Circulating Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) Is Associated With Left Atrial Remodeling in Long-Distance Runners

Abstract

Introduction: An increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been demonstrated in high-performance athletes. Soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), a biomarker involved in inflammation and cardiac remodeling, is associated with the development of AF in the general population. However, the relationship between sVCAM-1 and left atrial (LA) remodeling has been poorly investigated in long-distance runners (LDR).Aim: To determine the association between LA remodeling and sVCAM-1 levels in LDR during the training period before a marathon race.Methods: Thirty-six healthy male LDR (37.0 ± 5.3 years; 174.0 ± 7.0 height; BMI: 23.8 ± 2.8; V°O2-peak: 56.5 ± 7.3 mL·kg−1·min−1) were evaluated in this single-blind and cross-sectional study. The LDR were separated into two groups according to previous training levels: high-training (HT) (n = 18) ≥100 km·week−1 and low-training (LT) (n = 18) ≥70 and <100 km·week−1. Also, 18 healthy non-active subjects were included as a control group (CTR). In all participants, transthoracic echocardiography was performed. sVCAM-1 blood levels were measured baseline and immediately finished the marathon race in LDR.Results: HT showed increased basal levels of sVCAM-1 (651 ± 350 vs. 440 ± 98 ng·mL−1 CTR, p = 0.002; and vs. 533 ± 133 ng·mL−1 LT; p = 0.003) and a post-marathon increase (ΔsVCAM-1) (651 ± 350 to 905 ± 373 ng·mL−1; p = 0.002), that did not occur in LT (533 ± 133 to 651 ± 138 ng·mL−1; p = 0.117). In LDR was a moderate correlation between LA volume and sVCAM-1 level (rho = 0.510; p = 0.001).Conclusions: In male long-distance runners, sVCAM-1 levels are directly associated with LA remodeling. Also, the training level is associated with basal sVCAM-1 levels and changes after an intense and prolonged exercise (42.2 km). Whether sVCAM-1 levels predict the risk of AF in runners remains to be established.

Atrial Fibrillation in Endurance Training Athletes: Scoping Review

“…An Italian study showed that endurance athletes had significantly larger dimensions of the left atrium (LA) and LV but did not have significantly thicker LV walls. In addition, previous studies showed that, compared with team sports, endurance sports present an increased risk of AF after controlling for accumulated hours of activity [ 8 , 14 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ], as shown in Fig. 3 .…”

“…Thus, sVCAM-1 is a possible biomarker for evaluating and monitoring potential negative effects, including AF, on LA structure and function in high-performance athletes because sVCAM-1 level is positively linked to the increased LA volume, as shown in Fig. 4 [ 37 , 52 ].…”

SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Candidate Biomarkers

“… 43 Soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) is a protein that plays a key role in fibrosis and cardiac remodeling 44 and migration of leukocytes to the vessels, 45 and it may act in endothelial dysfunction. 46 Serum levels of sVCAM-1 were higher than healthy control regarding COVID-19 patients. 47 Increased inflammation, platelet dysfunction, and imbalances in the coagulation mechanism in COVID-19 infection have caused disruptions in the normal coagulation mechanism.…”

Comprehensive plasma cytokine and chemokine profiling in prurigo nodularis reveals endotypes in Type 2 inflammation

“…IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that is produced by Th2 cells and monocytes, known to be elevated in AD, and functions to decrease Th1 associated cytokine expression 33 , 34 . Finally, there were also increased levels of general inflammatory molecules in PN plasma, such as sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 which are known to facilitate leukocyte adhesion and migration across the blood vessel endothelium 35 , 36 , as well as the acute phase reactant SAA, which promotes inflammation by activating the inflammasome cascade, inducing synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and acting as a chemotactic for neutrophils and mast cells 37 . Each of these general inflammatory markers are known biomarkers of cardiovascular disease, which disproportionately affects patients with PN 3 , 38 , 39 .…”