] that play a relevant role in the intracellular pH homeostasis [4]
Given the potential role of MCT1 in muscle soreness and injuries, the aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of the MCT1rs1049434 polymorphism on indirect muscle injury rates in top-level football players, during five competitive seasons
Summary
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MCT1 rs1049434 polymorphism and indirect muscle injuries in elite football players. Lactate transport across the plasma membrane is mainly mediated by proton-linked monocarboxylate transporters (MCT1 and MCT4) [1,2,3] that play a relevant role in the intracellular pH homeostasis [4]. The rapid transport of lactic acid across the plasma membrane is fundamentally important for the metabolism of almost all cells, including skeletal muscle. In 1992, Garcia et al [5] cloned the first monocarboxylate transporter, MCT1, from Chinese hamster ovary cells and showed that it is expressed, among other tissues, in erythrocytes, skeletal muscle, and heart. Intercellular MCT1 is important in skeletal muscle, where glycolytic fast twitch muscle fibers produce lactate, which is transported out of the cell through the monocarboxylate transporter (MCT).
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