The Influence of Age on Notch1 and VEGF‐A Responses During Exercise

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Notch1 and vascular endothelial growth factor‐A (VEGF‐A) are polyfunctional signaling molecules that can be activated in response to elevated shear stress. In nonpathological conditions, they are integral to healthy endothelium; however, it is unknown whether their responsiveness during aerobic exercise, a robust shear stimulus, is impacted by age. Accordingly, in this exploratory cross‐sectional study, concentrations of VEGF‐A and Notch1 extracellular domain (NECD) were quantified in twenty‐nine (13 females) healthy adults (mean age: 32 years, range: 20–65), using venous blood samples taken at rest, immediately postexercise (cycle V̇O 2 peak test), and following 15 min of recovery. NECD concentrations remained stable across exercise (condition effect: p = 0.186); however, overall NECD was elevated with age (age effect: p = 0.024). Moreover, the change in NECD following exercise varied by age (age × condition interaction: p = 0.028) and was significantly associated with carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT) ( p = 0.005, r = 0.475). Conversely, no significant main effects were found for VEGF‐A (all p > 0.05), and VEGF‐A was not associated with cIMT ( p = 0.283, ρ = −0.114). These results indicate that the Notch1, but not VEGF‐A, response to acute exercise is altered across adult aging, with cIMT showing a secondary association that potentially reflects underlying vascular structural influences.