According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a healthy lifestyle is defined as a way of living that lowers the risk of becoming seriously ill or dying prematurely. Physical activity, as a well-known contributor to overall health, plays a vital role in supporting such a lifestyle. Exercise induces complex molecular responses that mediate both acute metabolic stress and long-term physiological adaptations. FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) and GDF15 (growth differentiation factor 15) are recognized as metabolic stress markers, while their receptors play critical roles in cellular signaling. However, the differential gene expression patterns of these molecules in trained and untrained individuals following exhaustive exercise remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the transcriptional and protein-level responses in trained and untrained individuals performed a treadmill maximal exercise test to voluntary exhaustion. Blood samples were collected at six time points (pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 0.5 h, 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h post-exercise). Gene expression of FGF21, GDF15, FGFR1 (fibroblast growth factor receptors), FGFR3, FGFR4, KLB (β-klotho), and GFRAL (glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor receptor alpha-like) was analyzed using RT-qPCR, while plasma protein levels of FGF21 and GDF15 were quantified via ELISA. The results obtained were statistically analyzed by using Shapiro–Wilk, Mann–Whitney U, and Wilcoxon tests in Statistica 13 software. Untrained individuals demonstrated significant post-exercise upregulation of FGFR3, FGFR4, KLB, and GFRAL. FGF21 and GDF15 protein levels were consistently lower in trained individuals (p < 0.01), with no significant correlations between gene and protein expression. Trained individuals showed more stable expression of genes, while untrained individuals exhibited transient upregulation of genes after exercise.

Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego

Background: Acute exercise induces measurable inflammatory and hematological responses, which may differ according to training status. Methods: Trained soccer players and sedentary controls completed a progressive exercise test until exhaustion. Blood samples were collected at six time points (up to 48 h post-exercise). Gene expression was assessed using real-time PCR, protein concentration via ELISA, and leukocyte, lymphocyte and neutrophil counts through routine hematology. Analyses included between-group comparisons, within-group time effects, and gene–protein correlations. Results: Sedentary individuals showed delayed increases in TNF-α mRNA (p < 0.05), whereas athletes maintained stable levels. Athletes exhibited consistently higher TNFR-1 expression (p < 0.05), while TNFR-2 showed no differences between groups. IL-4 expression was higher in athletes 30 min (p = 0.038) and 24 h after test (p = 0.002), whereas IL-4 protein decreased in sedentary subjects after 6 h (p = 0.009) and 24 h (p = 0.019). IL-4Rα was transiently elevated post-exercise in sedentary individuals and briefly suppressed in athletes (p = 0.041). Hematological responses showed stronger leukocytosis and neutrophilia in sedentary individuals. Conclusions: The temporal inflammatory patterns differed substantially between groups, indicating more efficient resolution dynamics in trained individuals. These findings highlight practical value for monitoring adaptation and recovery.