Effects of Resistance Training on Immunoinflammatory Response, TNF-Alpha Gene Expression, and Body Composition in Elderly Women.

Luís Ângelo Macêdo Santiago,Janaina De Oliveira Brito Monzani,Francisco Navarro,Richard Diego Leite,Aruanã Joaquim Matheus Rodrigues Pinheiro,Lídio Gonçalves Lima Neto,Guilherme Borges Pereira,Wandson Rodrigues Sousa,Cristiano Texeira Mostarda

doi:10.1155/2018/1467025

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of resistance training on the immunologic response, body composition, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene expression obtained from blood leukocytes, and the cytokines interleukin-6, TNF-alpha, and C-reactive protein (CRP), in the elderly women (mean age 63 ± 2 y). A randomized controlled trial was performed using a bi-set training method for eight weeks in nineteen elderly women. Peripheral blood samples were collected by puncture in pretraining (Pre) and posttraining (Post) moments. In the resistance training group, there was a statistically significant decrease from 38.43 ± 9.48 pg/mL to 11.76 ± 5.19 pg/mL (p=0.01) in the serum levels of interleukin-6. Considering serum levels of TNF-alpha, there was a statistically significant difference, comparing the resistance training group at Pre (66.27 ± 10.31 pg/mL) and Post (37.85 ± 9.05 pg/mL) moments (p=0.01). In molecular analysis of TNF-alpha gene expression, there was a statistically significant decrease (p=0.007) between Pre (0.010 ± 0.01 ng/ml) and Post (0.0002 ± 0.0001 ng/ml) moments. Among CRP data, in the resistance training group, there was a statistically significant reduction, between Pre (2.04 ± 0.32 mg/L) and Post (0.90 ± 0.22 mg/L) moments (p=0.001). In the Control group, there was no statistical significance between these two moments. Therefore, the resistance training demonstrated changes in the TNF-alpha gene expression in elderly women, as well as decreased serum levels of interleukin-6, TNF-alpha, and CRP. Such conditions may be related to immune modulation and anti-inflammatory effects, since resistance training releases cytokines, especially interleukin-6, which acts as a TNF-alpha antagonist during exercise.

Highlights

In recent years, life expectancy has grown considerably
Participants should be between 60 and 70 years; not be enrolled in structured RT programs in the last six months; be nonsmokers; have no degree of obesity according to the World Health Organization [17], using body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) as parameters (BMI ≤ 30 kg/m2 and WHR ≤ 1.00); and voluntarily sign the consent term
Participants should not have untreated hypertension or diabetes mellitus. e total initial sample consisted of 23 elderly women

Summary

Introduction

Until the year 2025, Brazil will become the sixth country in the number of elderly people [1]. Due to this increase in life expectancy and aging, many researchers have investigated several aspects about this theme [2]. Human aging is a process characterized by biological and physiological changes with repercussion on body. Journal of Aging Research composition and onset of chronic systemic inflammation, pointed by the increase of inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP) [2, 4]. According to Silva and Mura [5], several diseases in this life stage result in changes in the immune system with consequent disturbance in cytokine homeostasis

Objectives

Methods

Results