title: Running a marathon induces changes in adipokine levels and in markers of cartilage degradation--novel role for resistin.
abstract: Running a marathon causes strenuous joint loading and increased energy expenditure. Adipokines regulate energy metabolism, but recent studies have indicated that they also exert a role in cartilage degradation in arthritis. Our aim was to investigate the effects of running a marathon on the levels of adipokines and indices of cartilage metabolism. Blood samples were obtained from 46 male marathoners before and after a marathon run. We measured levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), cartilage oligomeric protein (COMP) and chitinase 3-like protein 1 (YKL-40) as biomarkers of cartilage turnover and/or damage and plasma concentrations of adipokines adiponectin, leptin and resistin. Mean marathon time was 3:30:46±0:02:46 (h:min:sec). The exertion more than doubled MMP-3 levels and this change correlated negatively with the marathon time (r = -0.448, p = 0.002). YKL-40 levels increased by 56% and the effect on COMP release was variable. Running a marathon increased the levels of resistin and adiponectin, while leptin levels remained unchanged. The marathon-induced changes in resistin levels were positively associated with the changes in MMP-3 (r = 0.382, p = 0.009) and YKL-40 (r = 0.588, p<0.001) and the pre-marathon resistin levels correlated positively with the marathon induced change in YKL-40 (r = 0.386, p = 0.008). The present results show the impact of running a marathon, and possible load frequency, on cartilage metabolism: the faster the marathon was run, the greater was the increase in MMP-3 levels. Further, the results introduce pro-inflammatory adipocytokine resistin as a novel factor, which enhances during marathon race and associates with markers of cartilage degradation.
authors.affiliation: The Immunopharmacology Research Group, University of Tampere School of Medicine and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Katriina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vuolteenaho
authors.affiliation: The Immunopharmacology Research Group, University of Tampere School of Medicine and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leppänen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Riina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kekkonen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Korpela
authors.affiliation: The Immunopharmacology Research Group, University of Tampere School of Medicine and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moilanen
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002356:Cartilage / Q000378:metabolism*; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein / Q000097:blood; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood; D012420:Running
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D052242:Adiponectin; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D037102:Lectins; D020738:Leptin; D052243:Resistin; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3