Circulating microRNAs in the context of the lifestyle intervention program MultiPill-Exercise: a pilot study

Introduction : Multimorbidity is a common finding in the context of lifestyle-related diseases, such as obesity, hypertonia, diabetes mellitus type 2, or osteoarthritis. However, little is known about the effects of exercise on subjects with multimorbidity. Biomarkers, such as microRNAs (miRs), might be useful tools in this context. Aim : To analyze miRNA patterns in subjects with multimorbidity and to correlate them with adaptations to the exercise-focused lifestyle intervention program “MultiPill-Exercise Pilot Study. Patients and methods : Using RNA-Seq and qPCR analysis, we determined both baseline expression and training-associated changes of several miRs and correlated them with changes in clinical and physiological parameters during the intervention. Results : We found a negative correlation between changes in miR-486-5p concentrations and changes in peak power output ΔPPO. Remarkably, several changes in miR concentrations were associated with changes in blood pressure readings (RR) during the intervention: ΔmiR-150a-5p (**), ΔmiR-223-3p, ΔmiR130-3p, and ΔmiR126-3p positively correlated with ΔsystRR, and there was also a positive correlation between ΔmiR-150a-5p and ΔdiastRR. Conclusion : These pilot data will be useful in generating hypotheses for further testing the potential of miRs as biomarkers in the context of exercise adaptation in multimorbidity. For this purpose, confirmatory, larger, randomized, and controlled studies should be performed, employing correction factors for multiple testing.