Exercise training regulates SOD-1 and oxidative stress in porcine aortic endothelium

1 Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1; and Departments of 2 Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, 3 Veterinary Pathobiology, and 4 Medical Physiology and 5 Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211 Vascular oxidative stress contributes to endothelial dysfunction. Aerobic exercise training improves vascular function. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that exercise training would improve the balance of antioxidant to prooxidant enzymes and reduce markers of oxidative stress in aortic endothelial cells (AEC). Female Yucatan miniature pigs either remained sedentary (SED) or were exercise trained (EX) for 16-19 wk. EX pigs had increased AEC SOD-1 protein levels and Cu/Zn SOD activity of the whole aorta compared with SED pigs. Protein levels of other antioxidant enzymes (SOD-2, catalase) were not affected by exercise training. Protein levels of p67 phox , a subunit of the prooxidant enzyme NAD(P)H oxidase, were reduced in EX vs. SED AEC. These EX adaptations were associated with lower AEC malondialdehyde levels and decreased phosphorylation of ERK-1/2. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein, protein nitrotyrosine content, and heme oxygenase-1 protein were not different in EX vs. SED pigs. We conclude that chronic aerobic exercise training influenced both antioxidant and prooxidant enzymes and decreased indexes of oxidative stress in AEC. These adaptations may contribute to improved endothelial function with exercise training. superoxide dismutase; nitric oxide; NAD(P)H oxidase; endothelial function; antioxidant enzymes; ERK