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Chronic low frequency/low volume resistance training reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine protein levels and TLR4 mRNA in rat skeletal muscle

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Abstract

Skeletal muscle is the source of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and recently, it has been recognized as an important source of interleukin 6 (IL-6), a cytokine that exerts inhibitory effects on several pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although dynamic chronic resistance training has been shown to produce the known “repeated bout effect”, which abolishes the acute muscle damage, performing of high-intensity resistance training has been regarded highly advisable, at least from the hypertrophy perspective. On the other hand, a more therapeutic, “non-damaging” resistance training program, mainly composed of concentric forces, low frequency/low volume of training, and the same exercise, could theoretically benefit the muscle when the main issue is to avoid muscle inflammation (as in the treatment of several “low-grade” inflammatory diseases) because the acute effect of each resistance exercise session could be diminished/avoided, at the same time that the muscle is still being overloaded in a concentric manner. However, the benefits of such “less demanding” resistance training schedule on the muscle inflammatory profile have never been investigated. Therefore, we assessed the protein expression of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-10/TNF-α ratio, and HSP70 levels and mRNA expression of SCFβ-TrCP, IL-15, and TLR-4 in the skeletal muscle of rats submitted to resistance training. Briefly, animals were randomly assigned to either a control group (S, n = 8) or a resistance-trained group (T, n = 7). Trained rats were exercised over a duration of 12 weeks (two times per day, two times per week). Detection of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, and HSP70 protein expression was carried out by western blotting and SCFβ-TrCP (SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases), a class of enzymes involved in the ubiquitination of protein substrates to proteasomal degradation, IL-15, and TLR-4 by RT-PCR. Our results show a decreased expression of TNF-α and TLR4 mRNA (40 and 60%, respectively; p < 0.05) in the plantar muscle from trained, when compared with control rats. In conclusion, exercise training induced decreased TNF-α and TLR-4 expressions, resulting in a modified IL-10/TNF-α ratio in the skeletal muscle. These data show that, in healthy rats, 12-week resistance training, predominantly composed of concentric stimuli and low frequency/low volume schedule, down regulates skeletal muscle production of cytokines involved in the onset, maintenance, and regulation of inflammation.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Emilia Ribeiro. This study (Grant no. 08/51090-1) was supported by the Brazilian Funding Agency (FAPESP—Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied Nutrition and Metabolism, Physical Education and Sport School, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello Moraes, 65, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil

    Nelo Eidy Zanchi & Antonio Herbert Lancha Jr.

  2. Molecular Biology of the Cell Group, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Nelo Eidy Zanchi, Fabio Santos Lira & Marilia Seelaender

  3. Department of Physiology of Nutrition, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Fabio Santos Lira & José Cesar Rosa

  4. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Mário Alves de Siqueira Filho & Carla Roberta de Oliveira Carvalho

  5. Department of Bioscience, Federal University of São Paulo, Baixada Santista, Brazil

    Ronaldo Vagner T. Santos

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  1. Nelo Eidy Zanchi
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  2. Fabio Santos Lira
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  3. Mário Alves de Siqueira Filho
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  4. José Cesar Rosa
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  5. Carla Roberta de Oliveira Carvalho
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  6. Marilia Seelaender
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  7. Ronaldo Vagner T. Santos
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  8. Antonio Herbert Lancha Jr.
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Correspondence to Nelo Eidy Zanchi.

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Communicated by Susan Ward.

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Zanchi, N.E., Lira, F.S., de Siqueira Filho, M.A. et al. Chronic low frequency/low volume resistance training reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine protein levels and TLR4 mRNA in rat skeletal muscle. Eur J Appl Physiol 109, 1095–1102 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1456-0

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