title: Effects of ACE I/D polymorphism and aerobic training on the immune-endocrine network and cardiovascular parameters of postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Estrogen deficiency, systemic low-grade inflammation, and reduction of adrenal gland function have central roles in noncommunicable chronic disease (NCD) development. With angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism, the deletion variant (DD) is related to higher levels of circulating angiotensin II than I allele carriers (II/ID), which might interact with all of these molecular pathways to increase NCDs risk. On the other hand, physical exercise counteracts the occurrence of NCDs, potentially acting on the same pathways.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of walking training on adrenal steroid and cytokine levels and on cardiovascular parameters in postmenopausal women with ACE I/D genotypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six (DD = 15, II/ID = 21) sedentary postmenopausal women (mean age, 56 ± 4 y) participated in a 13-week program of walking training at moderate intensity. Heart rate, blood pressure, double product, TNF-α, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and cortisol were evaluated before and after the intervention program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before walking training, the ACE DD genotype showed significantly higher TNF-α (P = .007) and lower DHEA-S concentrations (P = .022) than the ACE II/ID individuals. After walking training, both subgroups significantly decreased TNF-α plasma levels and cortisol/DHEA-S ratio (P = .001 and P = .016, respectively) and significantly increased DHEA-S levels (P < .001). Moreover, all the cardiovascular parameters were significantly reduced in the ACE DD participants (P ≤ .05), whereas the ACE I-allele carriers showed a decrease in heart rate (P ≤ .05) and the double product (P ≤ .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ACE I/D polymorphism is linked to different adrenal steroid and cytokine levels, and ACE I-allele carriers show a better adrenal activity and systemic inflammatory profile. The introduction of walking training positively influences the menopause immune-neuroendocrine changes, independent of ACE I/D genotype.
authors: MD, Section of Human Morphology Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Via Dei Vestini 31, 66013 Chieti, Italy. a.dibaldassarre@unich.it.
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Izzicupo
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Ghinassi
authors: Maria Angela
authors: MA
authors: D'Amico
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Di Blasio
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Gesi
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Napolitano
authors: Sabina
authors: S
authors: Gallina
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Di Baldassarre
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D006854:Hydrocortisone