Modulation of brown adipose tissue inflammation: the role of chronic physical exercise on macrophage infiltration and polarization

• Grant number: 15/09768-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2015
• End date: July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Gabarra de Oliveira
• Grantee: Isabela Aparecida Dosualdo Preto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Regarding the current association among inflammation, insulin resistance, and obesity, there is a growing interest in the role of macrophage, as they accumulate in the adipose tissue in obesity and show a relationship with measures of insulin resistance. Macrophages may display two different activation states, one classically pro-inflammatory, known as M1, characterized by pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a e iNOS) and associated with insulin resistance; and a second one anti-inflammatory state, named M2 or alternative characterized by anti-inflammatory products (IL-10 and arginase-I), and associated with improved insulin sensitivity. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly clear that physical exercise may be a useful therapy in the treatment of insulin resistance because it has anti-inflammatory effects and also improves insulin signaling and sensitivity in obesity. Evidence has emerged that both acute and chronic exercise induce macrophage polarization toward M2 in white adipose tissue of obese rodents. However, it remains uncertain the effects of high-fat diet and exercise on macrophage infiltration and polarization in brown adipose tissue of obese animals. Thus, in this project, we will investigate the chronic exercise effects over macrophage infiltration and polarization in brown adipose tissue of high-fat-fed animals.