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. 2011 Jan 4:2011:512593.
doi: 10.4061/2011/512593.

The melanocortin 3 receptor: a novel mediator of exercise-induced inflammation reduction in postmenopausal women?

Tara M Henagan  1 , Melody D Phillips, Dennis J Cheek, K Michelle Kirk, James J Barbee, Laura K Stewart
Affiliations

The melanocortin 3 receptor: a novel mediator of exercise-induced inflammation reduction in postmenopausal women?

Tara M Henagan et al. J Aging Res. .

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether resistance exercise training-induced reductions in inflammation are mediated via melanocortin 3 receptor expression in obese (BMI 32.7 ± 3.7) women (65.6 ± 2.8 yrs) randomized to either a control (N = 11) or resistance training group (N = 12). The resistance trained group performed resistance training 3 days/week for 12 weeks. Resting blood samples were collected before and after the training intervention in both resistance trained and control groups. Resistance training upregulated melanocortin 3 receptor mRNA by 16-fold (P = .035) and decreased monocyte count, without changing leukocyte number, body composition, or body weight. Resistance trained individuals exhibited increased sensitivity to inflammatory stimuli, whereas control individuals exhibited no change. While there was no change in whole blood tumor necrosis factor alpha mRNA between the groups, whole blood interleukin 10 mRNA was higher in the resistance trained group following the intervention period. In summary, it appears that resistance training may modulate melanocortin 3 receptor expression, providing a possible mechanism for the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise training.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
MC3R gene expression as assessed by real-time PCR in whole blood samples in CON (N = 10) and EX (N = 9). Values are expressed using the delta-delta Ct method to derive relative fold change. *MC3R mRNA was significantly upregulated 15.9-fold in the EX in comparison to CON (P = .035).
Figure 2
Figure 2
MC3R gene expression stratified into high responders (HR EX: fold change ≥ 2) and low responders (LR EX: fold change < 2) as assessed by real-time PCR in whole blood samples in CON (N = 10) and HR EX (N = 4) and LR EX (N = 5). Values are expressed using the delta-delta Ct method to derive relative fold change. *HR EX was significantly upregulated 34.9-fold in comparison to CON (P = .002).
Figure 3
Figure 3
IL-10 mRNA fold change, expressed as fold change using the delta-delta Ct method in CON (N = 9) and EX (N = 8) groups. There were no significant differences between the groups.
Figure 4
Figure 4
LPS-stimulated TNF-α expressed in fg/monocyte for control (CON: N = 6) and resistance trained (EX: N = 8), before (PRE) and after (PO) the intervention period. *denotes significance (P < .05).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Whole blood monocyte number before (PRE) and after (PO) the intervention in CON (N = 6) and EX (N = 8) participants. *denotes significance (P < .05).
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