Eccentric training impairs NF-κB activation and over-expression of inflammation-related genes induced by acute eccentric exercise in the elderly

The present study was aimed to investigate in elderly humans changes in NF-kappa B activation and in the expression of the inflammation-related genes inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) induced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by acute eccentric exercise and by submaximal eccentric training. Eleven subjects, aged 66-75 years, carried out 2 bouts of eccentric exercise separated by 8 weeks of training. Following the first bout, NF-kappa B activation, and protein level of p50/p65 subunits, phospho-I kappa B alpha and phospho-IKK alpha increased, while I kappa B alpha protein level was significantly reduced. This was accompanied by a significant increase in NOS, COX-2 and IL-6 mRNA protein level and protein content. Changes were significantly attenuated following the second exercise bout. In conclusion, acute eccentric exercise increases NF-kappa B activation and the expression of several inflammation-related genes in PBMC from elderly individuals. Regular eccentric training might be an effective method of preventing undesirable inflammatory responses induced by eccentric exercise. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.