Different responses of apoptotic, inflammatory and heat shock protein gene expression to a single bout of high intensity interval exercise between physically active and inactive men

High mechanical load of muscles may induce muscular apoptosis on the one hand and adaptation to exercise on the other. This study aimed to explore whether changes of circulatory levels of inflammation, apoptosis and heat shock proteins (HSPs) mRNA following single bout of high intensity interval exercise (HIIE) differs between physically active (PA) and inactive (PI) men. Nine PA and nine PI (peak VO2 2.6±0.4 vs. 2.0 ± 0.2 L.min-1) healthy men (age: 28.7+/-6.3 vs. 30.2+/-4.5 years and BMI: 2.6±2.1 vs. 23.3±2.8 kg.m-2) performed HIIE comprising 4 repeats of a Wingate test (load:0.050 kg.kg-1 body weight). Blood samples were collected before exercise, 5 min and 24 h after HIIE for measuring mRNA of inflammation markers IL6 and TNFα, apoptosis markers including Bcl-2, Bax, and HSP27, HSP60, HSP70, HSP90 using quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Post-HIIE IL6, TNFα and HSP60 were higher in the PI than the PA group 5 min after exercise (p=0.003, ES=1.59; p=0.007, ES=1.59 and p=0.027, ES=1.10 respectively). HSP70 acutely increased only in the PA group (p=0.024, ES=1.20). The increase in Bcl-2 (p=0.047, ES=1.08) and Bax (p=0.024, ES=1.20) levels were higher in the PI group 5 min after HIIE. The present study indicated that the response of inflammatory, apoptosis and HSP gene expressions to HIIE in blood of healthy male volunteers strongly depends on their level of regular physical activity. Novelty • Blood IL-6 and HSP60 mRNA levels following high intensity exercise may indicate metabolic stress. • Increased blood HSP70 mRNA in physically active men may show an alternative apoptosis suppression pathway.