Open AccessHuman hair follicle transcriptome profiling: a minimally invasive tool to assess molecular adaptations upon low‐volume, high‐intensity interval training
Author(s) -
Zhang Jing,
Wallace Sarah J.,
Shiu Maria Y.,
Smith Ingrid,
Rhind Shawn G.,
Langlois Valerie S.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
physiological reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2051-817X
DOI - 10.14814/phy2.13534
Subject(s) - transcriptome , high intensity interval training , kegg , biology , microrna , bioinformatics , gene expression profiling , janus kinase , gene expression , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , gene , genetics , physiology
High‐intensity interval training ( HIIT ) has become a popular fitness training approach under both civilian and military settings. Consisting of brief and intense exercise intervals, HIIT requires less time commitment yet is able to produce the consistent targeted physical adaptations as conventional endurance training. To effectively characterize and monitor HIIT ‐induced cellular and molecular responses, a highly accessible yet comprehensive biomarker discovery source is desirable. Both gene differential expression ( DE ) and gene set ( GS ) analyses were conducted using hair follicle transcriptome established from pre and postexercise subjects upon a 10‐day HIIT program by RNA ‐Seq, Comparing between pre and posttraining groups, differentially expressed protein coding genes were identified. To interpret the functional significance of the DE results, a comprehensive GS analysis approach featuring multiple algorithms was used to enrich gene ontology ( GO ) terms and KEGG pathways. The GS analysis revealed enriched themes such as energy metabolism, cell proliferation/growth/survival, muscle adaptations, and cytokine–cytokine interaction, all of which have been previously proposed as HIIT responses. Moreover, related cell signaling pathways were also measured. Specifically, G‐protein‐mediated signal transduction, phosphatidylinositide 3‐kinases ( PI 3K) – protein kinase B ( PKB ) and Janus kinase ( JAK ) – Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription ( STAT ) signaling cascades were over‐represented. Additionally, the RNA ‐Seq analysis also identified several HIIT ‐responsive micro RNA s (mi RNA s) that were involved in regulating hair follicle‐specific processes, such as miR‐99a . For the first time, this study demonstrated that both existing and new biomarkers like mi RNA can be explored for HIIT using the transcriptomic responses exhibited by the hair follicle.