BUSCADOR RECOLECTA

We examined the effects of a 20-wk exercise intervention on whole blood genome-wide DNA methylation signature and its association with the exercise-induced changes in gene expression profiles in boys and girls with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). Twenty-three children (10.05 ± 1.39 yr, 56% girls) with OW/OB were randomized to either a 20-wk exercise intervention [exercise group (EG); n = 10; 4 boys/6 girls] or to usual lifestyle [control group (CG); n = 13; 6 boys/7 girls]. Whole blood genome-wide methylome (CpG sites) analysis using Infinium Methylation EPIC array and transcriptome analysis using RNA-seq (STRT2 protocol) were performed. Exercise-induced modifications in DNA methylation at 485 and 386 CpGs sites in boys and girls, respectively. These CpG sites aremapped to loci enriched in distinct gene pathways related to metabolic diseases, fatty acid metabolism, and immune function. In boys, changes in the DNA methylation of 87 CpG sites (18% of the 485 CpGs sites altered by exercise) were associated with changes in the gene expression levels of 51 genes also regulated by exercise. Among girls, changes in DNAmethylation at 46 CpG sites (12% of the initial 386 significant CpGs)were associatedwith changes in the expression levels of 30 exercise-affected genes. Genes affected by exercise that were associated with DNAmethylation are related to obesity, metabolic syndrome, and inflammation. Multiomics analysis of whole blood samples from children with OW/OB suggests that gene expression response to exercisemay bemodulated by DNAmethylation and involve gene pathways related tometabolismand immune functions. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study pioneers the exploration into the effects of exercise on whole blood genome-wide DNA methylation patterns and its association with changes in transcriptome profiles in children with overweight/obesity. Exercise potentially impacts molecular pathways involved in metabolism and immune functions in children with overweight/obesity (sex-specific responses) through the modification of epigenetic and transcriptomic profiles. Our preliminary results provide initial steps to understand better the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiometabolic benefits of exercise in children with overweight/obesity., The project was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economyand Competitiveness (Reference DEP2013-47540, DEP2016-79512-R, DEP2017-91544-EXP, and RYC-2011-09011). S. Altmäe issupported by projects Endo-Map PID2021-12728OB-I00 and ROSYCNS2022-135999 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER. F.J. Esteban is supported by the Junta de Andalucía [BIO-302; US-1254251]; the University of Jaen [PAIUJA-EI_CTS02] and MCIN Grant PID2021-122991NB-C21. A. Plaza-Florido was sup-ported by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (FPU16/02760) and in part by NIH Grant U01 TR002004 (REACH project).Additional support was obtained from the Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES) and EXERNET Research Network onExercise and Health in Special Populations (DEP2005-00046/ACTI).This study has been partially funded by the University ofGranada, Plan Propio de Investigacion, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise, Nutrition andHealth (UCEENS), and by the Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Conocimiento, Investigacion y Universidades and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Ref. SOMM17/6107/UGR.