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Clinical Trial
. 2018 Apr;6(7):e13651.
doi: 10.14814/phy2.13651.

Exercise and exercise training-induced increase in autophagy markers in human skeletal muscle

Nina Brandt  1 , Thomas P Gunnarsson  2 , Jens Bangsbo  2 , Henriette Pilegaard  1
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Exercise and exercise training-induced increase in autophagy markers in human skeletal muscle

Nina Brandt et al. Physiol Rep. 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Moderately trained male subjects (mean age 25 years; range 19-33 years) completed an 8-week exercise training intervention consisting of continuous moderate cycling at 157 ± 20 W for 60 min (MOD; n = 6) or continuous moderate cycling (157 ± 20 W) interspersed by 30-sec sprints (473 ± 79 W) every 10 min (SPRINT; n = 6) 3 days per week. Sprints were followed by 3:24 min at 102 ± 17 W to match the total work between protocols. A muscle biopsy was obtained before, immediately and 2 h after the first training session as well as at rest after the training session. In both MOD and SPRINT, skeletal muscle AMPKThr172 and ULKSer317 phosphorylation was elevated immediately after exercise, whereas mTORSer2448 and ULKSer757 phosphorylation was unchanged. Two hours after exercise LC3I, LC3II and BNIP3 protein content was overall higher than before exercise with no change in p62 protein. In MOD, Beclin1 protein content was higher immediately and 2 h after exercise than before exercise, while there were no differences within SPRINT. Oxphos complex I, LC3I, BNIP3 and Parkin protein content was higher after the training intervention than before in both groups, while there was no difference in LC3II and p62 protein. Beclin1 protein content was higher after the exercise training intervention only in MOD. Together this suggests that exercise increases markers of autophagy in human skeletal muscle within the first 2 h of recovery and 8 weeks of exercise training increases the capacity for autophagy and mitophagy regulation. Hence, the present findings provide evidence that exercise and exercise training regulate autophagy in human skeletal muscle and that this in general was unaffected by interspersed sprint bouts.

Keywords: Autophagy; High-intensity exercise training; skeletal muscle.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic presentation of the two exercise training protocols consisting of 60 min of cycling (A) continuous cycling with an average power output of 157 ± 20 W eliciting ~60% of VO 2‐max or (B) continuous cycling for 60 min with an average power output of 157 ± 20 W eliciting ~60% of VO 2‐max interspersed by six 30‐sec sprints (473 ± 79 W) every 10 min followed by cycling at 102 ± 17 W for 3:24 min. On experimental days, muscle biopsies were taken at rest as well as immediately, and 120 min after exercise.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) AMPKT hr172 , (B) mTORS er2448 and (C) ULKS er317 phosphorylation Pre, immediately after (0 h) and 2 h after 1 h of continuous moderate intensity exercise at 60% of VO 2‐max (MOD) or continuous moderate intensity exercise interspersed with sprints (SPRINT). Values are presented as means ± SE; n = 6. *Significantly different (P < 0.05) from Pre.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) LC3I, (B) LC3II and (C) p62 protein content Pre, immediately after (0 h) and 2 h after 1 h of continuous moderate intensity exercise at 60% of VO 2‐max (MOD) or continuous moderate intensity exercise at 60% of VO 2‐max interspersed with sprints (SPRINT). Values are presented as means ± SE; n = 6. *Significantly different (P < 0.05) from Pre. The horizontal line indicates an overall effect.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(A) Beclin1, (B) BNIP3 and (C) Parkin protein content Pre, immediately after (0 h) and 2 h after 1 h of continuous moderate intensity exercise at 60% of VO 2‐max (MOD) or continuous moderate intensity exercise at 60% of VO 2‐max interspersed with sprints (SPRINT). Values are presented as means ± SE; n = 6. *Significantly different (P < 0.05) from Pre. #Significantly different (P < 0.05) from MOD protocol at given time point. The horizontal line indicates an overall effect. The given P value marks a tendency.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(A) LC3I, (B) LC3II, (C) p62 and (D) Complex I protein content at rest before (Pre Training) and after (Post Training) 8 weeks of exercise training 3 times per week of 1 h continuous moderate intensity exercise at 60% of VO 2‐max (MOD) or continuous moderate intensity exercise at 60% of VO 2‐max interspersed with sprints (SPRINT). Values are presented as means ± SE; n = 6. *Significantly different (P < 0.05) from Pre Training.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(A) Beclin1, (B) BNIP3 and (C) Parkin protein content at rest before (Pre Training) and after (Post Training) 8 weeks of exercise training 3 times per week of 1 h continuous moderate intensity exercise at 60% of VO 2‐max (MOD) or continuous moderate intensity exercise at 60% of VO 2‐max interspersed with sprints (SPRINT). Values are presented as means ± SE; n = 6. *Significantly different (P < 0.05) from Pre Training. The horizontal line indicates an overall effect.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Representive blots at rest (Pre/before training), immediately after (0 h) and 2 h after 1 h of exercise and after (Post) 8 weeks of exercise training 3 times per week of 1 h continuous moderate intensity exercise at 60% of VO 2‐max (MOD) or continuous moderate intensity exercise at 60% of VO 2‐max interspersed with sprints (SPRINT).
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