Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk

Abstract The present study aimed to compare the effects of three weeks black seed oil massage on serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, CRP, and CPK in elite male taekwondo athletes. Fifteen elite male taekwondo athletes participated in this quasi experimental study. Three intervention groups were included: massage, black seed oil, and massage combined with black seed oil. No true control group (receiving neither intervention) was included, which represents a major limitation of the study design. All interventions were administered once weekly for three consecutive weeks. Participants in the massage group received a 30 45 min Swedish massage; the black seed oil group underwent topical application of 5 10 mL of black seed oil; and in the combined intervention group, Swedish massage was performed using black seed oil as the massage medium. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant main effect of time for both IL-6 and IL-10(p≤0.001). A significant group×time interaction was observed for these two inflammatory markers(p≤0.007), although the overall between-group main effect was not statistically significant. Bonferroni revealed that at the first week post-test, serum IL-6 and IL-10 levels were significantly higher in the black seed oil group than in the massage plus black seed oil group (p≤0.05). Furthermore, within-group analyses showed that IL-6 and IL-10 levels significantly increased from baseline to all subsequent post-intervention measurements in all three groups (p≤0.05). The lower IL 6 and IL 10 response observed in the combined massage and black seed oil group during the first week is an isolated exploratory finding that may reflect Type I error or chance variation; it should not be interpreted as evidence of clinically relevant modulation. Given the absence of a true control group and the severely underpowered sample (N=12, 4 per group), these results should be considered preliminary and hypothesis generating.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the individual and combined effects of aerobic training (AT) and pineapple supplementation (extract) on programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) gene expression within the tumor microenvironment and on systemic interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in a murine melanoma model. Twenty C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into four groups (n=5 per group) following melanoma tumor induction: Tumor control, AT, Pineapple Supplement (PS), and AT+PS. The AT group underwent a structured aerobic training program, while the PS group received pineapple extract (300 mg/kg/day) via oral gavage for six weeks. Serum IL-10 concentrations were quantified by ELISA, and PD-1 mRNA expression in tumor tissue was analyzed using quantitative RT-PCR. All intervention groups—AT, PS, and their combination—resulted in a significant downregulation of PD-1 gene expression within the tumor compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In contrast, neither AT nor PS alone significantly altered systemic IL-10 levels. The combination therapy (AT+PS) produced the most pronounced suppression of PD-1 and was the only intervention to elicit a significant, though modest, reduction in serum IL-10. These findings indicate that the primary immunomodulatory effect of these interventions is localized to the tumor microenvironment and is largely independent of systemic IL-10 signaling. The synergistic combination of aerobic training and pineapple supplementation potently suppresses PD-1 gene expression, suggesting a promising, non-pharmacological strategy for enhancing anti-tumor immunity. Further investigation is required to confirm these effects at the protein level and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Abstract Hepatic steatosis is increasingly being recognized as an important pathological feature of disease that commonly reported in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. This study aimed to investigate the effects of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on the expression of interleukin-10 and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) genes in intestinal tissue in an animal model of fatty liver. In this experimental study, 24 rats (weighing 200-250 gr) were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups including healthy control, fatty liver, and fatty liver + HIIT, groups. In order to induce fatty liver, oral tetracycline 140 mg/kg/day in 2 mL of water in form of a solution was given to the rats by gavage for 7 days. HIIT exercise program performed on treadmill five sessions per week for 5 weeks. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests. P<0.05 was considered significant. The results showed that IL10 gene expression in HIIT groups was significantly lower than in the fatty liver group (p<0.0001). Also, the expression of the STAT3 gene in intestinal tissue was significantly upper in HIIT groups than that in the fatty liver group (p<0.0001). Regulation of IL-10 and STAT3 gene expression in fatty liver-induced adipose tissue can be modulated by HIIT exercise. Therefore, intense interval training can be considered as a non-pharmacological strategy in the treatment of fatty liver.