Increased expression of VEGF following exercise training in patients with heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
During the last decades several angiogenic factors have been characterized but so far it is unknown whether local muscle exercise training increases the expression of these factors in patients with moderate heart failure. Expression of the major putative angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at the level of messenger RNA (mRNA) and/or protein was therefore studied before and after 8 weeks of training in patient with chronic heart failure.


METHODS
VEGF mRNA and protein concentrations were determined in skeletal muscle biopsies before and after 8 weeks of one-legged knee extension training in patients with chronic heart failure (New York Heart Association II-III).


RESULTS
Exercise training increased the citrate synthase activity and peripheral exercise capacity by 46% and 36%, respectively, in parallel with a two-fold increase in VEGF at both the mRNA (P = 0.03) and protein (P = 0.02) levels


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in VEGF gene expression in response to exercise training indicates VEGF to be one possible mediator in exercise-induced angiogenesis and may therefore regulate an important and early step in adaptation to increased muscle activity in patient with chronic heart failure.
Gustafsson
T
T
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Thomas.Gustafsson@fyfa.ki.se
Bodin
K
K
Sylvén
C
C
Gordon
A
A
Tyni-Lenné
R
R
Jansson
E
E
D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology; D010732:Phosphofructokinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase; D010732:Phosphofructokinase-1