Evidence mapPaperPMID 42404021Full record

ReviewBiomarker insights2026

Molecular Protein Interactions and Predictive Pathways as Biomarkers for Enhancing Volleyball Performance: A Narrative Review.

Yong Cai, Jie Dai, Anand Thirupathi, Weijun Song

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Biomarker insights, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Yong CaiPhysical Education, Art, Labor Education Center, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China.
Jie DaiCollege of Urban Construction, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, China.
Anand ThirupathiFaculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0924-2538
Weijun SongCollege of General Education, Zhejiang Tongji Vocational College of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Understanding molecular protein interactions offers promising long-term health benefits for volleyball players by serving as biomarkers that enable predictions of metabolic status, inflammation, injury risk, and recovery potential. Objective: This review aims to clarify the molecular protein interactions that serve as useful biomarkers to enhance volleyball performance. Method: For that end, a non-systematic review of the existing literature was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. This review addressed the key molecular pathways as biomarkers that are affected during volleyball performance, such as BDNF, IGF-1, AMPK, PGC-1α, IL-6, and mTORC1, as well as the involvement of small non-coding RNAs, including miR-22, miR-17, miR-125b, miR-24, miR-26a, miR-93, miR-223, miR-320a, and miR-486. Results: From the literature, we observed that a single 60-minute volleyball session elevates growth hormone levels and reduces IL-6, thereby supporting an anabolic state in volleyball players. Moreover, even 2 weeks of volleyball training increases BDNF and IGF-1 expression, partly driven by increases in specific miRNAs, such as miR-223, miR-320a, and miR-486. Notably, the magnitude of BDNF elevation varies across populations, reflecting genetic polymorphisms in the BDNF gene. Conclusion: While measuring these molecular markers provides valuable theoretical insight into training adaptations and stress resilience in volleyball athletes, the extreme heterogeneity of current study protocols and the lack of standardized reference values for these biomarkers make it too early to use them as biomarkers for performance improvement and training adaptation. Consequently, these biomarkers currently serve as basic candidates for future research and require extensive validation before they can be reliably used for real-time, personalized training monitoring in volleyball.

Indexed as

cognitionmolecular pathwaysmolecular proteinsmuscle strengthperformancevolleyball

Identifiers

PMID42404021
PMCPMC13333061

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.