Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Continuous and High-Intensity Interval Training in Cardiac Injury: Gene Expression Changes of TNF-α and IL-6 Following Myocardial Infarction- exercise physiology

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Continuous and High-Intensity Interval Training in Cardiac Injury: Gene Expression Changes of TNF-α and IL-6 Following Myocardial Infarction- exercise physiology

Iranepf

Shahrekord Univ Med Sci

Fariba Kazemi Beni ¹ , Jamshid Banaei Borojeni ^1* , Elham Eftekhari Gheinani ¹ , Hamid Zahedi ¹

Department of Sports Science, Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran

Abstract

Background and aims: Myocardial infarction (MI) induces chronic inflammation and cytokine overexpression. This randomized controlled experiment investigated the effects of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiac tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-6 gene expression in MI-induced rats.

Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomized into control, MI, MI+MICT, and MI+HIIT groups (10 animals per group). MI was induced by left anterior descending artery occlusion and confirmed by echocardiography. Following recovery, rats completed 8 weeks of treadmill training (MICT: 50–۶۰% VO₂max; HIIT: 85–۹۰% VO₂max). Finally, cardiac TNF-α and IL-6 messenger RNA levels were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and analyzed using one-way ANOVA.

Results: Ejection fraction was lower in MI rats than in controls (38±۵% vs. 68±۴%, P<0.001). TNF-α increased in MI (2.6±۰٫۴ vs. 1.0±۰٫۲, P<0.001) but decreased after MICT (1.7±۰٫۳; P=0.001) and HIIT (1.3±۰٫۲, P<0.001). Moreover, IL-6 rose in MI (2.9±۰٫۵ vs. 1.0±۰٫۲, P<0.001) but declined after MICT (2.0±۰٫۴, P=0.002) and HIIT (1.8±۰٫۳, P<0.001). Additionally, TNF-α reduction was greater with HIIT than MICT (Δ=۰٫۴, P=0.010), while IL-6 changes were not significant (P=0.180).

Conclusion: Overall, both MICT and HIIT mitigated cardiac inflammation after MI by reducing TNF-α and IL-6 gene expression, with HIIT producing a more potent anti-inflammatory effect on TNF-α. These molecular findings suggest that HIIT may offer enhanced anti-inflammatory benefits in post-MI rehabilitation strategies.

Keywords: High-intensity interval training, Continuous training, Myocardial infarction, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Interleukin-6, exercise physiology

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