Sport Biosciences

The Effect of Eight Weeks of Aerobic Training on Some Micro RNAs Associated with Vascular Abnormalities and Insulin Resistance in Men with Type 2 Diabetes

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Siavash Saghari 1
Dariush Sheikholeslam Vatani 2

1 .Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

2 Department of Sports Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

10.22059/jsb.2025.385184.1666
Abstract
Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is the most prevalent endocrine disorder worldwide and is responsible for approximately 4 million deaths annually. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic training on certain microRNAs associated with vascular dysfunction and insulin resistance in men with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: A sample of 40 men with type 2 diabetes (mean age: 49.2 ± 2.1 years) from Kermanshah city were selected and randomly assigned into two groups: an aerobic exercise group and a control group. The aerobic exercise protocol consisted of progressively increasing intervals over eight weeks, with three sessions per week at an intensity of 60-70% of maximum heart rate. Blood samples were collected 48 hours before the first training session and 48 hours after the final training session. Plasma levels of miR-222, miR-221, and miR-21 were measured using the real-time PCR technique. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: Eight weeks of aerobic training significantly affected the levels of miR-221 (p = 0.001), miR-222 (p = 0.001), and miR-21 (p = 0.003) in men with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, a significant difference was observed between the two groups in the mean changes of all three microRNAs, favoring the exercise group (p = 0.001 for all comparisons).
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that eight weeks of aerobic training increases angiogenic factors in men with type 2 diabetes.

Keywords

Aerobic exercise
Angiogenesis
Diabetes Type 2
MicroRNAs
Subjects
  1. Lamia M, Rahman S, AliAsghar R, Morteza Jourkesh. The Combined Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training and Soy Isoflavone Diet on MicroRNA-133 Gene in Ovariectomized Rats. DOI: 10.5812/jkums-122938
  2. Kordi N, Shafiee N, Mirzaei S, Minavand k, Heidari N. The Effect of Continuous and Interval Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Training on Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin 1 Beta (IL-1β), and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) in Patients with Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. Journal of Isfahan Medical School. 2018;36(486):737-42. DOI; 10.22122/jims. v36i486.10019 )In Persian (
  3. Kordi N, Pakzad Hasanlu F, Arab Taheri Z. Effect of eight-week aerobic and periodic exercises on IGF-1 and lipid profile in elderly men. Journal of Caspian Health and Aging. 2018;3(2):7-13. DOI: 10.22088/cjhaa.3.2.7) In Persian(
  4. Shafiee N, Kordi N, Gadruni K, SalehFard Z, Jung F, Heidari N. Cardiac rehabilitation in coronary artery bypass grafting patients: Effect of eight weeks of moderate-intensity continuous training versus high-intensity interval training. Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation. 2023;83(3):305-14. DOI:10.3233/CH-221605. PMID: 36683497
  5. Fernandes T, Baraúna VG, Negrão CE, Phillips MI, Oliveira EM. Aerobic exercise training promotes physiological cardiac remodeling involving a set of microRNAs. American journal of physiology Heart and circulatory physiology. 2015;309(4):H543-52. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart 00899.
  6. Kordi N, Azizi M, Samadi M, Tahmasebi W. Can Methamphetamine-Induced Cardiotoxicity be Ameliorated by Aerobic Training and Nutrition Bio-shield Superfood Supplementation in Rats After Withdrawal? Cardiovascular toxicology. 2024;24(7):687-99. DOI: 10.1007/s12012-024-09871-4.
  7. Kordi N, Saydi A, Karami S, Marzetti E, Wong A. Aerobic exercise impacts the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes in rat myocardium during treatment and after methamphetamine withdrawal. Comparative Exercise Physiology. 2025:1-10. DOI: 10.1163/17552559-bja10052
  8. Cheng Y, Zhang C. MicroRNA-21 in cardiovascular disease. Journal of cardiovascular translational research. 2010;3(3):251-5. DOI: 10.1007/s12265-010-9169-7
  9. Sekar D, Venugopal B, Sekar P, Ramalingam K. Role of microRNA 21 in diabetes and associated/related diseases. Gene. 2016;582(1):14-8. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.01.039.
  10. Vakili J, Ghalehgir S, Khani M, Alamdari K, Sbu J. The effect of eight weeks high intensity interval training on the expression of cardiac miRNA-21 and miRNA-1 in wistar male rats. Journal of Sport and Exercise Physiology. 2022;15:82-92. DOI: 10.52547/joeppa.15.4.82 (In Persian)
  11. Improta Caria AC, Nonaka CKV, Pereira CS, Soares MBP, Macambira SG, Souza BSF. Exercise Training-Induced Changes in MicroRNAs: Beneficial Regulatory Effects in Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes, and Obesity. International journal of molecular sciences. 2018;19(11). DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113608
  12. Akbari J, Shirvani H, Shamsoddini A, Bazgir B, Samadi M. Investigation of expression of myocardial miR-126, miR-29a and miR-222 as a potential marker in STZ- induced diabetic rats following interval and continuous exercise training. Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders. 2022;21(1):189-95. DOI: 10.1007/s40200-021-00957-2.
  13. Attarzadeh Hosseini SR, Mir E, Hejazi K, Mir Sayeedi M. The Effect of eight weeks combined training on some insulin resistance markers in middle-aged men. Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences. 2015;58(3):129-36. DOI: 10.22038/mjms.2015.4521 )In Persian (
  14. Naghizadeh N, Riyahi Malayeri S, Roozbahani M, Khademi A, Shirvani H. The Effectiveness of Endurance Training and Nano Curcumin Supplementation on the Expression of Mir-21and P53 Genes in Brain Tumor Tissue in an Animal Model of Glioblastoma Multiform. Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health. 2024;12(1):26-35. DOI: 10.22038/jnfh.2023.73964.1455
  15. Hamid RR, Hoseini R, Rahim HA. Impact of Combined Aerobic Training and Magnesium Supplementation on Serum Biomarkers and microRNA-155 and microRNA-21 Expression in Adipose Tissue of Type 2 Diabetic Rats: An Eight-Week Interventional Study. Biological trace element research. 2025;203(2):861-71. DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04186-5.
  16. Amani-Shalamzari S, Agha Alinejad H, Shahbazi S, Alizadeh S. The Effect of endurance training on expression of miR-21 and its downstream in breast cancer bearing mice. Journal of Basic Research in Medical Sciences. 2020;7(2):47-57. DOI:10;7(2):47-57. URL
  17. Ghorbanzadeh V, Mohammadi M, Dariushnejad H, Abhari A, Chodari L, Mohaddes G. Cardioprotective Effect of Crocin Combined with Voluntary Exercise in Rat: Role of Mir-126 and Mir-210 in Heart Angiogenesis. Arquivos brasileiros de cardiologia. 2017;109(1):54-62. DOI: 10.5935/abc.20170087
  18. Zolfi HR, Shakib A, Niknam Z, pashaei z. Impact of high-intensity interval training on Mir-21 and Mir-122 expression and metabolic parameters in middle-aged men with metabolic syndrome. Jorjani Biomedicine Journal. 2023;11(3):25-9.doi: 10.61186/jorjanibiomedj.11.3.25
  19. Choudhry H, Harris AL. Advances in Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Biology. Cell metabolism. 2018;27(2):281-98. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.10.005
  20. Vogt M, Puntschart A, Geiser J, Zuleger C, Billeter R, Hoppeler H. Molecular adaptations in human skeletal muscle to endurance training under simulated hypoxic conditions. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md : 1985). 2001;91(1):173-82. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.2001.91.1.173
  21. Akraminia P, KheirAndish R, Kordi N, Saydi A. Which one of the types of programmed cell death is reduced by aerobic exercise? Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk. 2024;4(3):207-27. DOI: 10.22122/jeoct.2024.489986.1132
  22. Sadeghian H, Siahkohian M, Akbarpour Beni M, Bolboli L. Effects of 8 Weeks Resistance Training on the Expression of MicroRNAs Associated With Adipose Tissue Angiogenesis in Rats on a High-Fat Diet. Journal of Vessels and Circulation. 2022;3(1):17-26. DOI: 10.52547/joeppa.15.4.42
  23. Li Y, Yao M, Zhou Q, Cheng Y, Che L, Xu J, et al. Dynamic Regulation of Circulating microRNAs During Acute Exercise and Long-Term Exercise Training in Basketball Athletes. Frontiers in physiology. 2018;9:282. DOI:10.3389/fphys.2018.00282
  24. de Mendonça M, de Sousa É, da Paixão AO, Araújo Dos Santos B, Roveratti Spagnol A, Murata GM, et al. MicroRNA miR-222 mediates pioglitazone beneficial effects on skeletal muscle of diet-induced obese mice. Molecular and cellular endocrinology. 2020;501:110661. DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110661
  25. Schmitz B, Rolfes F, Schelleckes K, Mewes M, Thorwesten L, Krüger M, et al. Longer Work/Rest Intervals During High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Lead to Elevated Levels of miR-222 and miR-29c. Frontiers in physiology. 2018;9:395. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00395
  26. Mirzaei B, Shahsavary A, Fadaei Chafy MR, Rajabi S. The effect of Aerobic-Resistance Training on the Expression of miR-222 and cTnT, Cx43, Ki67 Genes, and Cardiomyocyte Proliferation in Pre-Pubertal, Young, and Old Male Rats. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. 2024;33(229):1-13. J Mazandaran Univ Med Sci 2024; 33 (229): 1-13. DOI: (In Persian (
  27. Kumar S, Li L, Gupta S. MicroRNA modulation in metabolic syndrome: A novel insight into cardiometabolic diseases. 2024. p. 555-74. DOI:10.1016/B978-0-323-85732-1.00010-4
  28. Gulde S, Pellegata NS. Chapter 8 - CDKN1B (p27) defects leading to pituitary tumors. In: Stratakis CA, editor. Gigantism and Acromegaly: Academic Press; 2021. p. 157-72. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-814537-1.00006-3
  29. Horak M, Zlamal F, Iliev R, Kucera J, Cacek J, Svobodova L, et al. Exercise-induced circulating microRNA changes in athletes in various training scenarios. PloS one. 2018;13(1):e0191060. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191060
  30. Knyrim M, Rabe S, Grossmann C, Gekle M, Schreier B. Influence of miR-221/222 on cardiomyocyte calcium handling and function. Cell & Bioscience. 2021;11(1):160. DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00676-4

 

Sport Biosciences
Volume 17, Issue 2
summer
Summer 2025
Pages 93-107

  • Receive Date 09 December 2024
  • Revise Date 01 October 2025
  • Accept Date 13 October 2025

Home

Contact Us