Edinburgh Napier University

  A low vitamin D status has been identified as an association risk factor in the etiology of numerous chronic diseases, with older adults identified as generally more deficient than younger populations. Exercise has been shown to act as a direct and indirect stimulus on key vitamin D metabolites, specifically the vitamin D receptor (VDR) (1, 2), however investigations are limited to murine model studies. The primary aim of the study is to explore whether a single bout of exercise upregulates VDR expression in circulating systemic T cells. Healthy young (n=11, age: 27 ± 2 y, BMI: 26.2 ± 3.5 kg·m2), young-mid (n=10, age: 39 ± 6 y, BMI: 25.2 ± 1.9 kg·m2) and older (n=12, age: 67 ± 4 y, BMI: 25.9 ± 2.9 kg·m2) male adults performed three trials: a single bout of resistance exercise (repeated maximal voluntary isometric contractions), a bout of endurance exercise (60 min cycling at 55% work load max), or a control trial (no exercise –60 min rest). Intravenous blood samples were collected pre- and post-exercise (0, 1, 3 hours) and analysed for cell-surface and intracellular T cell (CD3, CD4, CD8 T cell subsets) VDR expression via flow cytometry analysis. The findings could support exercise as a strategy to improve the orchestration of vitamin D metabolism through its main mediator the VDR, particularly in older adults whom are more deficient. Upregulating VDR receptor expression can alter gene transcription and thus regulate protein synthesis (3), therefore playing a mediating role in the prevention, development and progression of chronic diseases.

1.Aly YE, Abdou AS, Rashad MM, and Nassef MM. Effect of exercise on serum vitamin D and tissue vitamin D receptors in experimentally induced type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. J Adv Res 7: 671-679, 2016.
2.Makanae Y, Ogasawara R, Sato K, Takamura Y, Matsutani K, Kido K, Shiozawa N, Nakazato K, and Fujita S. Acute bout of resistance exercise increases vitamin D receptor protein expression in rat skeletal muscle. Exp Physiol 100: 1168-1176, 2015.
3.Simpson RU, Thomas GA, and Arnold AJ. Identification of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptors and activities in muscle. J Biol Chem 260: 8882-8891, 1985.