Fig 5. Expression levels in specific EV miRNAs correlate with aerobic fitness.

For each volunteer (n = 18), baseline miRNA levels from plasma EVs under resting condition were assigned to the corresponding aerobic fitness level estimated as VO_2max. MiRNA expression levels were reported as -ΔCq (where ΔCq = Cq_miR-206-Cq_miR-16). A direct significant correlation (r = correlation coefficient) was observed between levels of miR-1, miR-133b, miR-206, miR-499 and miR-181a-5p (baseline) and VO_2max. MiR-24 expression; which is stably expressed in blood, is the negative control.