Effects of different physical training protocols on inflammatory markers in Zymosan‐induced rheumatoid arthritis in Wistar rats

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and involvement of the synovial membrane, causing joint damage and deformities. No effective drug treatment is available, and physical exercise has been utilized to alleviate the inflammatory processes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different exercise training protocols on Zymosan-induced RA inflammatory markers in the right knee of Wistar rats. The rodents were subjected to aerobic, resisted, and combined physical training protocols with variations in the total training volume (50% or 100% of resistance and aerobic training volume) for 8 weeks. All physical training protocols reduced cachexia and systemic inflammatory processes. The histological results showed an increase in the inflammatory influx to the synovial tissue of the right knee in all physical training protocols. The rats that underwent combined physical training with reduced volume had a lower inflammatory influx compared to the other experimental groups. A reduction in the mRNA expression of inflammatory genes and an increase in anti-inflammatory gene expression were also observed. The physical training protocol associated with volume reduction attenuated systemic and synovial inflammation of the right knee, reducing the impact of Zymosan-induced RA in rats.

Low-Intensity Physical Exercise Decreases Inflammation and Joint Damage in the Preclinical Phase of a Rheumatoid Arthritis Murine Model

“…The precise role of PE in the joints of patients with RA is rarely reported in humans due to the unavailability of joint tissue. Most studies in animal models of RA dealing with PE focus on the differential effect of diverse types and doses of PE [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], while its impact on the preclinical phases has scarcely been explored. Animal models of RA demonstrate that PE influences joint pathological processes once arthritis is established; however, its effects are not conclusive [ 15 ].…”