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Understanding the female athlete: molecular mechanisms underpinning menstrual phase differences in exercise metabolism. Eur J Appl Physiol 2023; 123:423-450. [PMID: 36402915 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-022-05090-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Research should equitably reflect responses in men and women. Including women in research, however, necessitates an understanding of the ovarian hormones and menstrual phase variations in both cellular and systems physiology. This review outlines recent advances in the multiplicity of ovarian hormone molecular signaling that elucidates the mechanisms for menstrual phase variability in exercise metabolism. The prominent endogenous estrogen, 17-β-estradiol (E2), molecular structure is bioactive in stabilizing plasma membranes and quenching free radicals and both E2 and progesterone (P4) promote the expression of antioxidant enzymes attenuating exercise-induced muscle damage in the late follicular (LF) and mid-luteal (ML) phases. E2 and P4 bind nuclear hormone receptors and membrane-bound receptors to regulate gene expression directly or indirectly, which importantly includes cross-regulated expression of their own receptors. Activation of membrane-bound receptors also regulates kinases causing rapid cellular responses. Careful analysis of these signaling pathways explains menstrual phase-specific differences. Namely, E2-promoted plasma glucose uptake during exercise, via GLUT4 expression and kinases, is nullified by E2-dominant suppression of gluconeogenic gene expression in LF and ML phases, ameliorated by carbohydrate ingestion. E2 signaling maximizes fat oxidation capacity in LF and ML phases, pending low-moderate exercise intensities, restricted nutrient availability, and high E2:P4 ratios. P4 increases protein catabolism during the luteal phase by indeterminate mechanisms. Satellite cell function supported by E2-targeted gene expression is countered by P4, explaining greater muscle strengthening from follicular phase-based training. In totality, this integrative review provides causative effects, supported by meta-analyses for quantitative actuality, highlighting research opportunities and evidence-based relevance for female athletes.
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Kumagai H, Miller B, Kim SJ, Leelaprachakul N, Kikuchi N, Yen K, Cohen P. Novel Insights into Mitochondrial DNA: Mitochondrial Microproteins and mtDNA Variants Modulate Athletic Performance and Age-Related Diseases. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:286. [PMID: 36833212 PMCID: PMC9956216 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Sports genetics research began in the late 1990s and over 200 variants have been reported as athletic performance- and sports injuries-related genetic polymorphisms. Genetic polymorphisms in the α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genes are well-established for athletic performance, while collagen-, inflammation-, and estrogen-related genetic polymorphisms are reported as genetic markers for sports injuries. Although the Human Genome Project was completed in the early 2000s, recent studies have discovered previously unannotated microproteins encoded in small open reading frames. Mitochondrial microproteins (also called mitochondrial-derived peptides) are encoded in the mtDNA, and ten mitochondrial microproteins, such as humanin, MOTS-c (mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c), SHLPs 1-6 (small humanin-like peptides 1 to 6), SHMOOSE (Small Human Mitochondrial ORF Over SErine tRNA), and Gau (gene antisense ubiquitous in mtDNAs) have been identified to date. Some of those microproteins have crucial roles in human biology by regulating mitochondrial function, and those, including those to be discovered in the future, could contribute to a better understanding of human biology. This review describes a basic concept of mitochondrial microproteins and discusses recent findings about the potential roles of mitochondrial microproteins in athletic performance as well as age-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kumagai
- The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Brendan Miller
- The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Su-Jeong Kim
- The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Naphada Leelaprachakul
- The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Naoki Kikuchi
- Graduate School of Health and Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8508, Japan
| | - Kelvin Yen
- The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Pinchas Cohen
- The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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Kumagai H, Kaneko T, Shintake Y, Miyamoto-Mikami E, Tomita H, Fukuo M, Kawai W, Harada M, Kikuchi N, Kamiya N, Hirata K, Zempo H, Maeda S, Miyamoto N, Fuku N. Genetic polymorphisms related to muscular strength and flexibility are associated with artistic gymnastic performance in the Japanese population. Eur J Sport Sci 2022; 23:955-963. [PMID: 35593181 DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2022.2078741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to examine how genetic polymorphisms related to muscular strength and flexibility influence artistic gymnastic performance in an attempt to identify a novel polymorphism associated with flexibility. In study 1, the passive straight-leg-raise (PSLR) score and aromatase gene CYP19A1 rs936306 polymorphism, a key enzyme for estrogen biosynthesis, were assessed in 278 individuals. In study 2, athletes (281 gymnasts and 1908 other athletes) were asked about their competition level, and gymnasts were assessed using the difficulty score (D-score) for each event. Muscular strength- (ACTN3 R577X rs1815739 and ACE I/D rs4341) and flexibility-related (ESR1 rs2234693 T/C and CYP19A1 rs936306 C/T) genetic polymorphisms were analyzed. In study 1, males with the CYP19A1 CT + TT genotype showed significantly higher PSLR scores than those with the CC genotype. In study 2, male gymnasts with the R allele of ACTN3 R577X showed a correlation with the floor, rings, vault, and total D-scores. In addition, male gymnasts with the C allele of ESR1 T/C and T allele of CYP19A1 C/T polymorphisms were correlated with the pommel horse, parallel bars, horizontal bar, and total D-scores. Furthermore, genotype scores of these three polymorphisms correlated with the total D-scores and competition levels in male gymnasts. In contrast, no such associations were observed in female gymnasts. Our findings suggest that muscular strength- and flexibility-related polymorphisms play important roles in achieving high performance in male artistic gymnastics by specifically influencing the performance of events that require muscular strength and flexibility, respectively. HighlightsEstrogen-related CYP19A1 polymorphism is a novel determinant of flexibility in males.Muscular strength- and flexibility-related polymorphisms play important roles in high performance in male artistic gymnastics.Genotypes of ACTN3 R577X, ESR1 rs2234693, and CYP19A1 rs936306 may contribute to training plan optimization and event selection in artistic gymnastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kumagai
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan.,The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Tomoko Kaneko
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yuko Shintake
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan.,Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Eri Miyamoto-Mikami
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Tomita
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Makoto Fukuo
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Wataru Kawai
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Mutsumi Harada
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Naoki Kikuchi
- Department of Training Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Kamiya
- Faculty of Budo and Sport Studies, Tenri University, Nara, Japan
| | - Kosuke Hirata
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Zempo
- Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo Seiei College, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiji Maeda
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.,Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Naokazu Miyamoto
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Fuku
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan
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