KLB and NOX4 expression levels as potential blood-based transcriptional biomarkers of physical activity in children

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 5563
• Main Authors: Galmés, Sebastià, Rupérez, Azahara I., Sánchez, Juana, Moreno, Luis A., Foraita, Ronja, Hebestreit, Antje, Molnár, Dénes, Palou, Andreu, Picó, Catalina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 05.04.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/208/199; 692/53; Biomarkers; Blood cells; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Child; Children; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Gene regulation; Genomes; Health promotion; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Klotho Proteins; Morphogenesis; multidisciplinary; NADPH Oxidase 4; NOX4 protein; Obesity; Peripheral blood; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Physical training; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sedentary Behavior; Wound healing
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31537-4

Insufficient physical activity (PA) in children is considered one of the major contributors to obesity and cardiometabolic complications later in life. Although regular exercise may contribute to disease prevention and health promotion, reliable early biomarkers are required to objectively discern people performing low PA from those who exercise enough. Here, we aimed to identify potential transcript-based biomarkers through the analysis of a whole-genome microarray in peripheral blood cells (PBC) from physically less active (n = 10) comparing with more active (n = 10) children. A set of genes differentially expressed (p < 0.01, Limma test) in less physically active children were identified, including the down-regulation of genes related to cardiometabolic benefits and improved skeletal function ( KLB , NOX4 , and SYPL2 ), and the up-regulation of genes whose elevated expression levels are associated with metabolic complications ( IRX5 , UBD , and MGP ). The analysis of the enriched pathways significantly affected by PA levels were those associated with protein catabolism, skeletal morphogenesis, and wound healing, among others, which may suggest a differential impact of low PA on these processes. Microarray analysis comparing children according to their usual PA has revealed potential PBC transcript-based biomarkers that may be useful in early discerning children expending high sedentary time and its associated negative consequences.