Protein Composition of Circulating Extracellular Vesicles Immediately Changed by Particular Short Time of High-Intensity Interval Training Exercise

INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) promotes various biological processes and metabolic effects in multiple organs, but the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from a variety of cells is not fully understood during HIIT exercise (HIIT-Ex). We investigated the changes in circulating number and proteomic profile of EVs to assess the effect of HIIT-Ex. METHODS: Seventeen young men (median age, 20 years) were enrolled in the study. Total duration of the HIIT-Ex was 4 min. Blood samples were collected from before HIIT-Ex (pre-HIIT-Ex), at the immediate conclusion of HIIT-Ex (T(0)), at 30 min (T(30)), and at 120 min after HIIT-Ex. The pulse rate and systolic blood pressure were measured. Circulating EVs were characterized, and EV proteins were detected via nano liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The pulse rate and systolic blood pressure at T(0) to pre-HIIT-Ex were significantly higher. Circulating EV number was significantly altered throughout the HIIT-Ex, and the source of circulating EVs included skeletal muscle, hepatocytes, and adipose tissue. Proteomic analysis identified a total of 558 proteins within isolated circulating EVs from pre-HIIT-Ex, T(0), and T(30). Twenty proteins in total were significantly changed at pre-HIIT-Ex, T(0), and T(30) and are involved in a variety of pathways, such as activation of coagulation cascades, cellular oxidant detoxification, and correction of acid–base imbalance. Catalase and peroxiredoxin II were increased at T(0). CONCLUSION: The circulating EV composition can be immediately changed by particularly a short time of HIIT-Ex, indicating that EVs may intercommunicate across various organs rapidly in response to HIIT-Ex.