Cardiology Research and PracticeVolume 2011 (2011), Article ID 972807, 15 pagesdoi:10.4061/2011/972807

Review Article

Molecular Mechanisms in Exercise-Induced Cardioprotection

Saeid Golbidi and Ismail Laher

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z3

Received 26 September 2010; Revised 16 December 2010; Accepted 3 January 2011

Academic Editor: Christina Chrysohoou

Copyright © 2011 Saeid Golbidi and Ismail Laher. Saeid Golbidi and . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Physical inactivity is increasingly recognized as modifiable behavioral risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. A partial list of proposed mechanisms for exercise-induced cardioprotection include induction of heat shock proteins, increase in cardiac antioxidant capacity, expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins, anatomical and physiological changes in the coronary arteries, changes in nitric oxide production, adaptational changes in cardiac mitochondria, increased autophagy, and improved function of sarcolemmal and/or mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels. It is currently unclear which of these protective mechanisms are essential for exercise-induced cardioprotection. However, most investigations focus on sarcolemmal KATP channels, NO production, and mitochondrial changes although it is very likely that other mechanisms may also exist. This paper discusses current information about these aforementioned topics and does not consider potentially important adaptations within blood or the autonomic nervous system. A better understanding of the molecular basis of exercise-induced cardioprotection will help to develop better therapeutic strategies.

1. Introduction

It is generally accepted that regular exercise is an effective way for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality [1]. Physical inactivity and obesity are also increasingly recognized as modifiable behavioral risk factors for a wide range of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, epidemiologic investigations indicate that the survival rate of heart attack victims is greater in physically active persons compared to sedentary counterparts [2]. Several large cohort studies have attempted to quantify the protective effect of physical activity on cardiovascular and all cause mortality. Nocon et al. [3] in a meta-analysis of 33 studies with 883,372 participants reported significant risk reductions for physically active participants. All-cause mortality was reduced by 33%, and cardiovascular mortality was associated with a 35% risk reduction. Exercise capacity or cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely related to cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, even after adjustments for other confounding factors [4–6].

The American College of Sports Medicine defines exercise as “Any and all activity involving generation of force by the activated muscle(s) that results in disruption of a homeostatic state”. Exercise is classified by the type, intensity, and duration of activity. Endurance exercise reflects prolonged and continuous periods of contractile activity (high repetition) against low resistance whereas resistance exercise (strength training) involves short periods of contractile activity (low repetition) against a high opposing resistance, while sprint exercise occurs during short periods of maximal (intense) repetitive contractile activity, where there is a short period of exercise against a low resistance, such as running a 100-m sprint race. However, sprint training can also be performed against high resistance, which results in a combination of resistance and endurance modalities, for example, running with added weights [7].

Although it is clear that exercise promotes a cardioprotective phenotype, a detailed understanding of the cellular mechanisms responsible for this cardioprotection remains incomplete. The cytoprotective mechanisms that have garnered most attention are inducible heat shock proteins and antioxidant enzymes, especially superoxide dismutase (SOD) [8–11]. However, there are numerous clues suggesting that other mechanisms may also be part of exercise-induced cardioprotective phenotype, and they may have significant roles in the protective process. Improving our understanding of the molecular basis for exercise-induced cardioprotection will play an important role in developing optimal exercise interventions for primary and secondary prophylaxis. The objective of this paper is to summarize the body of knowledge related to the molecular basis of cardioprotective effects of exercise and the evidence for other potential mediators. We mainly focused on adaptations within the cardiac muscles and will briefly examine coronary adaptations as well. However, it should be noted that other adaptive mechanisms in the blood, humoral and autonomic nervous system, muscles, and so forth can also affect this process.

2. Exercise-Induced Expression of HSPs in the Heart

The ability of organisms to respond to various stressors was first described by Selye in 1936, who suggested a series of programmed events that help organisms to cope with the situation [12]. The heat shock response is a common cellular reaction to external stimuli such as ischemia [13], hypoxia [14], acidosis [15], oxidative stress [16], protein degradation [17], increased intracellular calcium [18], and energy depletion [19] (Table 1). Therefore, the terms “stress proteins” and “cellular stress response” reflect the array of stressors known to initiate heat shock protein (HSP) expression [20]. It is generally accepted that exercise increases the expression of cardiac HSPs. Locke et al. [21] performed a comprehensive study of the effects of acute exercise on myocardial expression of HSPs and showed that the expression of HSPs can begin within 30–60 min after an exercise bout in the rat myocardium. The mechanistic link between exercise and myocardial expression of HSPs is unclear. However, a variety of stresses associated with exercise, including heat stress and hypoxia, reduced intracellular pH, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) production, and depletion of glucose and glycogen stores, increase in cytosolic calcium levels and cardiomyocyte stretching can all contribute to HSP elevation in cardiac muscle [22]. Several stress proteins such as HSP10, HSP40, HSP60, and HSP90 are thought to play cardioprotective roles [23, 24], with some detailed understanding of the role of the HSP70 family [25]. Production of HSP70 in the rat myocardium during treadmill running is mediated by an increase in the activation of heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF 1), which then binds to the heat shock element of HSP70 genes and results in increased levels of HSP70 mRNA [26]. In an attempt to provide additional insights, Melling et al. showed that protein kinase A (PKA), and not protein kinase C, plays a key role in exercise-induced regulation of HSP70 gene expression [27]. Activation of PKA mediates the suppression of an intermediary protein kinase, extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK1/2), which phosphorylates and suppresses the activation of the HSF1. However, following exercise training, ERK1/2 regulates the transcriptional activation of several genes involved in cell growth and proliferation and has been shown to be associated with training-mediated myocardial hypertrophy. In another study, Melling et al. [28] reported increased expression of HSP70 following a single bout of exercise in the presence of elevated ERK1/2 in trained animals. These results suggest that training results in adaptations that allow for the simultaneous initiation of both proliferative and protective responses. In addition, HSP72 (a member of HSP70 family) augments myocardial antioxidant capacity [29]. During ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) insult, HSP72 preserves mitochondrial function and provides cellular protection against apoptosis [30, 31]. Moreover, by prevention of protein aggregation and denaturation, HSP72 also enhances recovery from acute cellular injury and so protects cells from subsequent injury [32].

Table 1: Cellular location and function of selected heat shock proteins (HSPs) [22, 23, 32, 37].

Family
Members
Cellular location
Proposed function (comment)

Ubiquitin
Ubiquitin
Cytosol
Protein degradation (ubiquitin levels in cells increase following cellular injury)

HSP10
HSP10
Mitochondria
Molecular chaperons, cofactor for HSP60

HSP27
HSP27, HSP26, and so forth
Cytosol, nucleus
Microfilament stabilization, antiapoptotic (variable in size and number in different organisms)

HSP60
HSP60
Mitochondria
Refolds proteins and prevents aggregation of denatured proteins, proapoptotic.

HSP70
HSP72, HSP73, HSP75, HSP78
Cytosol, nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum
Molecular chaperons, protein folding, and cytoprotection (HSP72 postulated to play an important role in myocardial protection against I/R injury).

HSP90
HSP90, HSP100, Grp94
Cytosol, nucleus, ER
May function as a molecular chaperone during maturation of steroid receptors and assists in the folding of newly synthesized peptides, protein translocation.

Although exercise induces cardiac HSP72 expression (which is cardioprotective), there are some reports demonstrating that the beneficial effects of exercise on cardiac muscle is independent of HSPs formation [33]. Hamilton et al. postulated that exercise associated cardioprotection may depend, in part, on increases in myocardial content manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), rather than HSP levels [34], while studies by Quindry et al. suggest that exercise-induced myocardial protection against I/R is unrelated to increases in cardiac levels of HSP10, HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP72, HSP73, or HSP90 [35, 36]. One explanation for these findings is the activation of cardioprotective mechanisms through different pathways that then converge on common distal pathways, suggesting that exercise-induced cardioprotection could be achievable through multiple mechanisms.

3. Exercise and Myocardial Antioxidant Capacity

Cells have evolved highly complex antioxidant systems (enzymic and nonenzymic), which work synergistically to protect cells and organ systems of the body against free radical-induced damage. The most efficient enzymatic antioxidants involve glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Nonenzymatic antioxidants include vitamins E and C and thiol antioxidants (glutathione, thioredoxin) [38]. Each of these antioxidants is capable of combining with reactive oxidants to produce other less reactive spices. Superoxide dismutase promotes the dismutation of the superoxide radical to form hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and oxygen. While glutathione peroxidase (GPx) uses reduced glutathione (GSH), as a reducing equivalent, to reduce H₂O₂ to form oxidized glutathione and water. Furthermore, GSH can remove selected oxygen radicals directly and assist in the recycling of vitamin C and E (Table 2).

Table 2: Major antioxidants.

Name
Role
Remarks

Endogenous enzymes
Superoxide dismutase (SOD)(a) mitochondrial(b) cytoplasmic(c) extracellular
Dismutase superoxide to H₂O₂
(a) Contains manganese (MnSOD)(b) Contains copper and zinc (CuZnSOD)(c) Contains copper (CuSOD)

Catalase
Dismutase H₂O₂ to H₂O
Present in peroxisomes

Glutathione peroxidase
Removes H₂O₂ and lipid peroxides
Selenoproteins (contains Se²⁺) Primarily in the cytosol also mitochondria

Vitamin E
Lipid peroxidation, scavenges superoxide, hydroxyl and lipid peroxide
Fat soluble

Nonenzymatic substance
Vitamin C
Scavenges superoxide, hydroxyl radicals and H₂O₂, contributes to regeneration of vit E. Neutralizes oxidants from stimulated neutrophils
Water soluble

β-carotene (provitamin A)
ScavengesOH, and peroxy radicals Prevents oxidation of vitamin A Binds to transition metals
Water soluble

Catalase converts H₂O₂ to water and oxygen. The newly identified peroxiredoxin family represents a group of peroxidases that also catalyze the reduction of H₂O₂. They include at least six isoforms in mammalian cells [39]. Among them, peroxiredoxin III is synthesized with a mitochondrial targeting sequence, as is MnSOD.

The effects of exercise on myocardial antioxidant enzyme activities has been widely investigated but with variable conclusions. For example, while some studies report that exercise-induced increases in GPx activity [40, 41], others suggest that myocardial GPx activity is not altered by exercise [42, 43]. Such equivocal results have also been reported for myocardial catalase, with increased [44, 45] and decreased [33, 43] levels. Although there is no clear explanation for these discrepancies, it is possible that the use of exercise protocols that differ in duration and intensity may be an important underlying factor. The strongest evidence to directly link increases in myocardial antioxidants and exercise-induced cardioprotection implicates a contributory role for MnSOD. It is generally believed that even short-term endurance exercise results in a rapid increase in myocardial MnSOD activity [43, 46, 47] as shown in studies that employed antisense oligonucleotide techniques to silence MnSOD genes and so prevent exercise-induced increases in myocardial MnSOD activity [46, 48]. For example, Yamashita et al. [46] reported that inhibition of exercise-induced increases in cardiac MnSOD abolished protection against myocardial infarction, findings that were confirmed by Hamilton et al. [49] who concluded that MnSOD plays a key role against I/R-induced cardiac arrhythmias. In contrast, Lennon et al. [50] reported that exercise-induced increases in cardiac MnSOD activity is not essential to achieve exercise-mediated protection against myocardial stunning. It is possible that mechanisms responsible for exercise-induced protection against myocardial stunning are different from those involved in myocardial arrhythmias and infarction [51] (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Sequence of pathologic events in ischemia reperfusion injury.

4. Additional Mechanisms Involved in Exercise-Induced Cardioprotection

The induction of myocardial HSPs and upregulation of cardiac antioxidant enzymes are well-studied aspects of the response to exercise. Other related responses to exercise-induced cardioprotection include anatomical and physiological changes in the coronary arteries, increased myocardial cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity, elevated endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins, nitric oxide production, increased autophagy, and improved function of sarcolemmal and/or mitochondrial ATP sensitive potassium (sarco KATP and/or mito KATP) channels [52] (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Proposed mechanisms for exercised-induced cardioprotection.

5. Myocardial Collateral Circulation

Exercise-induced adaptation of the coronary circulation can be divided into two major processes: (a) angiogenesis, which is an expansion of the capillary network by the formation of new blood vessels and occurs at the level of capillaries and resistance arterioles, but not in large arteries and (b) arteriogenesis, which is as enlargement of existing vessels [53].

5.1. Angiogenesis

It has been speculated that endurance exercise stimulates angiogenesis by either a division of preexisting endothelial cells or by bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells and monocyte or macrophage derived angiogenic cells [54]. Some reports indicate that physical activity improves the mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells in healthy subjects and in patients with cardiovascular risk and coronary artery disease [55, 56]. Indeed, angiogenesis is regulated by a net balance between positive (angiogenic) and negative (angiostatic) regulators of blood vessel growth. A balance favoring predominantly positive regulators are an angiogenic phenotype whereas a shift favoring negative regulators is an angiostatic phenotype. Therefore, an impaired regulation of angiogenesis is often associated with the development of angiogenesis-dependent diseases such as atherosclerosis.

Endostatin is an endogenous angiostatic factor identified originally in conditioned media of murine hemangioendothelioma cells [57, 58]. Many studies have shown that the proteolytic release of endostatin from collagen XVIII is mediated by proteases of many classes, such as cysteine proteases, matrix metalloproteases, and aspartic proteases [59, 60]. The potent antiangiogenic effects of endostatin are mediated via a combination of effects on endothelial cells, where endostatin inhibits cellular proliferation and migration and stimulates apoptosis [61, 62]. The biological effects of endostatin are mainly attributed to its antagonism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling [63].

Angiogenesis has both beneficial and deleterious effects in atherosclerosis. While increased angiogenesis in cardiac tissue may be a favorable sign in the healing of the ischemic tissues [64], progressive angiogenesis in a primary atherosclerotic lesion could be a cause of plaque expansion [65, 66]. There are several studies showing that exercise induces a local angiogenic phenotype characterized by overexpression of VEGF in skeletal muscle [67] and heart [64]. This phenomenon can prevent ischemia in these tissues. Exercise can also exert beneficial effects against atherosclerosis by increasing circulating endostatin, which inhibits development of atherosclerotic plaque through blocking angiogenesis in the plaque tissue [68]. Meanwhile, Brixius et al. also reported that endurance activity improves angiogenesis by reducing endostatin plasma levels [69]. Even though the different exercise protocols in these experiments can explain these discrepant results, further studies are needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms.

5.2. Arteriogenesis

Exercise training increases the diameter of large arterioles, small arteries, and conduit arteries. Another important aspect of exercise-induced changes in capillarity is the onset and persistence of exercise-induced arteriogenesis. The induction of arteriogenesis is an important vascular adaptation [70], since arteriogenesis leads to the formation of large conductance arteries capable of compensating for the loss of function of occluded arteries. Animal studies and clinical observations provide evidence for a significant correlation between regular physical exercise and increased coronary artery lumen diameter [71, 72]. In one study, an 8-week training programme increased the contractile response to low doses of dobutamine in patients with chronic coronary artery disease and having a left ventricular ejection fraction below 40%. This implies that short-term exercise training can improve quality of life by improving left ventricular systolic function during mild to moderate physical activity in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy [73]. Moreover, eight patients with coronary heart disease and exertional angina pectoris successfully completed an 11–15 week programme of endurance exercise conditioning. Angina threshold was determined by upright bicycle ergometer exercise and by atrial pacing. The product of heart rate and arterial systolic blood pressure at the exercise angina threshold was higher after conditioning, suggesting that conditioning increased the maximum myocardial oxygen supply during exercise [74].

6. Cyclooxygenase II and Exercise-Induced Cardioprotection

The phenomenon of ischemic preconditioning whereby brief episodes of sublethal ischemia renders the myocardium resistant to subsequent ischemic stress occurs in two phases: (i) an early phase that starts within a few minutes after the initial ischemic stimulus, lasts for 2-3 h, and is due to adenosine and bradykinin release and (ii) a second phase, which begins 12–24 h later and lasts for 3-4 days [75, 76]. This later phase of ischemic preconditioning is caused by the simultaneous activation of multiple stress responsive signaling pathways, including COX-2 and the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), resulting in the heart developing a phenotype that confers sustained protection against both reversible (stunning) and irreversible (infarction) myocardial I/R injury [76]. Similar to ischemic stimuli, both short- (1–3 days) and long-term (weeks—months) exercise protocols are equally effective in conferring cardioprotection against I/R injury [77, 78].

Given the phenotypic similarities between ischemic and exercise preconditioning, and since COX-2 and iNOS are required to achieve the late phase of ischemic preconditioning-induced cardioprotection against both I/R stunning and infarction [76, 79], it had been postulated that COX-2 activity, and subsequent prostanoids production, may also be essential for exercise-induced cardioprotection [80]. However, Nagy et al. reported that COX II inhibition did not prevent exercise-induced cardioprotection against ventricular arrhythmias after coronary occlusion in dogs [81]. Accordingly, studies by Quindry et al. [82, 83] revealed that exercise does not elevate cardiac COX-2 activity. Therefore, we conclude that different mechanisms may be responsible for cardioprotection afforded by ischemia preconditioning and aerobic exercise.

7. Exercise-Induced Cardioprotection by Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Proteins

Another candidate mechanism explaining exercise-induced cardioprotection is through a family of cardioprotective protein collectively called endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress proteins. During a cardiac I/R insult, the ER helps cellular homeostasis by maintaining intracellular calcium regulation and protein folding [84]. Malfunction of the ER during an I/R event can lead to both mitochondrial-dependent and mitochondrial-independent cell death due to disruption of calcium homeostasis and/or impaired protein folding [85]. The two most important ER stress proteins are Grp78 and Grp94 which belong to HSP families and are overexpressed in cultured cardiomyocytes during oxidative stress and calcium overload [86]. Martindale et al. suggested that the unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated in the heart during I/R, where formation of “Activation of Transcription Factor 6 (ATF6)” induces the expression of proteins such as Grp78 and Grp94, which in turn reduces I/R-induced necrosis and apoptosis in the heart [87]. Since overexpression of these ER stress proteins provide ER protection during an I/R insult, it may be that these proteins contribute to exercise-induced cardioprotection. However, studies by Murlasits et al. demonstrate that at least short-term exercise training does not elevate ER stress proteins, and therefore, short-term exercise-induced cardioprotection may not be linked to ER stress adaptation [88].

8. Nitric Oxide and Exercise-Induced Cardioprotection

Nitric oxide plays a fundamental role in protecting the heart against I/R injury. Specifically, it plays a critical bifunctional role as a trigger and a mediator of late phase of preconditioning. Increased production of NO by eNOS is an important trigger in the late phase of ischemia and exercise-induced preconditioning, and enhanced NO production by iNOS is mandatory in the mediation of the antistunning and antiinfarct actions of late preconditioning [89]. In other words, the heart responds to ischemia by using two types NOS isoforms in a harmonized manner; it uses preexisting eNOS for a prompt burst of NO production, while at the same time, there is upregulation of iNOS to switch to a defensive phenotype by a sustained enhancement of NO biosynthesis. The exact cardioprotective mechanisms of NO during I/R is a subject of much debate; however, hypothesized mechanisms include inhibition of calcium influx into myocytes [90], antagonism of β-adrenergic stimulation [91], reduction in cardiac oxygen consumption [92, 93], and actions on sarco KATP channels [94].

Although there are many studies on the cardioprotective effect of nitric oxide in I/R-induced preconditioning, there are less investigations evaluating the protection afforded by nitric oxide in exercise-induced cardioprotection. Exercise increases the expression and activity of eNOS, likely due to changes shear stress, which modulates the production of NO [95–97]. Besides its vascular and metabolic effects (vasodilation, altered carbohydrate metabolism) [98], NO possess a number of physiological properties which makes it a cardioprotective molecule in the setting of myocardial I/R injury. For example, NO reversibly inhibits mitochondrial respiration [99] and apoptosis [100]. This effect results in a reduction in mitochondrial-induced cardiac injury in the failing human heart. Babai et al. showed that even a single period of exercise affords delayed protection against I/R-induced ventricular tachycardia and other ischemic changes that are mediated by NO [101]. Further evidence for a central role of eNOS in exercise physiology comes from experiments with eNOS deficient mice (eNOS-/-). Running capacity in these animals is 50%–60% less than age-matched wild-type mice [102, 103]. de Waard et al. found that the beneficial effects of exercise after MI on LV remodeling and dysfunction depends critically on endogenous eNOS. They observed that the lack of one eNOS allele is sufficient to negate all beneficial effects of exercise, strongly suggesting that the beneficial effects of exercise depends on full eNOS expression [104]. Taylor et al. in an in vitro setting showed that exercise can render a cardioprotective phenotype against I/R insult even in the presence of blockade of all NOS isoforms with L-NAME, leading them to conclude that acute exercise-induced preconditioning is not mediated by NOS (or either increases in HSP 72 or other antioxidant enzymes) [105]. These discrepant findings can be accounted for by considering the role of nitrite and nitrates in the physiology of the cardiovascular system. For example, it has been shown that nitrite (and nitrates) acts as a storage reservoir on NO so that under pathological conditions such as ischemia and hypoxia, nitrite can readily be reduced to NO [106, 107]. The beneficial effect of nitrite therapy (which generates NO-independent of eNOS) has been shown in animal models of cardiac I/R injury [108, 109]. Nitrite levels are increased following exercise in both rodents and humans [110, 111]. Since nitrite accumulated in the heart can provide cardioprotection during an ischemic event by being reduced to NO, it is likely that NO produced from endothelial cells during exercise can be oxidized to nitrite, transported in the plasma to then affect the heart or vasculature. In the case of myocardial ischemia, nitrite can be reduced back to NO and exert cardioprotection in an NO-dependent manner [112]. This hypothesis potentially could be applied to all the experiments in which exercise-induced cardioprotection was not abolished in the presence of an inhibitor of NOS [105, 113]. To add to the importance of NO in exercise physiology is its ability to activate KATP channels through cGMP-PKG signaling [114, 115] and to increase expression of HSP70 [116] during exercise.

9. Role of Sarco and Mito KATP Channels in Exercise-Induced Cardioprotection

Several lines of evidence indicate that sarco KATP channels are involved in cardiac I/R injury. The KATP channel was first described in 1983 and was named for the inhibitory effect of cytosolic ATP on potassium channel opening [117]. During ischemia, heart cells become energy depleted, which leads to increased anaerobic glycolysis to compensate for ATP depletion. The resulting acidosis increases the influx of Na via the Na/H exchanger and inhibits the ATP-dependent sarcolemmal Na/K ATPase to augment the initial accumulation of Na [118]. The high intracellular Na concentration prompts the Na/Ca exchanger to work in the reverse mode, producing cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca overload [119]. Upon reperfusion, a burst of ROS is generated by mitochondria, while intracellular Na overload continues as a result of the impaired function of Na/K ATPase (Figure 3(a) and 3(b)).

(a) Ischemia

(b) Reperfusion

Figure 3: (a, b) Pathophysiological consequences of (a) ischemia and (b) reperfusion. (mPTP, mitochondrial permeability transition pore).

The Na/K ATPase pump is a transmembrane heterodimer protein composed of α and β subunits. The cytoplasmic domain of α subunit interacts with ankyrin, a protein that connects the Na/K ATPase to the fodrin-based membrane skeleton [120]. Ankyrin and fodrin are major components of the membrane cytoskeleton in a variety of nonerythroid cells [121]. They are also substrates of calpains, a group of nonlysosomal Ca-dependent proteases. Previous studies demonstrated activation of calpain leading to the degradation of both ankyrin and fodrin during reperfusion [120]. The resulting increased intracellular concentrations of Na and Ca, along with low ATP levels, lead to additional mitochondrial ROS production and to activation of other proteases, which result in decreased sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium transport and dysfunctional contractile proteins [122]. Increased cytosolic Ca levels also contribute to the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), resulting in a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced ATP production [123]. The decrease in ATP production leads to opening of KATP channels on both the sarcolemmal and mitochondria. It was Noma [117] who initially hypothesized that opening of sarco KATP channels induced by hypoxia, ischemia, or pharmacological KATP openers shortens the cardiac action potential duration by accelerating phase III repolarization. An enhanced phase 3 repolarization would inhibit Ca entry into the cell via L-type channels and prevent Ca overload. Furthermore, the slowing of depolarization would also reduce Ca entry and slow or prevent the reversal of the Na/Ca exchanger. These actions would increase cell viability via a reduction in Ca overload during ischemia and early reperfusion. Additional evidence supporting the protective role of sarco KATP channels was provided by other investigators [123–127]. Exercise training increases the expression of cardiac sarco KATP, and moreover, pharmacological blockage of these channels impairs cardioprotection [128]. The sex-specific and exercise acquired resistance to myocardial I/R injury is dependent on sarco KATP activity during ischemia [129]. Interestingly, female animals have higher sarco ATP sensitive potassium channel expression [130] and estrogen can upregulate the expression of these channels [131]. Administration of HMR-1098, a sarcolemmal KATP channel blocker, abolished the sex-dependent differences in infarct size [132, 133]. It is likely that the smaller infarct size in female hearts reported in some studies may be related to an increase activity of protein kinases B (also known as Akt) and C [134], which cause increased recruitment of KATP in myocyte sarcolemma. Inhibition of these kinases before ischemia expanded infarct size in female (but not male) hearts. Recent studies suggest that inhibition of KATP channels and of PKC are not additive, suggesting that activation of PKC and KATP channels are different components of the same signaling pathway [135]. Activation of PKC by adenosine downregulates KATP channels [136]. It is possible that on type of PKC is active following exercise which upregulates KATP channels, while the activation of adenosine receptors activate another type of PKC which downregulates these channels [137]. The fact that PKC mediated activation of sarco KATP channels is sex dependent suggests the presence of regulatory component(s) that either may not be present, or regulated in a different manner, in males. These findings show the complexity of signaling pathway(s) that regulate the density and function of sarco KATP channels in preconditioned and nonpreconditioned hearts in a gender-dependent manner. A full understanding of the mechanisms underlying regulation of sarco KATP is an exciting task for the future that certainly will have a significant impact on therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Several lines of evidence confirm the role of mitochondrial K channels in protection against I/R injury [138–140]. Prostacyclin analogs protect cardiac myocytes from oxidative stress mainly via activation of type 3 of PE₂ receptors during I/R injury. Activation of these receptors primes the opening of mitochondrial KATP channels [141]. However, there is some controversy about the role of mito kATP channels in exercise preconditioning of the heart. For example, Domenech et al. reported that the early effect of exercise preconditioning of the heart is mediated through mito kATP channels [142], while Brown et al. reported that mito kATP channels are not an essential mediator of exercise-induced protection against I/R-induced myocardial infarction [128]. It has also been recently suggested that mito KATP channels provide antiarrhythmic effects as part of exercise-induced cardioprotection against I/R injury [143]. It should be mentioned that the molecular characteristics of mito kATP channels remains elusive. Additional research is needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn.

10. Exercise and Cardiac Mitochondria

There is an important role for mitochondria in I/R injury. Exercise training results in cardiac mitochondrial adaptations that result in decreased ROS production, increasing their ability to tolerate high calcium levels. Lifelong voluntary wheel running reduced cardiac subsarcolemmal and interfibrillar mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production in rats [144]. Similarly, endurance exercise reduces ROS production in myocardial mitochondria, resulting in less calcium influx upon reperfusion [145]. Reduction in ROS production could be related to decreased superoxide production or increased mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme activity. A study by Judge et al. [144] indicated that MnSOD activity was significantly lowered in subsarcolemmal and interfibrillar mitochondria, leading to the suggestion this may reflect a reduction in mitochondrial superoxide production. However, this issue is currently a matter of considerable debate.

Mitochondria of exercised animals are able to tolerate higher levels of calcium. Mitochondria isolated from hearts of exercised animals are more resistant to calcium-induced mPTP opening [146]. Furthermore, exercise training induces a mitochondrial phenotype that is protective against apoptotic stimuli [147]. These changes include increases in the protein levels of primary antioxidant enzymes in both subsarcolemmal and interfibrillar mitochondria, attenuation of ROS-induced cytochrome c release, reduced maximal rates of mPTP opening (Vmax), and prolonged time to V(max) in both subsarcolemmal and interfibrillar mitochondria, and increased levels of antiapoptotic proteins including the apoptosis repressor with a caspase recruitment domain. These results are consistent with the concept that exercise-induced mitochondrial adaptations contribute to exercise-induced cardioprotection and are compatible with our study on the effect of exercise on renal mitochondria in diabetic mice [148].

Monoamine oxidase enzymes are located on the outer mitochondrial membrane and are divided into 2 major forms A and B based on genetic criteria, substrate specificity, and inhibition by synthetic compounds. The degradation of biogenic amines (serotonin and catecholamines) is the major physiological function of these enzymes [149] and MAO-A, which is the predominant isoforms expressed in cardiac ventricle, also represents an important source of ROS in the heart [150]. Moreover, its ability to produce ROS increases with aging and its expression is upregulated during cardiac hypertrophy and failure [151]. A study by Bianchi et al. investigating the potential role of ROS generated by MAO-A during 5-HT degradation in cardiomyocyte death and its role in post-I/R damage showed that MAO is responsible for receptor-independent apoptotic effects of 5-HT in cardiomyocytes and post-ischemic myocardial injury. They also provided evidence that H₂O₂ production by MAO-A plays a critical role in post I/R events leading to cardiac damage [152]. Another in vivo study using MAO-A knockout mice showed that these animals were protected from I/R-induced cardiac damage and this protection was related to significantly lower ROS generation following I/R injury [153]. Interestingly, Kavazis et al. showed that MAO-A protein levels were significantly reduced in both subsarcolemmal and intermyofibrillar mitochondria following exercise training [154]. They proposed that down regulation of MAO-A protein expression following endurance exercise is one of the mechanisms for exercise-induced cardioprotection.

Other effects of exercise on cardiac mitochondria relates to proteins involved in bioenergetics. This regulation may help to meet the increased energy demands during exercise or improved cardiac function during resting conditions. Thus, repeated bouts of exercise increase the mitochondrial levels of several enzymes such as acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and δ(3,5)- δ(2,4)-dienoyl-CoA isomerase that are involved in the β-oxidation of fatty acids [51] (Figure 4).

Figure 4: selected exercise-induced mitochondrial change in cardiac muscles. (Mitochondrial permeability transition pore, mPTP).

11. Exercise and Autophagy

Autophagy or autophagocytosis is a universal, dynamic process that takes place in all eukaryotic cells and helps to maintain a balance between the synthesis, degradation and subsequent recycling of cellular products. This process consists of three phases: (a) formation and engulfment of the target by a double-membrane vesicle called an autophagosome, (b) delivery of autophagosomes to lysosomes, and (c) degradation of the autophagosomes and its content by lysosomal proteases [155]. Autophagy plays an important role in the basal turnover of intracellular proteins and organelles and production of amino acids in nutrient emergency. These functions guarantee rejuvenation and adaptation to changing or adverse conditions and even underlie dynamic processes such as development or metamorphosis. The autophagic pathway is crucial for maintaining cell homeostasis and disruption to the pathway can be a contributing factor to many diseases. During nutrient starvation, increased levels of autophagy lead to breakdown of nonvital components and the release of nutrients, ensuring that vital processes can continue. Mutant yeast cells that have a reduced autophagic capability rapidly perish in nutrition deficient conditions [156]. In brief, autophagy is a mechanism by which cells, in times of nutrient shortage, can degrade protein for metabolic needs and simultaneously eliminate unwanted, damaged, or redundant cell membranes and organelles including mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and peroxisomes; in this regard, autophagy contrasts with the accumulation of damaged cells that naturally occurs during the process of aging. Decreased autophagy can promote the development of cancer [157] and neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer’s [158] and Parkinson’s disease [159]. In the heart, autophagy can protect against apoptosis activated by ischemic injury [160], and its chronic perturbation is causative in genetic forms of heart disease [161]. Conversely, autophagy can also be a form of programmed cell death linked to, but distinct from, apoptosis [162, 163].

The inductive effect of caloric restriction and suppression of autophagy by excessive caloric intake can also play roles in the metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, and aging [164, 165].

We conclude that exercise mediates its cardioprotective effects, in part, by induction and up regulation of autophagy [166–169]. Exercise-induced autophagic responses are diminished in people with the metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, or sedentary life styles. Agents known to induce pharmacological conditioning, such as adenosine and diazoxide, are also inducers of autophagy [170]. Autophagy is upregulated in the chronically ischemic myocardium, where there is an inverse relationship with the extent of apoptosis [171]. Myocardial protection elicited by adaptation to ischemia is mediated at least in part via upregulation of autophagy [160, 172].

12. Summary

There is firm evidence from observational and randomized trials that regular exercise contributes to the primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of cardiovascular and several other lifestyle-dependent diseases and that regular exercise is associated with a reduced risk of premature death. The detailed molecular mechanisms behind this favorable effect remain unknown and continue to be actively investigated at various levels although there is significant evidence favoring redox homeostasis during cardioprotection. For the sake of clarity, we propose to divide the potential mechanisms into two major categories: those mechanisms that mainly decrease ROS production and other mechanisms that are more effective in repair and housekeeping (Table 3). These molecular adaptations lead to better physiological function and enhanced resistance to oxidative stress.

Table 3: Proposed mechanisms in exercise-induced cardioprotection.

Mechanisms which mainly decrease ROS production
Mechanisms which mainly repair cellular damages

(i) Sarco KATP channles (and possibly mito KATP channles)(ii) ↑NO(iii) Mitochondrial adaptations, including ↑MnSOD
(i) HSPs(ii) ↑Autophagy(iii) ↑ER stress proteins

Among the proposed mechanisms for exercise-induced cardioprotection, changes in mitochondrial function and sarco KATP channel regulation play more significant roles. Indeed, mitochondria are important determinants of survival in cardiac myocytes exposed to I/R [173, 174]. Therefore, its adaptations during exercise can have a greater impact on cardiac muscles. Just as important is the protective role of NO, which in addition to matching blood flow to metabolic demands also has antiatherosclerotic properties (inhibits inflammatory cells and platelets from adhering to the vascular walls) and can increase the expression of HSP70 and activate KATP channels. It seems likely that other unknown cardioprotective mediators also exist and may contribute to exercise preconditioning, stressing the need for additional research to determine how the integration of the different pathways can lead to cardioprotection. Another important consideration is to better understand the impact of different exercise protocols (type, duration, and intensity) and gender differences on the time course and extent of exercise-induced cardioprotection, as this will have implications for both ongoing preventative health care as well as for developing therapeutic strategies, for example, in the management of some patients with cardiac diseases.

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