Eccentric training impairs NF-κB activation and over-expression of inflammation-related genes induced by acute eccentric exercise in the elderly

The present study was aimed to investigate in elderly humans changes in NF-κB activation and in the expression of the inflammation-related genes inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) induced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by acute eccentric exercise and by submaximal eccentric training. Eleven subjects, aged 66–75 years, carried out 2 bouts of eccentric exercise separated by 8 weeks of training. Following the first bout, NF-κB activation, and protein level of p50/p65 subunits, phospho-IκBα and phospho-IKKα increased, while IκBα protein level was significantly reduced. This was accompanied by a significant increase in iNOS, COX-2 and IL-6 mRNA protein level and protein content. Changes were significantly attenuated following the second exercise bout. In conclusion, acute eccentric exercise increases NF-κB activation and the expression of several inflammation-related genes in PBMC from elderly individuals. Regular eccentric training might be an effective method of preventing undesirable inflammatory responses induced by eccentric exercise.