Critical role for free radicals on sprint exercise-induced CaMKII and AMPKα phosphorylation in human skeletal muscle

Abstract

The extremely high energy demand elicited by sprint exercise is satisfied by an increase in O2 consumption combined with a high glycolytic rate, leading to a marked lactate accumulation, increased AMP-to-ATP ratio, and reduced NAD+/NADH.H+ and muscle pH, which are accompanied by marked Thr172 AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-α phosphorylation during the recovery period by a mechanism not fully understood. To determine the role played by reactive nitrogen and oxygen species (RNOS) on Thr172-AMPKα phosphorylation in response to cycling sprint exercise, nine voluntary participants performed a single 30-s sprint (Wingate test) on two occasions: one 2 h after the ingestion of placebo and another after the intake of antioxidants (α-lipoic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E) in a double-blind design. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained before, immediately postsprint, and 30 and 120 min postsprint. Performance and muscle metabolism were similar during both sprints. The NAD+-to-NADH.H+ ratio was similarly reduced (84%) and the AMP-to-ATP ratio was similarly increased (×21-fold) immediately after the sprints. Thr286 Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and Thr172-AMPKα phosphorylations were increased after the control sprint (with placebo) but not when the sprints were preceded by the ingestion of antioxidants. Ser485-AMPKα1/Ser491-AMPKα2 phosphorylation, a known inhibitory mechanism of Thr172-AMPKα phosphorylation, was increased only with antioxidant ingestion. In conclusion, RNOS play a crucial role in AMPK-mediated signaling after sprint exercise in human skeletal muscle. Antioxidant ingestion 2 h before sprint exercise abrogates the Thr172-AMPKα phosphorylation response observed after the ingestion of placebo by reducing CaMKII and increasing Ser485-AMPKα1/Ser491-AMPKα2 phosphorylation. Sprint performance, muscle metabolism, and AMP-to-ATP and NAD+-to-NADH.H+ ratios are not affected by the acute ingestion of antioxidants.