Linda MayWisseman, Bree Lynn2024-08-292024-07July 2024July 2024http://hdl.handle.net/10342/13675ABSTRACT Excessive inflammation during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Specifically, increased pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and c-reactive protein (CRP) have been associated with gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and preterm birth. Similarly, pathologies of the maternal-fetal interface, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, are associated with high pro-inflammatory biomarkers. This also increases fetal exposure to high inflammation in utero, contributing to the increased risk of cardiometabolic and mental conditions later in life. In non-gravid adults, exercise is an effective method for reducing pro-inflammatory and increasing anti-inflammatory biomarkers, differing with exercise mode. Currently, no research has directly compared the effect of exercise modes during pregnancy on maternal, placental, and fetal inflammatory biomarkers. The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the effect of maternal aerobic, resistance, or combination (aerobic + resistance) exercise during pregnancy on maternal, placental, and cord inflammation. Samples from healthy pregnant women with singleton pregnancies that participated in a randomized control trial exercise intervention were obtained. The exercise intervention consisted of 150-minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic, resistance, or combination exercise per week from <16-wks gestation until delivery. First, we investigated the effect of exercise mode on inflammation in maternal plasma at enrollment (<16-wks) and 36-wks gestation. Second, we examined the concentration of inflammatory biomarkers in placental tissue. Third, cord blood was analyzed for inflammatory biomarkers. All studies utilized Luminex xMAP technology to quantify biomarker concentration. The second and third studies also identified protein and pathway differences with exercise using a label-free proteomics. Maternal, placental, and cord blood inflammatory biomarkers were similar between groups. However, these data revealed that other exercise metrics predicted inflammatory biomarker concentration. Specifically, increased weekly exercise duration predicted lower IL-6 and IL-8 and increased weekly exercise frequency predicted higher TNF-α in late pregnancy maternal plasma. Increased weekly exercise intensity predicted lower placental fibrinogen. Lastly, total exercise volume, exercise mode, and pre-pregnancy BMI predicted cord blood IL-6 and exercise mode and pre-pregnancy BMI predicted cord blood cortisol. Label-free proteomics revealed significantly different proteome landscapes in aerobic, resistance, and combination exercisers placental tissue and cord blood compared to controls. We identified multiple downregulated proteins in placentas of exercisers that related to inflammation and immunity. Similarly, there was a downregulation in cord blood pathways that related to innate and adaptive immunity, possibly indicating reduced downstream inflammatory biomarkers. Altogether the studies within this dissertation did not support our central hypothesis that exercise mode would differentially alter inflammatory biomarkers during pregnancy. However, our studies highlight the importance of monitoring all exercise metrics (e.g., frequency, intensity, time, type), as each related to changes in maternal, placental, and fetal inflammation. We were also able to identify other inflammatory proteins and pathways in placental tissue and cord blood, providing targets for future projects. Collectively, the studies within this dissertation support the safety of exercise during pregnancy, further emphasizing the possible benefits, regardless of exercise mode. The projects in this dissertation extend the knowledge on how antenatal exercise impacts inflammation during pregnancy, thus impacting maternal and infant health.application/pdfEnglishHealth Sciences, KinesiologyDoctoral Dissertation2024-08-27