Exercise reduces plasma levels of the chemokines MCP-1 and IL-8 in subjects with the metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Inflammation plays an essential role in the atherosclerotic process, and chemokines such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) seem to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. A possible common inflammatory basis for the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis has been suggested. In this study we investigated the effect of physical exercise and the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor pravastatin on peripheral markers of inflammation in subjects with the metabolic syndrome.


METHODS
The study was an unmasked randomized 2x2 factorial trial of 12 weeks duration.


RESULTS
In the combined exercise groups there was a significant reduction in MCP-1 and IL-8 of 48 pg/ml (P=0.04) and 1.0 pg/ml (P=0.007), respectively, as compared to the combined non-exercise groups. There was also a significant reduction vs baseline of 50 pg/ml (33%) (P=0.002) and 0.35 pg/ml (13%) (P=0.03) for MCP-1 and IL-8, respectively. Changes in MCP-1 were significantly correlated to changes in visceral fat (r=0.41, P=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The protective effect of exercise might in part be due to suppression of the inflammatory process.
Trøseid
Marius
M
Department of Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway.
Lappegård
Knut T
KT
Claudi
Tor
T
Damås
Jan K
JK
Mørkrid
Lars
L
Brendberg
Randi
R
Mollnes
Tom E
TE
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008055:Lipids