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Chronic exercise reduces platelet activation in hypertension: upregulation of the l ‐arginine‐nitric oxide pathway
Author(s) -
De Meirelles L. R.,
MendesRibeiro A. C.,
Mendes M. A. P.,
Da Silva M. N. S. B.,
John Clive Ellory J. C.,
Mann G. E.,
Brunini T. M. C.
Publication year - 2009
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/j.1600-0838.2007.00755.x
Subject(s) - nitric oxide , platelet activation , platelet , medicine , fibrinogen , endocrinology , inflammation , arginine , thrombus , aerobic exercise , downregulation and upregulation , homeostasis , nitric oxide synthase , physical exercise , blood pressure , chemistry , biochemistry , amino acid , gene
Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits platelet function and plays a key role in the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis. Essential hypertension is characterized by an increased risk of thrombus formation, and by an inhibition of intraplatelet NO bioactivity. We have previously shown that membrane transport of l ‐arginine is a rate‐limiting step for platelet‐derived NO synthesis. This study examined the effects of exercise on the platelet l ‐arginine–NO pathway and aggregation and systemic inflammation markers in 13 sedentary hypertensive patients subjected to 60 min of training activity (exercise group), predominantly aerobic, three times a week for a period of 12 weeks. Six sedentary hypertensive patients participated in the control group. After 12 weeks, l ‐arginine transport was significantly increased and associated with increased platelet NO synthase activity and cGMP levels and reduced platelet aggregation. Moreover, exercise training reduced plasma concentrations of fibrinogen and C‐reactive protein and blood pressure. The control group did not change their previous intraplatelet l ‐arginine–NO results and systemic inflammatory markers levels. Thus, exercise training reduces inflammatory responses, restores NO synthesis in platelets and thereby contributes to the beneficial effects of exercise in hypertension. The present study adds exercise as a new tool to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with platelet activation in hypertension.