Background and Purpose: Diabetes is associated with low-grade inflammation and plays multiple roles in its pathogenesis. Controlling inflammatory factors as a therapeutic strategy has attracted much attention. NLRP3 is a protein complex that plays a key role in innate immune responses and inflammation. This protein creates an inflammatory environment by stimulating the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, which disrupts insulin signaling and causes insulin resistance. IL-1β activates the c-Jun N-terminal kinases(JNK), causing serine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate 1, inhibiting the expression of the protein kinase Akt, and impairing the PI3K/Akt insulin signaling pathway in insulin-sensitive tissues, leading to insulin resistance. The present study aimed to determine the effect of eight weeks of combined training on the expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β genes in the liver tissue of male diabetic Wistar rats.
Materials and Methods: In the present experimental study, 30 male Wistar rats, 8 weeks old and weighing 200-250 g, were randomly divided into three groups: healthy control, diabetic control, and diabetic exercise groups. To induce diabetes, 55 mg of streptozotocin per kilogram of body weight of the rats was injected intraperitoneally. The diabetic exercise group performed a combined training program for eight weeks, five days a week. The resistance training program included 8 to 15 times of climbing the steps of a ladder while carrying weights equivalent to 3% of the rats' body weight, and the endurance training program included running on a treadmill at a speed of 15 m/min for 15 minutes to 20 m/min for 40 minutes. SPSS software version 24 and one-way ANOVA tests and Tukey's post hoc test were used for data analysis at a significance level of P<0.05.
Results: The expression level of NLRP3 gene in the diabetic control group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control and diabetic exercise groups (P=0.001). The expression level of this gene in the diabetic exercise group was significantly reduced compared to the diabetic control group. (P=0.001). However, it was significantly higher compared to the healthy control group (P=0.001). The expression levels of IL-1β gene in the diabetic control group were significantly higher than that in the healthy control and diabetic exercise groups (P=0.001). The expression level of this gene in the diabetic exercise group was significantly reduced compared to the diabetic control group (P=0.001). However, it was significantly higher compared to the healthy control group (P=0.001).
Conclusion: Eight weeks of combined training resulted in a significant reduction in the expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β genes in the liver tissue of diabetic rats.