Serum Salusin-α Level Is Associated With Exercise Training-induced Reduction Of Arterial Stiffness In The Elderly

Abstract

Aging-induced elevation of blood pressure and arterial stiffness is reduced by aerobic exercise training. Administration of salusin-α to healthy rats induces a decrease in mean arterial blood pressure, and circulating salusin-α level was lower in patients with hypertension or coronary artery disease compared with healthy controls. Additionally, circulating salusin-α level is significantly negative correlated with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) as an indicator of systemic arterial stiffness. However, it is unclear whether circulating salusin-α level is associated with exercise training-induced reduction of risks for hypertension and arteriosclerosis. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum salusin-α level is associated to exercise training-induced changes in blood pressure and arterial stiffness in healthy middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy middle-aged and older subjects (67 ± 1 years) were participated in this study. Subjects completed 8-week of aerobic exercise training (60-70% peak oxygen uptake [VO2peak] for 45 min, 3 days/week). We measured brachial blood pressure, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) as an indicator of central arterial stiffness, and VO2peak as an indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness. RESULTS: After the exercise intervention, VO2peak was significantly increased, and systolic blood pressure and cfPWV were significantly decreased (each P<0.05). Serum salusin-α level was significantly increased after the exercise training (P<0.05). Additionally, significant negative correlations between the training effects of serum salusin-α level and cfPWV (r=−0.580, P<0.05) and systolic blood pressure (r=−0.409, P<0.05) were seen. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that aerobic exercise training-induced changes in serum salusin-α level may be related to the reduction of blood pressure and arterial stiffness in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (#26282199, M. Iemitsu; #16J08331, S. Fujie)