Molecular mechanisms in exercise training-induced atheroprotection

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26560404
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied health science
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Okutsu Mitsuharu 名古屋市立大学, その他の研究科, 講師 (80409755)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 動脈硬化 / 運動 / オートファジー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Animal studies have shown that regular exercise prevents atherosclerosis. Autophagy has been functionally linked to homeostasis in organs. Here, we determined if regular exercise-induced autophagy activation is sufficient to mitigate high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned into Sedentary (Sed) and (Ex) group. Mice in exercise group were performed voluntary wheel-running exercise for 16 weeks. Mice in both groups were fed 45% high-fat diet. After exercise training periods, aorta tissue was harvested and analyzed autophagy proteins by western blot. We showed that 16 weeks regular exercise prevented high-fat diet-induced obesity and atherosclerosis. Autophagy flux (i.e., LC3-II protein) in Sed mice was greater than Ex mice. These results suggest that exercise training may regulate atherosclerotic plaques formation by autophagy.

Free Research Field

スポーツ科学、応用健康科学、運動分子生物学