Alteration of Angiogenic Gene Expression in Heart, Muscle and Adipose Tissue by Exercise

Abstract

PURPOSE Exercise is one of the strongest stimuli for the induction of angiogenesis that is defined as a formation of new blood vessel. However, underlying mechanism of exercise-induced angiogenesis is not fully uncovered. Therefore, we reviewed the effect of exercise on angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin (ANG) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in heart, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. METHODS In this review, we summarized the function of angiogenic factors and their roles in heart, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue.Also we discussed the alteration of angiogenic gene expression after exercise in three organs mentioned above. RESULTS Angiogenic regulators play a critical role in cardiac development, skeletal muscle regeneration and adipose tissue metabolism. Exercise-induced angiogenic factors contributes to the enhancement of vascular remodeling, mobilization of endothelial precursor cell and systemic metabolism. In terms of VEGF, its induction after exercise is regulated mainly by HIF-α and PGC1-α, transcriptional factors of VEGF, whereas the mechanism of exercise-induced ANG and PDGF-B expression is not clear yet. CONCLUSIONS Acute exercise, resistance exercise and endurance training increase VEGF, ANG1, ANG2 and PDGF-B expression. Thereby, exercise eventually prevents diseases including cardiovascular impairment, muscle atrophy and metabolic syndrome by increasing or maintaining blood vessel density in heart, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue.

Keywords

• exercise
• angiogenesis
• vegf
• angiopoietin
• pdgf