Effect of Home-based Aerobic Exercise on Leukocyte TERT Gene Expression Without Altering DNA Oxidative Damage in Postmenopausal Women

Objectives: In middle-aged women, the postmenopausal period is associated with increased oxidative, inflammatory, and psychological stress. We intend to investigate the effect of home-based aerobic exercise (HAE) on serum levels of ۸-hydroxy-۲’-deoxyguanosine (۸-C) and the expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) in leukocytes of postmenopausal women. Methods: A total of ۲۰ sedentary postmenopausal women who had at least ۱۲ months passed since their last menstruation participated in the study voluntarily. Their Mean±SD age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were respectively ۵۲.۴±۳.۸ years, ۱۶۱.۴±۳.۷ cm, ۷۴.۴±۶.۸ kg, and ۲۸.۶±۳.۴ kg/m۲. They were randomly divided into two groups: Home-based aerobic exercise (HAE, n=۱۰) and inactive control (CON, n=۱۰). HAE group undertook ۴ weeks of home-based aerobic exercise (۴ d/wk, intensity: ۷۰%-۸۰% maximal heart rate) with online supervision. Participants’ weight and fasting blood samples (۱۲-h fasting state) were measured and taken before and ۴۸ hours after the intervention. TERT expression in blood leukocytes and serum levels of ۸-OHDG were assessed by real-time PCR and ELISA methods, respectively. The collected data were analyzed using mixed (۲×۲) repeated measure ANOVA and independent samples t-test in SPSS software. A significance level of P<۰.۰۵ was considered for all tests. Results: The findings showed that ۴ weeks of HAE increased TERT expression significantly compared to the CON (ES=۰.۴۰, P<۰.۰۵). Although ۸-OHDG serum level in the HAE group increased following training compared to pre-training (P<۰.۰۵), no significant difference was observed between the CON and HAE groups (P>۰.۰۵). Also, the interaction effect on ۸-OHDG was not significant (ES=۰.۱۱, P>۰.۰۵). In addition, after ۴ weeks of HAE, body weight and BMI significantly decreased in the training group compared to the control (P<۰.۰۵). Discussion: According to these findings, HEA effectively reduces telomere erosion and improves weight control in postmenopausal women.