title: Prolonged physical training decreases mRNA levels of glucocorticoid receptor and inflammatory genes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prolonged physical exercise induces adaptive alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, increasing cortisol metabolism, and reducing cortisol synthesis and glucocorticoid sensitivity. The mechanisms responsible for this relative glucocorticoid resistance remain unknown but may involve expression of genes encoding glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and/or inflammatory molecules of nuclear factor kappa B1 (NFkB1) signaling pathway and cytokines. This study aimed to determine the impact of prolonged physical training on the expression of genes involved in glucocorticoid action and inflammatory response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal sedentary male cadets of the Brazilian Air Force Academy were submitted to 6 weeks of standardized physical training. Eighteen of 29 initially selected cadets were able to fully complete the training program. Fasting glucose, insulin and cortisol levels, cytokine concentration and the expression of genes encoding GR, NFkB1, inhibitor of NFkB1 and IkB kinase A were determined before and after the training period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prolonged physical exercise reduced the basal cortisol levels and the percent cortisol reduction after dexamethasone. These findings were associated with a significant reduction in the mRNA levels of GR (6.3%), NFkB1 (63%), inhibitor of NFkB1 (25%) and IkB kinase A (46%) with concomitant reduction in cytokine concentrations (ELISA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prolonged physical training decreases the glucocorticoid sensitivity and the mRNA levels of the GR gene combined with decreased mRNA of genes related to the NFkB pathway.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Physiology Department, Santa Casa de São Paulo, Faculty of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiane
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sousa e Silva
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Longui
authors.forename: Mylene Neves
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Claudia Dutra Costantin
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Murilo Rezende
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Thelma Gomes
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Julio Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Luiz Vicente
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Rizzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000502:physiology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D016207:Cytokines; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007328:Insulin; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D006854:Hydrocortisone