The effects of aging and exercise on lung mechanics, surfactant and alveolar macrophages

Abstract

IntroductionIt has been well established that advancing age leads to changes to the respiratory system and an associated susceptibility to lung diseases. Furthermore, exercise may counteract this pulmonary disease susceptibility. To start to investigate the underlying processes of these effects we explored the baseline characteristics due to aging and exercise on lung mechanics and on two important components of a healthy pulmonary environment, alveolar macrophage function and the pulmonary surfactant system. It was hypothesized that aging would impact lung mechanics, macrophage polarization and the status of the surfactant system, and that these changes would be mitigated by exercise.Experimental approach: Male C57BL/6 mice were housed from 2–3 to 22 months, for the aged group, or until 4 months of age for young control mice. Mice in both the young and aged groups were randomized to either voluntarily running exercise or non‐exercise for a 2 month period. Mice were euthanized and lung mechanics were analyzed using a Flexivent ventilator. Subsequently, the lungs were lavaged to obtain pulmonary surfactant and alveolar macrophages. Pulmonary surfactant was analyzed for surfactant pool sizes and activity whereas alveolar macrophages were examined for a response to pro‐and anti‐inflammatory stimuli.ResultsChanges in lung mechanics, such as increased compliance and decreased airway resistance, were observed in the aged cohorts. These changes were not affected by exercise.The quantity as well as the biophysical activity of the pulmonary surfactant system was unaffected by either aging or exercise. More alveolar macrophages were recovered from exercising aged mice as compared to both the young and non‐exercising groups.Support or Funding InformationWestern Strategic Support, Lawson Internal Research FundsThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.