Influence of Exercise or Physical Activity in the Angiogenesis Process: Integrative Review

In order to understand the relationships of the influence of physical activity in the angiogenesis process, this review aims to recruit in the last ten years the evidence on this topic. The study data collection took place between February 20 and March 20, 2020. The electronic databases used to search the articles was PubMed (National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health). We used the keywords: angiogenesis, angiogenic effect, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), physical activity, physical exercise, exercise and training, in the English languages, accompanied by the expression AND and selected through DeCS (Descriptors in Health Sciences). The performance of physical activity, (Figure 2), whether aerobic or resisted with load, promotes in the body an increase in pro-angiogenic factors such as: IL-6, Ang 1 and 2, VEGF, PDGF, FGF and stimulation of their receptors, being, respectively: IL -6Ra, TIE-2, VEGFR-1 and 2, PDGFR, FGFR. Higher levels of Adropine also encourage the expression of VEGFR-2. The activation of IL-6Ra, VEGFR-1 and 2 receptors elevates, together with increased expression of miR-126, a small fragment of non-coded RNA, the enzyme PI3k (Phosphoinositide 3-kinase). This increased enzyme induces the expression of protein Kinase B (Akt) which plays a fundamental role in cell metabolism via the mTOR pathway. We will then have the formation of MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF, CD31 and HIF-1α, the latter being directly stimulated by the increase in NO. In this way, those responsible for proliferation, migration, survival and cell permeability will be present, necessary for improvements in the levels of angiogenesis to occur. It was possible to conclude that the physical activity induced in both experimental and human models favored the process of angiogenesis in organisms by increasing pro factors and decreasing anti-angiogenic factors, regardless of preexisting comorbidities and previous sedentary lifestyle.

Keywords: Physical activity; Exercise; Angiogenesis; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor