Circulating microRNAs as emerging cardiac biomarkers responsive to acute exercise.
BACKGROUND
Circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) are mediators of intercellular communication with great potential as cardiac biomarkers. The analysis of c-miRNAs in response to physiological stress, such as exercise, would provide valuable information for clinical practice and a deeper understanding of the molecular response to physical activity. Here, we analysed for the first time the acute exercise response of c-miRNAs reported as biomarkers of cardiac disease in a well-characterized cohort of healthy active adults.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected immediately before and after (0 h, 24 h, 72 h) a 10-km race, a half-marathon (HM) and a marathon (M). Serum RNA from 10-km and M samples was extracted and a panel of 74 miRNAs analysed using RT-qPCR. c-miRNA response was compared with a panel of nine cardiac biomarkers. Functional enrichment analysis was performed. Pre- and post-M echocardiographic analyses were carried out.


RESULTS
Serum levels of all cardiac biomarkers were upregulated in a dose-dependent manner in response to exercise, even in the absence of symptoms or signs of cardiac injury. A deregulation in the profiles of 5 and 19 c-miRNAs was observed for 10-km and M, respectively. Each race induced a specific qualitative and quantitative alteration of c-miRNAs implicated in cardiac adaptions. Supporting their discriminative potential, a number of c-miRNAs previously associated with cardiac disease were undetectable or stable in response to exercise. Conversely, "pseudo-disease" signatures were also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
c-miRNAs may be useful for the management of cardiac conditions in the context of acute aerobic exercise.


TRANSLATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE WORK
Circulating microRNAs could offer incremental diagnostic value to established and emerging cardiac biomarkers, such as hs-cTnT or NT-proBNP, in those patients with cardiac dysfunction symptoms after an acute bout of endurance exercise. Furthermore, circulating miRNAs could also show "pseudo-disease" signatures in response to acute exercise. Clinical practitioners should be aware of the impact caused by exercise in the interpretation of miRNA data.
['de Gonzalo-Calvo|David|D|', 'Dávalos|Alberto|A|', 'Fernández-Sanjurjo|Manuel|M|', 'Amado-Rodríguez|Laura|L|', 'Díaz-Coto|Susana|S|', 'Tomás-Zapico|Cristina|C|', 'Montero|Ana|A|', 'García-González|Ángela|Á|', 'Llorente-Cortés|Vicenta|V|', 'Heras|Maria Eugenia|ME|', 'Boraita Pérez|Araceli|A|', 'Díaz-Martínez|Ángel E|ÁE|', 'Úbeda|Natalia|N|', 'Iglesias-Gutiérrez|Eduardo|E|']
D000328:Adult D015415:Biomarkers D000074166:Circulating MicroRNA D015444:Exercise D005260:Female D064368:Healthy Volunteers D006331:Heart Diseases D006801:Humans D008297:Male D035683:MicroRNAs D008875:Middle Aged D009206:Myocardium D010807:Physical Endurance D013312:Stress, Physiological D013997:Time Factors
Circulating microRNAs Biomarkers Exercise Heart disease