Abstract
Simple SummaryIntense physical activity contributes to an increased consumption of oxygen transported by red blood cells. The red blood cells’ differentiation and proliferation process is mainly stimulated by erythropoietin (EPO) and erythroferrone (ERFE), which are novel markers of erythroid activity. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of concentration of these hormones in athletes’ blood. Seventy-three clinically healthy men took part in this study. Participants were divided into groups according to their physical activity, as assessed by the questionnaire survey. The first group included 39 athletes, the second group included 18 men with moderate physical activity, and the third—16 men with a sedentary lifestyle. Men with a high level of weekly physical activity had significantly different concentrations of ERFE and EPO than men with insufficient weekly physical activity. Higher endogenic ERFE and EPO levels are indicators of increased erythropoiesis in the period of intensified physical activity. The results obtained suggest the important role of endogenic EPO in the process of adaptation to intense physical activity.Intense physical activity contributes to an increased demand for red blood cells, which transport oxygen to working muscles. The purpose of this study was to assess the concentration of erythroferrone (ERFE), the novel marker of erythroid activity in athletes, during the beginning of their training season. The study group consisted of 39 athletes aged 23.24 ± 3.77 years. The study was carried out during the athletes’ preparatory period of the training cycle. The control group consisted of 34 healthy men aged 22.33 ± 2.77 years. The erythropoietic activity was evaluated by determining athletes’ concentrations of erythropoietin (EPO) and erythroferrone (ERFE). The level of physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). In the athletes’ group, we observed higher concentrations of EPO (Me = 12.65 mIU/mL) and ERFE (40.00 pg/mL) compared to the control group (EPO: Me = 5.74 mIU/ml, p = 0.001; ERFE: Me = 25.50 pg/mL, p = 0.0034). The average intensity of physical exercise significantly differentiated the participants as far as EPO and ERFE concentrations. These results suggest that intense physical activity, at least at the beginning of the training season, may stimulate EPO production, which increases ERFE release. This seems to be an adaptative mechanism that provides adequate iron for enhanced erythropoiesis.
Highlights
Furtherobserved there were no between-group differences indifferences hepcidin and ferritin more, wethat, observed that, there were no between-group in hepcidin levels, athletes presented lower serum transferrin receptor
A mouse model study showed that animals lacking the ERFE gene (Erfe−/−) developed anaemia; this phenomenon only affected the period of intensive growth [18]
Despite the undoubted value in using ERFE to attempt to explain the physiological mechanism of exercise-induced erythropoiesis, there were limitations of this study introduced by the homogeneity of the study groups with respect to age, sex, and eating habits
Summary
Exercise-induced erythropoiesis is reflected in the elevation of reticulocytes (premature erythrocytes) following physical training [1]. EPO is a glycoprotein hormone produced in the kidneys that stimulates the proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of erythroid progenitor cells (EPCs) in the bone marrow [2]. The synthesis and secretion of EPO is primarily the result of hypoxia, inflammation, and endocrine system stimulation [5]. Research suggests that exercise can be employed as a model of temporary immunosuppression, which occurs during physical stress such as hypoxia [6]. Acute bouts of physical exercise regulate the immune response, i.e., by transiently redistributing immune cells to peripheral tissues, resulting in a heightened state of immunocompetence [7]. Exercise leads to an increased destruction of RBCs with exercise, leading to compensatory erythropoiesis [10]
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