Blunted muscle angiogenic training-response in COPD patients versus sedentary controls.
The impaired skeletal muscle of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients reduces exercise capacity. Similar to the oxidative muscle fibres, the angio-adaptation of muscle to training may be blunted in these patients, as in other chronic conditions. We therefore compared muscle functional responses and angio-adaptations after training in COPD patients and sedentary healthy subjects (SHS). 24 COPD patients (forced expiratory volume in 1 s 45.6 ± 17.5% predicted) and 23 SHS (<150 min · week(-1) of moderate-to-vigorous exercise) completed a 6-week rehabilitation programme based on individualised moderate-intensity endurance training. Histomorphological muscle analysis and measurements of pro-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and anti-angiogenic thrombospondin (TSP)-1 were conducted before and after training. COPD patients and SHS showed improved symptom-limited oxygen consumption and muscle endurance, although improvements were lower in COPD patients (+0.96 ± 2.4 versus +2.9 ± 2.6 mL · kg(-1) · min(-1), p<0.05, and +65% versus +108%, p = 0.06, respectively). The capillary-to-fibre (C/F) ratio increased less in COPD patients than SHS (+16 ± 10% versus +37 ± 20%, p<0.05) and no fibre type switch occurred in COPD patients. The VEGF-A/TSP-1 ratio increased in COPD patients and SHS (+65% versus +35%, p<0.05). Changes in C/F and symptom-limited oxygen consumption were correlated (r = 0.51, p<0.05). In addition to a lack of fibre switch, COPD patients displayed a blunted angiogenic response to training.
Dept of Clinical Physiology, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire Montpellier, University of Montpellier I, University of Montpellier II, Montpellier, France. f-gouzi@chu-montpellier.fr
Fares
F
Gouzi
Christian
C
Préfaut
Aldjia
A
Abdellaoui
Emilie
E
Roudier
Philippe
P
de Rigal
Nicolas
N
Molinari
Dalila
D
Laoudj-Chenivesse
Jacques
J
Mercier
Olivier
O
Birot
Maurice
M
Hayot
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D019699:Thrombospondins / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D019699:Thrombospondins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D010100:Oxygen