Exercise induces cerebral VEGF and angiogenesis via the lactate receptor HCAR1

5 years ago

Exercise induces cerebral VEGF and angiogenesis via the lactate receptor HCAR1

Andreas Gille, Ulrik Wisløff, Vuk Palibrk, Yiqing Cai, Krister A. Andersson, Stefan Offermanns, Linda H. Bergersen, Øyvind P. Haugen, Tomas Stølen, Elisabeth H. Diget, Jon Storm-Mathisen, Cecilie Morland, Alena Hadzic, Maja Puchades, Olve Moldestad, Koen Vervaeke, Eivind Hennestad, Liv Kleppa, Johanne E. Rinholm, Lauritz H. Kennedy, Magnar Bjørås

Physical exercise can improve brain function and delay neurodegeneration; however, the initial signal from muscle to brain is unknown. Here we show that the lactate receptor (HCAR1) is highly enriched in pial fibroblast-like cells that line the vessels supplying blood to the brain, and in pericyte-like cells along intracerebral microvessels. Activation of HCAR1 enhances cerebral vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and cerebral angiogenesis. High-intensity interval exercise (5 days weekly for 7 weeks), as well as L-lactate subcutaneous injection that leads to an increase in blood lactate levels similar to exercise, increases brain VEGFA protein and capillary density in wild-type mice, but not in knockout mice lacking HCAR1. In contrast, skeletal muscle shows no vascular HCAR1 expression and no HCAR1-dependent change in vascularization induced by exercise or lactate. Thus, we demonstrate that a substance released by exercising skeletal muscle induces supportive effects in brain through an identified receptor.

Publisher URL: http://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15557

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15557