Influence of aerobic fitness on endothelial regeneration by exer-cise training: a correlation analysis

Background: Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Circulating progen-itor cells (CPCs) are cells which have shown increases in numbers after aerobic exercise and they may have a positive influence on endothelial regeneration in the human body.
Methods: In the VascuFit study, fourty-three male subjects between 40 and 60 years old were divided into intervention (31) and control (12) group. The training executed was non-linear periodized aerobic exercise and the sessions lasted from 30 up to 63 minutes. Before and after the intervention, blood sampling was done and maximum oxygen consumption was tested. The blood was processed through density gradient centrifugation and flow cytometry to isolate CPCs (CD34+, CD45dim, CD31dim) and endothelial cells (ECs) (CD45-, CD31+). The cells were divided into apoptotic and live cells. The intervention lasted for 8 weeks with 3 trainings per week. Using IBM SPSS statistics, CPCs and ECs were tested for changes after the intervention as well as possible correlation to VO2max.
Results: Whole CPCs declined significantly (p < 0.05) after the intervention as well as apop-totic CPCs (p < 0.05). VO2peak improved significantly (p < 0.01). There was a correlation discovered between VO2peak and BMI. ECs showed no significant differences. No correlation between VO2max and CPCs was found.
Conclusions: NLPE has a positive influence on VO2peak. CPCs diminish as well as apoptotic CPCs, potentially showing more efficient dismantling of apoptotic cells. CPCs may be active in the repairing process and therefore less observable in the blood stream.