Irisin: An anti-inflammatory exerkine in aging and redox-mediated comorbidities.

Human beings lead largely sedentary lives. From an evolutionary perspective, such lifestyle is not beneficial to health. Exercise can promote many enabling pathways, particularly through circulating exerkines, to optimize individual health and quality of life. Such benefits might explain the protective effects of exercise against aging and noncommunicable diseases. Nevertheless, the miRNA-mediated molecular mechanisms and exerkine interorgan crosstalk that underlie the beneficial effects of exercise remain poorly understood. In this mini review, we focused on the exerkine, irisin, mainly produced by muscle contraction during adaptation to exercise and its beneficial effects on body homeostasis. Herein, the complex role of irisin in metabolism and inflammation is described, including its subsequent effects on thermogenesis through browning to control obesity and improve glycemic regulation for diabetes mellitus control, its potential to improve cognitive function (via brain derived neurotrophic factor), and its pathways of action and role in aging.

Calcificação na artéria coronária em atletas de endurance: uma revisão narrativa / Coronary artery calcification in endurance athletes: a narrative review

Introdução: a doença cardiovascular é a principal causa de morte em todo o mundo e a doença arterial coronariana se destaca pelo número de óbitos. A calcificação da artéria coronária (CAC) aumentada é um fator de risco para eventos coronarianos, no entanto, homens adultos saudáveis com alta carga de treino ao longo dos anos e com histórico de longas provas de resistência demonstram altos valores de CAC. Objetivo: tendo em vista o paradoxo existente entre os efeitos do treinamento físico extenuante e o desenvolvimento da calcificação coronariana, o presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o mecanismo da CAC em homens adultos fisicamente ativos. Métodos: Este estudo caracteriza-se como uma revisão narrativa, tendo como base, produções científicas nas línguas portuguesa e inglesa, nas seguintes bases de dados: National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Scientific Eletronic Library On-line (SciELO) e US National Library of Medicine (NCBI). Resultados: Em um estudo, 150, dos 284 participantes (53%), tinham o escore de CAC mediano de 35,8 [9,3-145,8]. O volume médio de exercício ao longo da vida foi de 2,9 [1,9-4,4] horas/semana, resultando em 1356 [851-2030] equivalentes metabólicos de tarefa (MET)-min/semana. Além disso, a presença da CAC foi mais comum naqueles com maiores volumes de exercícios ao longo da vida. Assim como em outros trabalhos, pode-se considerar que maiores pontuações da CAC e maiores placas coronárias em atletas podem ser interpretados como um efeito deletério do exercício nas artérias coronárias, entretanto, a natureza calcificada e estável das placas em homens atletas também podem ser considerada como protetora contra a ruptura da placa e infarto agudo do miocárdio. Conclusão: Os atletas de endurance estão mais predispostos ao aumento da calcificação da artéria coronária que indivíduos menos ativos ou sedentários, contudo o que se observa é que as altas cargas de exercício físico ao longo da vida parecem promover mais benefícios do que risco a saúde cardiovascular.

Introduction: cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and coronary artery disease stands out for the number of deaths. Increased coronary artery calcification is a risk factor for coronary events, however, healthy adult men with a high training load over the years and with a history of long endurance tests demonstrate high CAC values. Objective: in view of the paradox between the effects of strenuous physical training and the development of CAC, this study aims to assess the CAC in physically active adult men. Methods: This study is characterized as a narrative review, based on scientific productions in Portuguese and English, in the following databases: National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and US National Library of Medicine (NCBI). Results: In the study,150 of 284 participants (53%) had a median CAC score of 35.8 [9.3-145.8]. The mean lifetime exercise volume was 2.9 [1.9-4.4] hours/week, resulting in 1356 [851-2030] metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-min/week. In addition, the presence of CAC was more common in those with higher exercise volumes throughout life. As in other studies, it can be considered that higher CAC scores and higher coronary plaques in athletes can be interpreted as a deleterious effect of exercise on the coronary arteries, however, the calcified and stable nature of the plaques in male athletes can also be considered as protective against plaque rupture and acute myocardial infarction. Conclusion: Endurance athletes are more predisposed to increased coronary artery calcification than less active or sedentary individuals, however, what is observed is that high loads of physical exercise throughout life seem to promote more benefits than risk to cardiovascular health.