The effects of aerobic and resistance exercise on the lipid profile of extracellular vesicles.

PURPOSE

Lipids are one of the most abundant molecules within extracellular vesicles (EVs) and are important for EV biology and cell signaling. However, very little attention has been given to the role of lipids in the biological function of EVs during exercise. Therefore, we completed a study using a cross-over design to investigate the effects of aerobic and resistance exercise on the lipid profile of EVs.

METHODS

Ten healthy participants (23.0 ± 3.6 years) performed an acute bout of aerobic exercise, an acute bout of resistance exercise, as well as a period of rest (control) in a randomized, cross-over design. Blood samples were collected immediately following exercise and 30 min after exercise, and exercise conditions were compared to control within each subject. Plasma EVs were isolated using cushioned-density gradient ultracentrifugation (C-DGUC). The EV size, morphology, and protein markers were examined using nanoflow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy, and western blot, respectively. Additionally, we conducted an untargeted lipidomics analysis on the EV isolate.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed neither exercise modality had a significant effect on the size or concentration of EVs (P > 0.05). However, we found that immediately after exercise there was a decrease in glycerophospholipids within the EVs (55% vs 49%; P < 0.05) in the resistance exercise group compared to the control group, a response not found in the aerobic exercise group.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that although resistance exercise induced some changes in the lipid composition of EVs, the EV-containing lipids do not appear to be a critical mechanism utilized by cells to mediate exercise-induced adaptations.