AUTHOR=Contreras-Briceño Felipe , Herrera Sebastián , Vega-Adauy Julian , Salinas Manuel , Ocaranza María Paz , Jalil Jorge E. , Mandiola Jorge , García Lorena , Chiong Mario , Castro Pablo F. , Lavandero Sergio , Gabrielli Luigi 

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

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2021.737285

DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2021.737285

ISSN=2297-055X

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; V̇O2-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, eighteen healthy nonactive 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 (∆sVCAM-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.