Open AccessPhysical exercise attenuates age‐associated reduction in endothelium‐reparative capacity of endothelial progenitor cells by increasing CXCR4/JAK‐2 signaling in healthy men
Author(s) -
Xia WenHao,
Li Jing,
Su Chen,
Yang Zhen,
Chen Long,
Wu Fang,
Zhang YuanYuan,
Yu BingBo,
Qiu YanXia,
Wang ShenMing,
Tao Jun
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
aging cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1474-9726
pISSN - 1474-9718
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-9726.2011.00758.x
Subject(s) - progenitor cell , cxc chemokine receptors , cxcr4 , endothelial progenitor cell , medicine , endothelium , janus kinase 2 , endothelial dysfunction , population , in vivo , immunology , biology , endocrinology , stem cell , chemokine receptor , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , chemokine , environmental health
Summary Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in repairing endothelial injury. Aging is associated with EPC dysfunction. Physical exercise has a beneficial impact on EPC activity. However, whether physical exercise can enhance the endothelial repair capacity of EPCs in healthy men with aging is not clear. Here, we investigated the effects of physical exercise on reendothelialization capacity and CXC chemokine receptor four (CXCR4) signaling in human EPCs. Before and after 12‐week exercise, EPCs were isolated from elderly and young men. In vitro function and in vivo reendothelialization capacity of EPCs in a mouse model of carotid artery injury were measured. The expression of CXCR4 and its downstream signaling target Janus kinase‐2 (JAK‐2) were determined. Before exercise, in vitro function and in vivo reendothelialization capacity of EPCs were significantly reduced in elderly men compared with young men. After exercise intervention, in vitro function and in vivo reendothelialization capacity of EPCs from elderly men were markedly enhanced. Physical exercise increased a higher CXCR4 protein expression and higher JAK‐2 phosphorylation levels of EPCs. The augmentation in reendothelialization capacity of EPCs was closely correlated with the upregulation of CXCR4/JAK‐2 signaling and improvement of endothelial function. This study demonstrates for the first time that physical exercise attenuates age‐associated reduction in endothelium‐reparative capacity of EPCs by increasing CXCR4/JAK‐2 signaling. Our findings provide insight into the novel mechanisms of physical exercise as a lifestyle intervention strategy to promote vascular health in aging population.