Inflammation and metabolism gene sets in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue are altered 1 hour after exercise in adults with obesity.

Although the health benefits of exercise in adults with obesity are well described, the direct effects of exercise on adipose tissue that may lead to improved metabolic health are poorly understood. The primary aims of this study were to perform an unbiased analysis of the subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue transcriptomic response to acute exercise in adults with obesity, and to compare the effects of moderate-intensity continuous exercise vs. high-intensity interval exercise on this response. Twenty-nine adults with obesity performed a session of either high-intensity interval exercise (HI; 10x1 min at 90 %HRpeak, 1min recovery between intervals; n=14) or moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MI; 45 min at 70 %HRpeak; n=15). Groups were well-matched for BMI (HI 33±3 vs. MI 33±4 kg/m2), sex (HI: 9 women vs. MI: 10 women), and age (HI: 32±6 vs. MI: 29±5). Subcutaneous adipose tissue was collected before and 1 hour after the session of HI or MI, and samples were processed for RNA sequencing. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis revealed 7 of 21 gene sets enriched post-exercise overlapped between HI and MI. Interestingly, both HI and MI upregulated gene sets involved in inflammation (IL6-JAK-STAT3 signaling, allograft rejection, TNFA signaling via NFKB, and inflammatory response; FDR q-value<0.25). Exercise also downregulated adipogenic and oxidative metabolism gene sets in both groups. Overall, these data suggest genes involved in subcutaneous adipose tissue metabolism and inflammation may be an important part of the initial response after a session of exercise.