SRP-Groeifinanciering: Physical exercise to counteract inflammation in ageing

Chronic low-grade inflammation (CLIP) in ageing impairs immune response and recovery from infection. Resistance exercise (RE) can counter CLIP and weakness in the aged in a dose-dependent manner. In the ongoing SPRINT study, older persons are randomised to 3 months of either high-load RE, low-load RE or flexibility training (control). WP1 will investigate the effect of RE on CLIP & immunosenescence-related gene expression in PBMC. We will perform a broad transcriptomic assay on a selected number of samples. Serum will be assessed for inflammatory biomarkers by Multiplex technique or ELISA. Selected genes will be quantified by RT-qPCR. WP2 will verify whether RE improves inflammation & immunosenescence in skin tissue (mRNA analyses and immunohistochemistry). A skin prick test will be used for determination of mast cell function. Results will be linked to those of WP1. WP3 will verify whether RE improves the stress response of PBMC by mimicking in-vitro an acute infection (LPS-challenge). Based on changes at the protein level in the supernatants, gene expression will be quantified by RT-qPCR. WP4 investigates whether RE improves the immune response after an in-vivo inflammatory challenge by intradermal saline injection and compare this to results from the in-vitro experiments on PBMC. WP5 will verify if RE-induced anti-inflammation is accompanied by improvement of quality of life and functional outcomes. We anticipate to unravel cellular and tissue-specific anti- inflammatory effects of RE, which will be considered as are future targets for additive therapy to accelerate recovery from inflammatory pathology in older patients.