Molecular Responses To Acute High-interval Intensity And Moderate-intensity Continuous Training: Evidence From Bi-omics Analysis.

PURPOSE: Acute exercise induces molecular changes. Understanding molecular distinctions between High-interval intensity training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous Training (MICT) are pivotal for guiding public and athletic training. Previous research had scope limitations regarding the molecule breadth and biological processes assessed. METHODS: 93 healthy young adults were assigned into HIIT (N = 33), MICT(N = 32), or control (N = 28) groups in a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Exercise-intensity was determined by individual VO2max assessed by Cosmed Fitmate. MICT group involved a 20-minute run at 70%-75% VO2max. HIIT group was directed to alternate between one minute of running at their full VO2max speed and one minute at their 50% VO2max speed, for 20-minute. Each session lasted 30-minute totally, inclusive of warm-up and cool-down. Control group had a 30-minute low-intensity stretch. Pre- and post-intervention fasting blood were drawn for transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. RESULTS: MICT up-regulated pathways including platelet-derived growth factor receptor binding, protein folding chaperone, and heat shock protein binding according to transcriptomic analysis (P-adjust < 0.05). It down-regulated sialic acid binding and carbohydrate binding (P-adjust < 0.05). HIIT up-regulated the MHC protein complex binding and notably down-regulated several pathways including CXCR chemokine receptor binding and cytokine receptor binding (P adjust < 0.05). Both interventions influenced Oxidative Phosphorylation and Phosphatidylinositol signaling systems (P-adjust < 0.05). The most pronounced impact of HIIT and MICT was observed on Alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, Arginine and proline metabolism, and TCA cycle in metabolomics (P-adjust < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MICT influenced pathways related to cellular growth and protein stability, while HIIT modulated immune-associated pathways in transcriptomic analysis. Both exercises shared overlapping influences on Oxidative Phosphorylation, Phosphatidylinositol signaling systems, and key metabolic pathways. These findings underscore the diverse yet interrelated molecular responses triggered by exercises, emphasizing the nuanced benefits and impacts of exercise on cellular and metabolic landscape. National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42277419), the project on Ma John's Physical Education Thought and Practice of Tsinghua University, China Post doctoral Science Foundation (No. 2022 M711858), and the Tsinghua University Funded Research Program (No. 2021THZWHQ07)