| Resistance training improves pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and connexin 43), in a rheumatoid arthritis rat model |
| Paper ID : 1819-SSRC-13TH |
| Authors |
|
abbas saremi * 1. Associate Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Arak University, Arak, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Introduction: Exercise therapy inhibits joint destruction by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines. The efficacy of pharmacotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) differs depending on the phase of the disease, but that of exercise therapy for each phase is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance training on the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and connexin 43 changes induced by rheumatoid arthritis in rats. Methods: 8-week-old female Wistar rats were distributed within three groups (n=10 in each): a normal control group (C), a rheumatoid arthritis control group (RA+C), and a rheumatoid arthritis resistance training group (RA+RT). At nine weeks-of-age, rheumatoid arthritis was induced by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (20mg/kg) into the tail of Wistar rats. The degree of arthritis was assessed by macroscopic assessments such as walking ability, skin redness, and swelling in the joints. Rats in RA+RT were exercised 5 times per week for 8 weeks (~30-60 min/day), whereas the C and RA+C remained sedentary in their cages. After the end of the resistance training protocol, the right ankle joints of the rats were removed and set in 4% paraformaldehyde. Then the levels of TNF-α and connexin 43 in the synovial membrane were evaluated by immunohistochemically method. The variance analysis test and the Tukey post-hoc test were applied to analyze the data (P<0.05). Results: As predicted, rheumatoid arthritis significantly increased levels of TNF-α and connexin 43, and resistance training prevented this response (P<0.05). In addition, the severity of rheumatoid arthritis clinical signs in RA+RT group was significantly lower than RA+C group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that resistance training may be helpful in preventing negative changes in the pro-inflammatory parameters associated with rheumatoid arthritis. |
| Keywords |
| Inflammation, resistance training, rheumatoid arthritis, tumor necrosis factor |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
