Introduction: One of proposed mechanism for the protective effect of aerobic exercise related to cancer risk and outcomes, but has not been examined definitively, is the immune response to exercise training. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) and aerobic interval training modulate Th1/Th2 cytokines production in mice with 4T1 breast cancer.
Methodology: Animal distributed to the following groups: tumor-bearing control (CT); control normal (C); tumor-bearing trained (ET); normal trained (E), tumor-bearing selenium nanoparticles (SeT); normal selenium nanoparticles (Se); tumor-bearing selenium nanoparticles plus training (SeET); normal nanoparticles plus training (SeE). Se NP supplementation and aerobic interval training performed twelve weeks. To measure cytokine secretion, splenocytes were cultured and collected supernatant were screened for the presence of IFN-γ and IL-4 to determine the phenotype (Th1 and Th2) of the immune responses.
Results: Tumor-bearing mice showed significant decrease in INF-γ levels. But aerobic interval training and Se NAs significantly increased INF-γ as index of Th1 cells in tumor-bearing mice (P<0.05). Also, IL-4 concentration as index of Th2 cell activation increased in tumor-bearing mice. Exercise training and Se NAs significantly decreased IL-4 concentration (P<0.05).
Discussion: These results proposed that aerobic interval training and Se NAs combination could boost the Th1 cytokine profile and inhibit Th2. Impairments in immune function of patients with advanced cancer have been shown to be related to decreases in the activity of T-lymphocyte and natural killer cells and improving of immune function is a main objective of cancer treatment.