Circulating mitochondrial-derived microproteins at rest and in response to an acute bout of endurance exercise in individuals with cerebral palsy.

Cross-sectional observational study with acute exercise intervention

“Here, we examined a novel class of signalling molecules, mitochondrial‐derived microproteins (MDPs), and assessed whether individuals with CP exhibit altered circulating levels compared with typically developing (TD) individuals at rest and following an acute bout of endurance exercise.”

Adults with cerebral palsy (GMFCS II-IV), typically developing adults, and typically developing adolescents

“Three groups were included: TD adults (31 ± 6 years), TD adolescents (16 ± 1 years) and adults with CP (25 ± 6 years).”

56 participants (13 with CP, 17 TD adults, 13 TD adolescents)

“Thirteen adults with CP and 30 TD individuals (adults n = 17, adolescents n = 13) were included in this study (Table 1).”

Acute 45-minute exercise session with blood sampling before and 1 hour after

“The exercise session consisted of 45 min of frame running for individuals with CP and conventional running for TD participants.”

Basal circulating levels of MDPs (humanin, MOTS-c, SHMOOSE) in adults with CP were comparable to typically developing individuals

“Despite this, they exhibited basal circulating levels of MDPs, including humanin, MOTS‐c and SHMOOSE, comparable to TD adults and adolescents, with no associations with CP subtype or motor impairment severity.”

Post-exercise changes in MDPs were modest or absent, with no significant differences between CP and TD groups

“Following exercise, circulating MDPs showed no or only modest changes across groups, with no differences between CP and TD individuals.”

MDP levels did not correlate with muscle mass, aerobic capacity, or physical activity levels

“Levels of humanin, MOTS‐c and SHMOOSE showed no relationship to bodyweight (r = 0.253/0.049/0.039 for humanin/MOTS‐c/SHMOOSE, P > 0.05, Figure 2b), muscle thickness (r = 0.269/0.011/0.000, P > 0.05, Figure 2c), V˙O2peak (r = 0.160/0.048/0.071, P > 0.05, Figure 2d), or reported daily activity levels (r = 0.227/−0.062/−0.096, P > 0.05, data not shown).”

Small sample size and inherent clinical heterogeneity of the CP cohort

“However, given the small sample size and the inherent clinical heterogeneity of CP, these findings remain preliminary and require confirmation in larger cohorts.”