Physical exercise is associated with a reduction in plasma levels of fractalkine, TGF-β1, eotaxin-1 and IL-6 in younger adults with mobility disability.

Parvin Kumar,Daniel Berglind,Kristoffer Månsson,Catharina Lavebratt,Philippe A Melas,Miranda Stiernborg,Anna Fogdell-Hahn,Tomas Furmark,Yvonne Forsell,Pal Bela Szecsi

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263173

Abstract

Mobility disability (MD) refers to substantial limitations in life activities that arise because of movement impairments. Although MD is most prevalent in older individuals, it can also affect younger adults. Increasing evidence suggests that inflammation can drive the development of MD and may need to be targeted for MD prevention. Physical exercise has anti-inflammatory properties and has been associated with MD prevention. However, no studies to date have examined whether exercise interventions affect the peripheral inflammatory status in younger adults with MD. To this end, we used blood samples from young and middle-aged adults with MD (N = 38; median age = 34 years) who participated in a 12-week intervention that included aerobic and resistance exercise training. A pre-post assessment of inflammatory biomarkers was conducted in plasma from two timepoints, i.e., before the exercise trial and at follow-up (3–7 days after the last exercise session). We successfully measured 15 inflammatory biomarkers and found that exercise was associated with a significant reduction in levels of soluble fractalkine, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), eotaxin-1 and interleukin (IL) 6 (corrected α = 0.004). We also found significant male-specific effects of exercise on (i) increasing IL-16 and (ii) decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). In line with our results, previous studies have also found that exercise can reduce levels of TGF-β1, eotaxin-1 and IL-6. However, our finding that exercise reduces plasma levels of fractalkine in younger adults with MD, as well as the sex-dependent findings, have not been previously reported and warrant replication in larger cohorts. Given the suggested role of inflammation in promoting MD development, our study provides additional support for the use of physical exercise as a treatment modality for MD.

Highlights

Mobility disability (MD) represents substantial limitations in performance of activities and participation in life situations, which arise because of movement impairments [1,2]
Following the exercise intervention, we found a significant reduction in plasma levels of four inflammatory biomarkers: (i) soluble fractalkine/CX3CL1 (sFKN), (ii) TGF-β1, (iii) eotaxin-1 and (iv) IL-6
Our findings support a beneficial role of regular moderate aerobic exercise, combined with resistance training, on both cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) [24] and peripheral inflammatory status in young and middle-aged adults with MD

Summary

Introduction

Mobility disability (MD) represents substantial limitations in performance of activities and participation in life situations, which arise because of movement impairments [1,2]. MD has been linked to a number of negative conditions, including living alone, being impoverished and poorly educated, having low health-related quality of life, and suffering from depression, anxiety, obesity, diabetes or cardiometabolic disorders [6,7]. MD is most prevalent in older individuals and those with chronic conditions such as musculoskeletal diseases and neurological disorders [8], MD can affect younger adults [9]. The treatment options for MD are still limited, there is evidence supporting the use of physical activity interventions for preventing MD and for improving physical functioning in those already affected [10,11]. More than half of the adults (18–64 years old) with MD in the United States have been reported to be physically inactive, and those who visited a health care professional often did not receive physical activity recommendations [6]

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