Acute Cycling Exercise Induces Changes in Red Blood Cell Deformability and Membrane Lipid Remodeling

• Main Authors: Travis Nemkov, Sarah C. Skinner, Elie Nader, Davide Stefanoni, Mélanie Robert, Francesca Cendali, Emeric Stauffer, Agnes Cibiel, Camille Boisson, Philippe Connes, Angelo D’Alessandro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: red blood cell; deformability; cycling; exercise; metabolomics; lipidomics
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/2/896
• ISSN: 1661-6596; 1422-0067

Here we describe the effects of a controlled, 30 min, high-intensity cycling test on blood rheology and the metabolic profiles of red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma from well-trained males. RBCs demonstrated decreased deformability and trended toward increased generation of microparticles after the test. Meanwhile, metabolomics and lipidomics highlighted oxidative stress and activation of membrane lipid remodeling mechanisms in order to cope with altered properties of circulation resulting from physical exertion during the cycling test. Of note, intermediates from coenzyme A (CoA) synthesis for conjugation to fatty acyl chains, in parallel with reversible conversion of carnitine and acylcarnitines, emerged as metabolites that significantly correlate with RBC deformability and the generation of microparticles during exercise. Taken together, we propose that RBC membrane remodeling and repair plays an active role in the physiologic response to exercise by altering RBC properties.