Int J Sports Med 2023; 44(06): 427-437
DOI: 10.1055/a-2008-7732
Physiology & Biochemistry

Regular Voluntary Running is Associated with Increased Tumor Vascularization and Immune Cell Infiltration and Decreased Tumor Growth in Mice

Mário Esteves
1   Instituto de Investigação, Inovação e Desenvolvimento Fernando Pessoa (FP-I3ID), Escola Superior de Saude Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal
2   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Experimental Morphology, CIAFEL, Porto, Portugal
,
Carina Silva
2   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Experimental Morphology, CIAFEL, Porto, Portugal
,
António Bovolini
2   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Experimental Morphology, CIAFEL, Porto, Portugal
,
Sofia S. Pereira
3   Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, University of Porto Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal
,
Tiago Morais
3   Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, University of Porto Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal
,
Ângela Moreira
4   Communication Unit, Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Porto, Portugal
,
Madalena M. Costa
3   Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, University of Porto Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal
,
Mariana P Monteiro
3   Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, University of Porto Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal
,
Jose Alberto Duarte
2   Laboratory of Biochemistry and Experimental Morphology, CIAFEL, Porto, Portugal
5   TOXRUN, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, Gandra, Portuga
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Tumors present dysfunctional vasculature that limits blood perfusion and hinders immune cells delivery. We aimed to investigate if regular voluntary running promotes tumor vascular remodelling, improves intratumoral immune cells infiltration and inhibits tumor growth. Tumors were induced in C57BL/6 male mice (n=28) by subcutaneous inoculation in the dorsal region with a suspension of RM1 cells (1.5×105 cells/500 µL PBS) and randomly allocated into two groups: sedentary (n=14) and voluntarily exercised on a wheel (n=14). Seven mice from each group were sacrificed 14 and 28 days after cells’ inoculation to evaluate tumor weight, microvessel density, vessels’ lumen regularity and the intratumoral quantity of NKG2D receptors, CD4+and CD8+T cells, by immunohistochemistry. The statistical inference was done through a two-way ANOVA. Exercised mice developed smaller tumors at 14 (0.17±0.1 g vs. 0.48±0.2 g, p<0.05) and 28 (0.92±0.7 g vs. 2.09±1.3 g, p<0.05) days, with higher microvessel density (21.20±3.2 vs. 15.86±4.0 vessels/field, p<0.05), more regular vessels’ lumen (1.06±0.2 vs. 1.43±0.2, p<0.05), and higher CD8+T cells (464.95±48.0 vs. 364.70±49.4 cells/mm2, p<0.01), after 28 days. NKG2D expression was higher in exercised mice at 14 (263.27±25.8 cells/mm2, p<0.05) and 28 (295.06±56.2 cells/mm2, p<0.001) days. Regular voluntary running modulates tumor vasculature, increases immune cells infiltration and attenuates tumor growth, in mice.



Publication History

Received: 27 January 2022

Accepted: 15 December 2022

Article published online:
17 March 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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