Low-grade chronic inflammation is attenuated by exercise training in obese adults through down-regulation of ASC gene in peripheral blood: a pilot study

Abstract

Background: Obesity is characterized by low-grade chronic inflammation and an excess of adipose tissue. The ASC gene encodes a protein that is part of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a cytosolic multiprotein complex that is associated with inflammation and metabolic alterations. To our knowledge, there is no evidence regarding ASC gene activity in obese adults in response to lifestyle modifications. Purpose: To evaluate the effect of hypocaloric diet and moderate-intensity structured exercise intervention on ASC gene expression and inflammatory markers in obese adults. Methods: Thirty-seven obese individuals aged 25 to 50 years were randomized to the hypocaloric diet exercise group or hypocaloric diet group. The participants underwent a 4-month follow-up. Electrical bioimpedance was used for body composition analysis. Biochemical data were analyzed by dry chemistry and insulin levels by ELISA. ASC gene expression from peripheral blood was performed using real-time PCR. Dietary data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using the Nutritionist Pro™ software. Quantification of cytokines was conducted using Bio-Plex Pro™ Human cytokine. The Astrand-Ryhming test was used to estimate the maximum oxygen volume and design the moderate-intensity structured exercise program~75% heart rate (HR) Results: After the intervention, both study groups significantly improved body composition (decreased weight, fat mass, waist circumference and abdominal obesity, p < 0.05). Besides, the diet-exercise group significantly decreased ASC mRNA expression, MCP-1, and MIP-1β inflammatory cytokines compared to the diet group (p < 0.05). While in the diet group, MCP-1 and IL-8 exhibited significantly decreased levels (p < 0.05). In the diet-exercise group, a positive correlation between the atherogenic index and waist circumference was found (r = 0.822, p = 0.011), and a negative correlation was observed between the delta of ASC mRNA expression and IL-10 levels at the end of the intervention (r = − 0.627, p = 0.019).

Improved Nutritional Knowledge in the Obese Adult Population Modifies Eating Habits and Serum and Anthropometric Markers

“…A decrease in the consumption of more harmful foods is related to lower CRP levels and higher levels of nutritional knowledge. This reinforces the idea of the importance of physical exercise and healthy eating for the control of inflammation [55]. Moderate physical activity was also related to an increase in nutritional knowledge.…”

Exercise Inhibits NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Obese Mice via the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Meteorin-like

“…Considering that TLR is involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation [ 37 ], it can be postulated that exercise may also be involved in suppressing these pathways. Consistent with this notion, individualized exercise prescription has been reported to attenuate ASC gene expression in peripheral blood cells in obese individuals [ 38 ]. Animal studies have also shown that exercise suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in the aorta of obese mice [ 39 ], diabetic cardiomyopathy [ 40 , 41 ], and various brain regions, including the hippocampus [ 42 ], thus exerting protective effects against disease progression.…”

The Effect of Resistance, Aerobic, and Concurrent Aerobic and Resistance Exercises on Inflammatory Markers of Metabolically Healthy Overweight or Obese Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…54 Another study by Barron-Cabrera et al also supported that changes in pro-inflammatory levels were seen in the exercise group compared to diet-only intervention, regardless of weight loss experienced by both groups. 55 Lastly, personal factors are also at play in changes in adiposity-related inflammatory markers. The review found that women had a greater reduction in pro-inflammatory levels compared to men.…”