Hugo de Luca Corrêa, Rafael Lavarini dos Santos, Ivo Vieira Sousa de Neto, Rodrigo Vanerson Passos Neves, Thaís Amaral Ferreira Baracho, Taynah Oliveira Martins, Jéssica Mycaella da Silva Barbosa, Thaís Branquinho de Araújo, Leandro Lima de Sousa, Rebecca Salomão, Rita de Cássia Marqueti, Lysleine Alves Deus, Fernando Costa, Thiago dos Santos Rosa
Abstract Purpose To investigate the effects of 24 weeks of resistance training (RT) on pro- and active matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their association with functional performance in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods Forty-two ESKD patients (mean age: 65 ± 4 years; dry body mass: 71 ± 16 kg; body mass index: 25 ± 3 kg/m 2 ) were randomized into two groups: the control (CTL, n = 20) and RT group ( n = 22). RT was comprised three times per week for 24 weeks. Plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity were assessed by zymography. Functional and body-composition outcomes included handgrip strength, fat-free mass (FFM), 5-min walking test, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Results Using bioinformatics tools, we found that MMP-2 gene expression in PBMCs was decreased in ESKD patients undergoing hemodialysis. At post-intervention, RT displayed a higher active MMP-2 activity, while MMP-9 did not change. After baseline adjustment, the estimated effect of RT on active MMP-2 was attenuated, whereas active MMP-9 showed a lower adjusted response in the RT group. Active MMP-2 activity was positively associated with handgrip strength, FFM ( P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with TUG test ( P < 0.05). Conclusion RT improved functional outcomes and the complex effects of RT on MMPs should be thoroughly investigated in future experimental and clinical studies.