Molecular Indicators of Isometric Exercises Efficacy in Early Rehabilitation of Older Adults after Total Hip Arthroplasty

Developing molecular methods for assessing the effectiveness of physical rehabilitation remains a pressing task. Our study aimed to assess the utility of transcriptome analysis of muscle biopsies in evaluating the efficacy of the isometric exercises (IE) added to the standard protocol in early rehabilitation of older patients during the initial two weeks post total hip arthroplasty (THA). Blood concentrations of total leukocytes, neutrophils, IL6, IL8, IL1β, myoglobin, etc. were measured, and transcriptome analysis of rectus femoris biopsies from the operated leg was performed before and after (1 and 12 days) THA in women aged 73–77 years. The additional IE in the experimental rehabilitation group led to a significant acceleration in the recovery of IL6, IL8 and IL1β blood levels to the normal ranges compared to the control group, as confirmed by Fisher’s exact test for this cytokine combination. The results of Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and Differen-tially Expressed Gene Analyses for the muscle biopsies point to accelerated resolution of inflammation, along with enhanced activation of genes associated with angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, vasodilation, and vasoconstriction in the experimental rehabilita-tion group compared to the control group. Thus, IL6, IL8 and IL1β blood levels can serve being in combination as molecular indicators of the efficacy of early rehabilitation after THA, and transcriptome analysis of the rectus femoris biopsies of the operated leg allows revealing molecular indicators of regenerative processes in muscle tissue near the surgery area after THA.