Interplay between exercise and dietary fat modulates myelinogenesis in the central nervous system

Abstract

Here we show that the interplay between exercise training and dietary fat regulates myelinogenesis in the adult central nervous system. Mice consuming high fat with coordinate voluntary running wheel exercise for 7 weeks showed increases in the abundance of the major myelin membrane proteins, proteolipid (PLP) and myelin basic protein (MBP), in the lumbosacral spinal cord. Expression of MBP and PLP RNA, as well that for Myrf1, a transcription factor driving oligodendrocyte differentiation were also differentially increased under each condition. Furthermore, expression of IGF-1 and its receptor IGF-1R, known to promote myelinogenesis, were also increased in the spinal cord in response to high dietary fat or exercise training. Parallel increases in AKT signaling, a pro-myelination signaling intermediate activated by IGF-1, were also observed in the spinal cord of mice consuming high fat alone or in combination with exercise. Despite the pro-myelinogenic effects of high dietary fat in the context of exercise, high fat consumption in the setting of a sedentary lifestyle reduced OPCs and mature oligodendroglia. Whereas 7 weeks of exercise training alone did not alter OPC or oligodendrocyte numbers, it did reverse reductions seen with high fat. Evidence is presented suggesting that the interplay between exercise and high dietary fat increase SIRT1, PGC-1α and antioxidant enzymes which may permit oligodendroglia to take advantage of diet and exercise-related increases in mitochondrial activity to yield increases in myelination despite higher levels of reactive oxygen species.

Effects of Two Training Programs on Transcriptional Levels of Neurotrophins and Glial Cells Population in Hippocampus of Experimental Multiple Sclerosis

“…In accordance with our findings, the previous studies on the effect of physical exercise on oligodendroglial cell lineage have shown that exercise training protects of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC) and mature OLs against axonal damage [8,34]. Yoon et al showed that exercise training and dietary fat regulates myelinogenesis and alter OL numbers in the adult central nervous system [75]. However, findings suggest that exercise training plays a crucial role in oligodendrogenesis [4,44].…”

Voluntary exercise blocks Western diet-induced gene expression of the chemokines CXCL10 and CCL2 in the prefrontal cortex

“…In a recent report, 20 weeks of high fat diet induced an increase in the numbers of microglia and astrocytes, and TLR4-related proteins in hippocampus, and treadmill exercise normalized these proinflammatory changes (Kang et al, 2016). Similar responses, where exercise reversed or normalized the HFD-driven inflammatory responses have also been seen in liver (Jeong et al, 2015), lung (Warren et al, 2015) and spinal cord (Yoon et al, 2016). For the PFC, the literature is limited and mixed.…”

All Wrapped Up: Environmental Effects on Myelination

“…BMI is negatively correlated to WM integrity in multiple regions of the brain, including the CC [133], and has been implicated in the reduction of OL and OPC numbers in the murine spinal cord [134]. Encouragingly, 7 weeks of exercise training reversed these reductions in the OL population.…”