Impact of Nordic Walking training program on inflammasome activation in elderly women

Patients and methods: 64 elderly women were randomly assigned to either the experimental (EXP, n= 29) and control group (CTRL, n= 35). Subjects from EXP completed 12 weeks of moderate aerobic training program, whereas CTRL did not performe any activity. Blood samples were taken at baseline, before and after the first and the last Nordic walking unit. Inflammasome activation status was assessed through the analysis of whole blood NLRP3 and TLR4 expression by RT-qPCR and the application of a normalization study to define the most reliable normalization strategy. Plasma levels of inflammasome-related cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNFα were assayed by a multiplex immunoassay.

Results:The increment of IL-1β and TNFα concentrations was observed in response to the first and last unit of NW. NLRP3 and TLR4 were decreased before the last training session.