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Cardiorespiratory fitness in children with overweight/obesity: Insights into the molecular mechanisms
Author(s) -
PlazaFlorido Abel,
Altmäe Signe,
Esteban Francisco J.,
Löf Marie,
RadomAizik Shlomit,
Ortega Francisco B.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.14028
Subject(s) - cardiorespiratory fitness , transcriptome , overweight , obesity , medicine , bioinformatics , gene , disease , in silico , biology , gene expression , genetics
Objectives High cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) during adulthood. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the health benefits of high CRF levels at the early stage of life. This study aimed to analyze the whole‐blood transcriptome profile of fit children with overweight/obesity (OW/OB) compared to unfit children with OW/OB. Design 27 children with OW/OB (10.14 ± 1.3 years, 59% boys) from the ActiveBrains project were evaluated. VO 2 peak was assessed using a gas analyzer, and participants were categorized into fit or unfit according to the CVD risk‐related cut‐points. Whole‐blood transcriptome profile (RNA sequencing) was analyzed. Differential gene expression analysis was performed using the limma R/Bioconductor software package (analyses adjusted by sex and maturational status), and pathways’ enrichment analysis was performed with DAVID. In addition, in silico validation data mining was performed using the PHENOPEDIA database. Results 256 genes were differentially expressed in fit children with OW/OB compared to unfit children with OW/OB after adjusting by sex and maturational status (FDR < 0.05). Enriched pathway analysis identified gene pathways related to inflammation (eg, dopaminergic and GABAergic synapse pathways). Interestingly, in silico validation data mining detected a set of the differentially expressed genes to be related to CVD, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, inflammation, and asthma. Conclusion The distinct pattern of whole‐blood gene expression in fit children with OW/OB reveals genes and gene pathways that might play a role in reducing CVD risk factors later in life.