Can Exercise Training Alter Human Skeletal Muscle DNA Methylation?
Luis A. Garcia,
Rocio Zapata-Bustos,
Samantha E. Day,
Baltazar Campos,
Yassin Hamzaoui,
Linda Wu,
Alma D. Leon,
Judith Krentzel,
Richard L. Coletta,
Eleanna De Filippis,
Lori R. Roust,
Lawrence J. Mandarino,
Dawn K. Coletta
Affiliations
Luis A. Garcia
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Rocio Zapata-Bustos
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Samantha E. Day
Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Baltazar Campos
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Yassin Hamzaoui
Department of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Linda Wu
Department of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Alma D. Leon
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Judith Krentzel
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Richard L. Coletta
Center for Disparities in Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Eleanna De Filippis
Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA
Lori R. Roust
Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA
Lawrence J. Mandarino
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Dawn K. Coletta
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Skeletal muscle is highly plastic and dynamically regulated by the body’s physical demands. This study aimed to determine the plasticity of skeletal muscle DNA methylation in response to 8 weeks of supervised exercise training in volunteers with a range of insulin sensitivities. We studied 13 sedentary participants and performed euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps with basal vastus lateralis muscle biopsies and peak aerobic activity (VO2 peak) tests before and after training. We extracted DNA from the muscle biopsies and performed global methylation using Illumina’s Methylation EPIC 850K BeadChip. Training significantly increased peak aerobic capacity and insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. Fasting serum insulin and insulin levels during the steady state of the clamp were significantly lower post-training. Insulin clearance rates during the clamp increased following the training. We identified 13 increased and 90 decreased differentially methylated cytosines (DMCs) in response to 8 weeks of training. Of the 13 increased DMCs, 2 were within the following genes, FSTL3, and RP11-624M8.1. Of the 90 decreased DMCs, 9 were within the genes CNGA1, FCGR2A, KIF21A, MEIS1, NT5DC1, OR4D1, PRPF4B, SLC26A7, and ZNF280C. Moreover, pathway analysis showed an enrichment in metabolic and actin-cytoskeleton pathways for the decreased DMCs, and for the increased DMCs, an enrichment in signal-dependent regulation of myogenesis, NOTCH2 activation and transmission, and SMAD2/3: SMAD4 transcriptional activity pathways. Our findings showed that 8 weeks of exercise training alters skeletal muscle DNA methylation of specific genes and pathways in people with varying degrees of insulin sensitivity.
