The role of IL-10 in autophagic and mitochondrial adaptations in the liver tissue of mice subjected to strength training.

• Grant number: 24/07982-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Adelino Sanchez Ramos da Silva
• Grantee: Driele Cassia da Silva Ferreira
• Host Institution: Escola de Educação Física e Esporte de Ribeirão Preto (EEFERP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/11820-5 - Nr1d1 function on the aging-associated Sarcopenia, AP.TEM

Abstract

It is well known that the liver plays a fundamental role in metabolism, being responsible for the synthesis of various substances essential for metabolic activities. Among these substances, interleukins are notable, with this study focusing especially on interleukin-10 (IL-10), recognized as an anti-inflammatory cytokine that plays a crucial role in modulating the hepatic response to inflammatory processes. A relevant aspect of IL-10's functions is its ability to stimulate autophagy, a process of cellular self-degradation that plays a crucial role in removing aged mitochondria. Decreased IL-10 signaling can result in an exacerbated accumulation of damaged mitochondria due to a reduction in autophagy levels, thus compromising hepatic and mitochondrial function. Additionally, it is important to highlight that IL-10 is influenced by physical exercise, which has been shown to increase its circulating concentrations after training. Therefore, a significant aim of this study is to investigate the role of IL-10 in regulating mitochondrial and autophagy processes in the liver following strength training. The specific objectives of this study include: 1) verifying whether there is impairment in the functioning of the mitochondrial machinery and the autophagy pathway in liver tissue in the absence of IL-10; 2) investigating the role of IL-10 in the regulation of mitochondrial and autophagy processes in the liver of mice after eight weeks of strength training. For this purpose, wild-type (WT) and IL-10 knockout (IL-10 KO) mice will be used, divided into two subgroups for each phenotype (n=20/group): Control (sedentary; CT) and Exercise (EX, subjected to strength training). The methodologies employed in this project will include RT-qPCR, western blotting technique, electron paramagnetic resonance, and histological analysis with Oil-red staining. According to the statistical distribution of the data, parametric or non-parametric tests will be used to compare the parameters studied between the experimental groups.