Interaction between cigarette smoke exposure and physical training on inflammatory and oxidative profile in mice muscle

Regular physical training and cigarette smoke exposure (CSE) have opposite effects on physical performance, antioxidant, and inflammatory profile. However, the interaction between these events is not well studied. We aimed to investigate how regular physical training and CSE interact, and in what is the outcome of this interaction on the physical performance, skeletal muscle antioxidant defense and molecular profile response of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8/group): 1) Sedentary group (SED); 2) 4 weeks of control, followed by 4 weeks of CSE (SED + CSEG); 3) Physically active (PA) along 8 weeks (forced swim training, 5 times a week); 4) Physically active and exposed to the cigarette smoke (PA + CSEG), group submitted to forced swim training for 4 weeks, followed by 4 weeks of concomitant training and CSE. Physical performance was evaluated before and after the experimental period (8 weeks), total peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, expression of genes encoding TNF-α, MCP-1, IL1β, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β, HO-1 and the TNF-α/IL-10 ratio were determined from gastrocnemius muscle at the end of experimental period. The CSE attenuated the aerobic capacity adaptation (time to exhaustion in swimming forced test) promoted by physical training and inhibit the improvement in local muscle resistance (inverted screen test). The regular physical training enhanced the antioxidant defense, but the CSE abrogated this benefit. The CSE induced a harmful pro-inflammatory profile in skeletal muscle from sedentary animals whereas the regular physical training induced an opposite adaptation. Likewise, the CSE abolished the protective effect of physical training. Together, these results suggest a negative effect of CSE including, at least in part, the inhibition/attenuation of beneficial adaptations from regular physical training.