Treadmill exercise promotes neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury via downregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators

Abstract

BackgroundStroke is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, which is associated with serious physical deficits that affect daily living and quality of life and produces immense public health and economic burdens. Both clinical and experimental data suggest that early physical training after ischemic brain injury may reduce the extent of motor dysfunction. However, the exact mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on neuroprotection and understand the underlying mechanisms.Materials and methodsMiddle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was conducted to establish a rat model of cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury to mimic ischemic stroke. Experimental animals were divided into the following three groups: sham (n=34), MCAO (n=39), and MCAO plus treadmill exercise (n=28). The effects of aerobic exercise intervention on ischemic brain injury were evaluated using functional scoring, histological analysis, and Bio-Plex Protein Assays.ResultsEarly aerobic exercise intervention was found to improve motor function, prevent death of neuronal cells, and suppress the activation of microglial cells and astrocytes. Furthermore, it was observed that aerobic exercise downregulated the expression of the cytokine interleukin-1β and the chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein-1 after transient MCAO in experimental rats.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that treadmill exercise rehabilitation promotes neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury via the downregulation of proinflammatory mediators.

Effect of treadmill exercise on spatial navigation impairment associated with cerebellar Purkinje cell loss following chronic cerebral hypoperfusion

“…2 . GFAP, a marker of reactive astrocytes, was revealed to be significantly increased following cerebral ischemia ( 26 ); however, this effect was significantly attenuated following treadmill exercise (P<0.001; Fig. 2A ).…”

Effect of a 6-week Aerobic Exercise Program on High-mobility Group Box 1 Gene Expression in Aortic Tissue of Diabetic Rats

“…Studies have shown that exercise reduces gene expression Cytokine IL-1β. Hence, it is possible that exercise decreases the inflammatory response through HMGB1 and exerts its protective effect [16,34].Pan et al reported that aerobic exercise reduces cardiac tissue HMGB1 protein in diabetic patients [15], and Gialoria et al reported a decrease in this gene in patients with myocardial infarction [35]. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) increase after exercise.…”

Bone Marrow Stromal Cells With Exercise and Thyroid Hormone Effect on Post-Stroke Injuries in Middle-aged Mice

“…Treadmill exercise was initiated 24 h after ischemia for 30 min and continued daily for 6 consecutive days (Zhang et al, 2016). Mild exercise included running at 3 m/min for 5 min, 5 m/min for 5 min, and then 8 m/min for 20 min at 0° slope (18).…”