Response of inflammatory cytokines to acute bout of exercise and 8-week intervention study in untrained subjects with obesity

Background Acute physical exercise leads to rapid changes in blood cytokines. However, the changes are variable and can be influenced by reduced physical fitness and other type 2 diabetes risk factors. We investigated the influence of metabolic parameters and endurance training on the acute release of cytokines in subjects at high risk to develop type 2 diabetes.

Methods Untrained participants with obesity (n=22) completed an 8-week intervention study consisting of 30-min bike and 30-min treadmill at 80% VO2peak three times a week. Blood samples were collected in the fasted, resting condition and after acute exercise bouts (30-min bike) performed before and after the intervention. 92 inflammatory cytokines were measured using a proximity extension assay.

Results 69 cytokines were reliably detected. 14 cytokines were increased after acute exercise (FC≥1.5) with the highest fold increase for oncostatin M and TGFalpha (FC>2). The training intervention significantly improved physical fitness and glucose homoeostasis. However, the training did not change the cytokine response to acute exercise, or the resting cytokine levels. Out of all cytokines, only the acute increase in IL6 correlated significantly with increased levels of lactate. Additionally, the acute increase in cytokines was positively associated to BMI and visceral adipose tissue.

Conclusion Visceral obesity increases the acute cytokine response to exercise. Training improves diabetes risk factors without changing the acute response. The correlation of the acute increase in serum IL6 and lactate underlines the close relationship of IL6 release and glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle during exercise.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
26. Mai 2022