Original Research Communication Voluntary Running Suppresses Proinflammatory

Long-term exercise is associated with reduced atherosclerotic burden, inflammation, and enhanced endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) levels in mice. Infusion of progenitor cells in mice decreases atherosclerosis and sup-presses inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine whether exercise-induced enhancement of EPCs is associated with reduced atherosclerosis and inflammation. To study this, 20-week old ApoE/ mice with advanced atherosclerotic lesions (n 12/group) were randomized to voluntary running or no running for 8 weeks. Exercise led to a potent suppression of elevated circulating proinflammatory cytokines without signif-icant reduction of atherosclerotic lesions. When repeated in ApoE/ mice with early atherosclerotic disease, exercise led to a 62 % (p 0.017) reduction in lesion thickness (intima-to-media ratio) at the aortic root. Inter-estingly, BM-EPC levels were significantly elevated under proinflammatory conditions seen in ApoE/ mice and decreased in response to exercise, independent of the degree of atherosclerosis. Under early atherosclerotic conditions, long-term exercise reduces atherosclerotic plaque burden and is associated with reduced systemic inflammation. Elevated BM-EPCs seen in atherosclerotic conditions may be a marker of generalized vascular inflammation or injury, and decrease in response to exercise, along with other markers of inflammation. An-tioxid. Redox Signal. 11, 15–23. 1