The effect of tai chi intervention on NLRP3 and its related antiviral inflammatory factors in the serum of patients with pre-diabetes

Author: Shujuan Hu1,2, Yingxing Hu3, Peilin Long2, Peixiong Li2, Ping Chen2, Xianwang Wang3
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> School of Education and Physical Education, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China. <sup>2</sup> School of Physical Education and Science, Jishou University, Jishou, China. <sup>3</sup> Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China.
Conference/Journal: Front Immunol
Date published: 2022 Sep 28
Other: Volume ID: 13 , Pages: 1026509 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1026509. , Word Count: 232


Background:
NLRP3 inflammasome and its related antiviral inflammatory factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance, but its contribution to pre-diabetes remains poorly understood.

Objective:
To investigate the effects and the potential mechanism of Tai Chi intervention on NLRP3 inflammasome and its related inflammatory factors in the serum of middle-aged and older people with pre-diabetes mellitus (PDM).

Methods:
40 pre-diabetic subjects were divided into a pre-diabetic control group (PDM-C group, N=20) and a Tai Chi group (PDM-TC group, N=20) by random number table. 10 normoglycemic subjects (NG) were selected as controls. We measured clinical metabolic parameters and collected blood samples before and after the 12 weeks of Tai Chi intervention. Antiviral inflammatory factors in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:
The blood glucose, insulin resistance, and inflammation in PDM groups were higher than those in the NG group (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). The results also suggested that 12 weeks of Tai Chi intervention could reduce body weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, insulin resistance, blood lipid, and the expressions of serum inflammatory factors in the pre-diabetic population.

Conclusion:
Tai Chi intervention may improve blood glucose, lipid levels, and insulin resistance in middle-aged and elderly pre-diabetic patients by reducing the level of NLRP3 inflammasome and its related inflammatory factors.

Keywords: NLRP3 inflammasome; inflammatory factors; insulin resistance; pre-diabetes mellitus; tai chi intervention.

PMID: 36248820 PMCID: PMC9554800 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1026509