Effects of Physical Exercise on Endothelial Function and DNA Methylation

Luca Ferrari, Marco Vicenzi, Letizia Tarantini, Francesco Barretta, Silvia Sironi, Andrea A. Baccarelli, Marco Guazzi and Valentina Bollati
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Luca Ferrari: EPIGET, Epidemiology, Epigenetics and Toxicology Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, via san Barnaba 8, 20122 Milan, Italy
Marco Vicenzi: EPIGET, Epidemiology, Epigenetics and Toxicology Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, via san Barnaba 8, 20122 Milan, Italy
Letizia Tarantini: EPIGET, Epidemiology, Epigenetics and Toxicology Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, via san Barnaba 8, 20122 Milan, Italy
Francesco Barretta: EPIGET, Epidemiology, Epigenetics and Toxicology Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, via san Barnaba 8, 20122 Milan, Italy
Silvia Sironi: EPIGET, Epidemiology, Epigenetics and Toxicology Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, via san Barnaba 8, 20122 Milan, Italy
Andrea A. Baccarelli: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
Marco Guazzi: Cardiology University Department, Heart Failure Unit, University of Milan, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, I-20097 Milan, Italy
Valentina Bollati: EPIGET, Epidemiology, Epigenetics and Toxicology Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, via san Barnaba 8, 20122 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-11

Abstract: Essential hypertension is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. Epidemiological studies have shown that physical training can reduce blood pressure (BP), both in hypertensive and healthy individuals. Increasing evidence is emerging that DNA methylation is involved in alteration of the phenotype and of vascular function in response to environmental stimuli. We evaluated repetitive element and gene-specific DNA methylation in peripheral blood leukocytes of 68 volunteers, taken before (T0) and after (T1) a three-month intervention protocol of continuative aerobic physical exercise. DNA methylation was assessed by bisulfite-PCR and pyrosequencing. Comparing T0 and T1 measurements, we found an increase in oxygen consumption at peak of exercise (VO 2peak ) and a decrease in diastolic BP at rest. Exercise increased the levels of ALU and Long Interspersed Nuclear Element 1 (LINE-1) repetitive elements methylation, and of Endothelin-1 ( EDN1 ), Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase ( NOS2 ), and Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha ( TNF ) gene-specific methylation. VO 2peak was positively associated with methylation of ALU, EDN1 , NOS2 , and TNF ; systolic BP at rest was inversely associated with LINE-1, EDN1 , and NOS2 methylation; diastolic BP was inversely associated with EDN1 and NOS2 methylation. Our findings suggest a possible role of DNA methylation for lowering systemic BP induced by the continuative aerobic physical training program.

Keywords: physical exercise; hypertension; DNA methylation; pyrosequencing; cardiovascular disease (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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