Circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) are a diverse group that have been identified as predictors of cardiovascular health and are inversely proportional to cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. Inactivity is a growing concern in industrialized nations and is an independent risk factor for CVD. There is limited evidence regarding the impact of reduced physical activity (rPA) on different CAC populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of objectively monitored rPA with maintained energy balance on two CAC populations (CFU and CD34(+) cells), intracellular nitric oxide (NOi), and genes related to NO production in active, healthy men. Participants (age 25 ± 2.9 yr) refrained from structured physical activity for 10 days, which was reflected by a significant reduction in time in vigorous + very vigorous intensity activity (P = 0.03). Sedentary time tended to increase (P = 0.06) with rPA. CFU CACs have been characterized as mainly monocytic and lymphocytic cells. We found significant reductions in both the number of CFU CACs (-35.69%, P = 0.01) and CFU CAC NOi (-33.84%, P = 0.03). Neither NOi nor the number of CD34(+) cells, which are hematopoietic and endothelial progenitors, changed with rPA. We found no significant differences in NO-related gene expression or oxidative stress-related gene expression with rPA in either CAC type. Therefore, we conclude that although various CAC populations have been related to vascular health, regular physical activity is necessary to maintain CAC NOi and the vulnerability of CACs to short-term reductions in physical activity is population specific.

Fighting behavior has been studied extensively with strong emphases on factors that independently determine winners and losers as well as how much effort an individual should invest in a given contest for a resource. Much less attention has been paid to how interacting qualities of disputed resources modulate aggression. In a laboratory study, we examined the interactive effects of female condition and mating status on dyadic male aggression in the wolf spider Pardosa milvina. We discovered that males exhibited significantly more aggressive behaviors when in the presence of virgin females in good condition and displayed lower and statistically similar levels of aggression when placed with virgin, poor condition females; mated, good condition females; mated, poor condition females; and no females. Because previous studies have suggested that virgin females alone should be highly prized because of putative first‐mate sperm priority patterns, this study contributes to this body of literature by suggesting that diet history and body condition mitigate the reproductive advantages of mating with virgin females as indicated by levels of male‐male aggression, but further investigation is needed.

Circulating angiogenic cells (CAC) influence vascular repair through the secretion of proangiogenic factors and cytokines. While CAC are deficient in patients with diabetes and exercise has a beneficial effect on CACs, the impact of these factors on paracrine secretion from CAC is unknown. We aimed to determine whether the in vitro secretion of selected cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) from CAC is influenced by hyperglycemia and acute exercise. Colony‐forming unit CAC (CFU‐CAC) were cultured from young active men (n = 9, 24 ± 2 years) at rest and after exercise under normal (5 mmol/L) and elevated (15 mmol/L) glucose. Preliminary relative multiplex cytokine analysis revealed that CAC conditioned culture media contained three of six measured cytokines: transforming growth factor‐beta‐1 (TGF β1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α), and monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 (MCP‐1). Single quantitative cytokine analysis was used to determine the concentration of each cytokine from the four conditions. NO was measured via Griess assay. There was a significant effect of CAC exposure to in vivo exercise on in vitro TGF β1 secretion (P = 0.024) that was independent of glucose concentration. There was no effect of glucose or acute exercise on TNF α or MCP‐1 concentration (both P > 0.05). The concentration of NO from CFU‐CAC cultured in elevated glucose was lower following acute exercise (P = 0.002) suggesting that exercise did not maintain NO secretion under hyperglycemic conditions. Our results identify paracrine signaling factors that may be responsible for the proangiogenic function of CFU‐CAC and an influence of acute exercise and elevated glucose on CFU‐CAC soluble factor secretion.

Physical inactivity, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, promotes changes in the endothelium that may be influenced by circulating angiogenic cells (CACs). CACs have the capacity to replace and repair damaged vascular endothelium. Intracellular nitric oxide (NOi) is essential for CAC migration, motility, and proliferation and is therefore a key determinant of CAC health. The objective was to determine whether CAC number and NOi levels changed in response to ten‐days of reduced physical activity (rPA). Lipid profile, weight, and blood pressure (BP) were quantified before and after rPA. rPA was confirmed with accelerometry and caloric intake was reduced to match the reduced energy expenditure during rPA. CACs (CFU‐Hill, CD34+) were isolated from PBMCs prior to and following rPA. CD34+ cells were isolated via magnetic separation and quantified with a hemocytometer. CFU‐Hill were cultured and quantified via colony‐forming assay. NOi was determined using DAF‐FM diacetate. There were no significant changes in lipid profile, weight, or BP with rPA. CFU‐Hill colonies decreased by 44.7% and CD34+ cells increased by 34.8% (p=0.095, p=0.45, respectively). CFU‐Hill NOi was significantly decreased by 52.7% (p=0.023) and CD34+ cells had reduced NOi by 24% (p=0.37). The effect of rPA on CAC NOi is specific to the CAC population.UMass, Amherst Faculty Research Grant and CHC Research Grant