The effects of high-intensity interval training on the expression of interleukin-10 and STAT3 genes in the intestinal tissue of rats affected by hepatic steatosis

Abstract

Hepatic steatosis is increasingly being recognized as an important pathological feature of disease that commonly reported in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. This study aimed to investigate the effects of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on the expression of interleukin-10 and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) genes in intestinal tissue in an animal model of fatty liver. In this experimental study, 24 rats (weighing 200-250 gr) were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups including healthy control, fatty liver, and fatty liver + HIIT, groups. In order to induce fatty liver, oral tetracycline 140 mg/kg/day in 2 mL of water in form of a solution was given to the rats by gavage for 7 days. HIIT exercise program performed on treadmill five sessions per week for 5 weeks. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests. P<0.05 was considered significant. The results showed that IL10 gene expression in HIIT groups was significantly lower than in the fatty liver group (p<0.0001). Also, the expression of the STAT3 gene in intestinal tissue was significantly upper in HIIT groups than that in the fatty liver group (p<0.0001). Regulation of IL-10 and STAT3 gene expression in fatty liver-induced adipose tissue can be modulated by HIIT exercise. Therefore, intense interval training can be considered as a non-pharmacological strategy in the treatment of fatty liver.

Keywords

• high intensity interval training
• hepatic steatosis
• stat3
• interleukin-10