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The effect of physical exercise on inflammatory cells of the brain

Andersson, Emelie (2015) BION01 20151
Degree Projects in Biology
Popular Abstract
The effect of physical exercise on inflammatory cells of the brain

Neurodegenerative diseases are the leading causes of permanent cognitive impairment and motor dysfunctions in the adult population worldwide. These diseases are characterized by neuroinflammation (inflammation in the brain), primarily mediated by resident immune cells of the central nervous system known as microglia. As pharmaceutical treatments are limited, lifestyle interventions have been suggested for the management of these diseases. Emerging evidence indicates that regular physical exercise can reduce the risk for and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. These effects may partially be due alleviated neuroinflammation.

The anti-inflammatory effect of... (More)
The effect of physical exercise on inflammatory cells of the brain

Neurodegenerative diseases are the leading causes of permanent cognitive impairment and motor dysfunctions in the adult population worldwide. These diseases are characterized by neuroinflammation (inflammation in the brain), primarily mediated by resident immune cells of the central nervous system known as microglia. As pharmaceutical treatments are limited, lifestyle interventions have been suggested for the management of these diseases. Emerging evidence indicates that regular physical exercise can reduce the risk for and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. These effects may partially be due alleviated neuroinflammation.

The anti-inflammatory effect of physical exercise has previously been attributed to the release of soluble factors known as myokines from contracting skeletal muscles into the blood. It has also been suggested that lactate, whose blood levels are elevated in response to physical exercise, may exert neuroprotective effects. To what extent and by which mechanisms these factors may contribute to reduced neuroinflammation is however largely unknown.

In this study, we have investigated the effect of soluble factors found in the circulation in response to physical exercise on microglial inflammation. For this purpose, serum collected from non-exercising mice or mice subjected to physical exercise were added to microglial cell cultures prior to introduction of an inflammatory stimulus. We also investigated the potential anti-inflammatory effect of lactate in the same way.

The results from the present study indicate that soluble factors released into the blood in response to exercise can alter the inflammatory response of microglia. Furthermore, we provide evidence that lactate is able to alter inflammation mediated by microglia. The mechanism behind this effect is yet to be discovered. Our results suggest that elevated blood lactate levels observed in response to physical exercise may have an effect on brain function in both health and disease.











Supervisor: Tomas Deierborg
Master´s Degree Project 45 credits in biology 2015
Department of Biology, Lund University (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Andersson, Emelie
supervisor
organization
course
BION01 20151
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
language
English
id
7862312
date added to LUP
2015-09-09 11:57:09
date last changed
2015-09-09 11:57:09
@misc{7862312,
  author       = {{Andersson, Emelie}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The effect of physical exercise on inflammatory cells of the brain}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}