AUTHOR=Plaza-Florido Abel , Pérez-Prieto Inmaculada , Molina-Garcia Pablo , Radom-Aizik Shlomit , Ortega Francisco B. , Altmäe Signe 

TITLE=Transcriptional and Epigenetic Response to Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.917152

DOI=10.3389/fped.2022.917152

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>The links of sedentary behavior and physical activity with health outcomes in children and adolescents is well known. However, the molecular mechanisms involved are poorly understood. We aimed to synthesize the current knowledge of the association of sedentary behavior and physical activity (acute and chronic effects) with gene expression and epigenetic modifications in children and adolescents.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were systematically searched until April 2022. A total of 15 articles were eligible for this review. The risk of bias assessment was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool for Systematic Reviews and/or a modified version of the Downs and Black checklist.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Thirteen studies used candidate gene approach, while only 2 studies performed high-throughput analyses. The candidate genes significantly linked to sedentary behavior or physical activity were: <italic>FOXP3</italic>, <italic>HSD11B2</italic>, <italic>IL-10, TNF-</italic>α, <italic>ADRB2, VEGF</italic>, <italic>HSP70</italic>, <italic>SOX</italic>, and <italic>GPX</italic>. Non-coding Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) regulated by sedentary behavior or physical activity were: miRNA-222, miRNA-146<sup>a</sup>, miRNA-16, miRNA-126, miR-320<sup>a</sup>, and long non-coding RNA MALAT1. These molecules are involved in inflammation, immune function, angiogenic process, and cardiovascular disease. Transcriptomics analyses detected thousands of genes that were altered following an acute bout of physical activity and are linked to gene pathways related to immune function, apoptosis, and metabolic diseases.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>The evidence found to date is rather limited. Multidisciplinary studies are essential to characterize the molecular mechanisms in response to sedentary behavior and physical activity in the pediatric population. Larger cohorts and randomized controlled trials, in combination with multi-omics analyses, may provide the necessary data to bring the field forward.</p></sec><sec><title>Systematic Review Registration</title><p>[<ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">www.ClinicalTrials.gov</ext-link>], identifier [CRD42021235431].</p></sec>