Skeletal muscle proteins important for work capacity are altered with type 2 diabetes — Effect of 10‐20‐30 training

The study examined whether men with type 2 diabetes exhibit lower expression of muscle proteins important for exercise capacity, and whether exercise training promotes adaptations in these proteins. In a cross‐sectional and longitudinal study, conducted at the University of Copenhagen. Twelve men with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were compared to eleven nondiabetes counterparts (ND) matched for age and body composition (body fat percentage). T2D underwent 10 weeks of high‐intensity interval exercise training (10‐20‐30 training). T2D had lower expression of SOD1 (−62%; p < 0.001) and ETC complex V (−34%; p = 0.003), along with higher expression of ETC complex IV (+66%; p = 0.007), MFN2 (+62%; p = 0.001), and DRP1 (+30%; p = 0.028) compared to ND. T2D had higher (p < 0.001) expression of Na(+)/K(+) α1 (+98%), α2 (+114%), and NHE1 (+144%) than ND. In T2D, training increased exercise capacity (+9%; p < 0.001) as well as expression of SOD2 (+44%; p = 0.029), ETC complex II (+25%; p = 0.035), III (+52%; p = 0.041), IV (+23%; p = 0.005), and V (+21%; p = 0.035), CS activity (+32%; p = 0.006) as well as Na(+)/K(+) α1 (+24%; p = 0.034), Kir6.2 (+36%; p = 0.029), and MCT1 (+20%; p = 0.007). Men with type 2 diabetes exhibited altered expression of a multitude of skeletal muscle proteins important for exercise capacity. Ten weeks of 10‐20‐30 training upregulated expression of muscle proteins regulating antioxidant defense, mitochondrial function, and ion handling while enhancing exercise capacity in men with type 2 diabetes.