The effect of tai chi intervention on NLRP3 and its related antiviral inflammatory factors in the serum of patients with pre-diabetes

Abstract

BackgroundNLRP3 inflammasome and its related antiviral inflammatory factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance, but its contribution to pre-diabetes remains poorly understood.ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and the potential mechanism of Tai Chi intervention on NLRP3 inflammasome and its related inflammatory factors in the serum of middle-aged and older people with pre-diabetes mellitus (PDM).Methods40 pre-diabetic subjects were divided into a pre-diabetic control group (PDM-C group, N=20) and a Tai Chi group (PDM-TC group, N=20) by random number table. 10 normoglycemic subjects (NG) were selected as controls. We measured clinical metabolic parameters and collected blood samples before and after the 12 weeks of Tai Chi intervention. Antiviral inflammatory factors in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsThe blood glucose, insulin resistance, and inflammation in PDM groups were higher than those in the NG group (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). The results also suggested that 12 weeks of Tai Chi intervention could reduce body weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, insulin resistance, blood lipid, and the expressions of serum inflammatory factors in the pre-diabetic population.ConclusionTai Chi intervention may improve blood glucose, lipid levels, and insulin resistance in middle-aged and elderly pre-diabetic patients by reducing the level of NLRP3 inflammasome and its related inflammatory factors.

Exercise training-attenuated insulin resistance and liver injury in elderly pre-diabetic patients correlates with NLRP3 inflammasome

“…In this study, we found that the protein expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome components in pre-diabetic patients were higher as compared to normal healthy subjects, implying that the pre-diabetic patients were also in the chronic inflammatory state. In line with our results, one latest research also showed that the blood glucose, insulin resistance, and NLRP3 inflammasome activity were higher in prediabetic patients than in normal control subjects (22).…”

“…Furthermore, recent studies showed that appropriate exercise was able to inhibit the overactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome in human models of T2DM ( 11 ), healthy young students ( 18 ), elderly subjects ( 19 , 20 ), obese children ( 21 ). However, the evidence of beneficial effects of exercise intervention on inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in pre-diabetic human models is largely unknown ( 22 ). Moreover, in recent years, the traditional Chinese exercises including TaiChi, Yijinjing, Wuqinxi, Baduanjin, Liuzijue have been noted, whereas the research on Yijinjing is less.…”

NLRP3 Inflammasome in Relation to Glucose and Lipid Metabolism, and Insulin Resistance in Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes

“…In addition, FBG, HbA 1 C, FINs, and HOMA-IR were increased, and HDL-C, HOMA-β were lower in the serum of the T2DM group when compared with those in the PDM group, indicating that the development of diabetes may be closely related to glucose and lipid metabolism, and IR. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multiprotein complex responsible for the activation of inflammatory responses and plays an important role in the development of innate immunity and inflammation-related diseases [5] [14]. Brown et al found that the mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 were elevated in diabetic rats from the 4 th or 8 th week of diabetes [15].…”

“…Due to the complex pathogenesis of diabetes, it is characterized that chronic inflammation and insulin resistance (IR) are pivotal factors for the occurrence and development of diabetes [3]. The roles of inflammasome and its related factors in diabetes and IR have attracted much attention, and have become important targets for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases [4] [5].…”

“…Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a multi-protein complex composed of the core member (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated spot-like protein (ASC), and Caspase-1 [6] [7]. Chronic inflammatory responses mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome and related factors play an important role in the progression of diabetes [5]. It was found that the levels of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in the serum of diabetic patients were significantly increased, and correlated with the progression of diabetes [8] [9].…”