Changes in circulating microRNA and arterial stiffness following high-intensity interval and moderate intensity continuous exercise

Abstract

High-intensity interval (HII) exercise elicits distinct vascular responses compared to a matched dose of moderate intensity continuous (MOD) exercise. However, the acute effects of HII compared to MOD exercise on arterial stiffness are incompletely understood. Circulating microRNAs (ci-miRs) may contribute to the vascular effects of exercise. We sought to determine exercise intensity-dependent changes in ci-miR potentially underlying changes in arterial stiffness. Ten young, healthy men underwent well-matched, 30-min HII and MOD exercise bouts. RT-qPCR was used to determine the levels of seven vascular-related ci-miRs in serum obtained immediately before and after exercise. Arterial stiffness measures including carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), carotid arterial compliance and β-stiffness, and augmentation index (AIx and AIx75) were taken before, 10min after and 60min after exercise. Ci-miR-21-5p, 126-3p, 126-5p, 150-5p, 155-5p, and 181b-5p increased after HII exercise (p