Physical Activity and Exercise Promote Peroxisome  Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Expression in Adipose Tissues of Obese Adults

Maryam  Zarkesh; Zahra  Nozhat; Mahdi  Akbarzadeh; Maryam S  Daneshpour; Behnaz  Mahmoodi; Golaleh  Asghari; Mehdi  Hedayati; Afsoon  Daneshafrooz; Rani  Fedoruk; Emad  Yuzbashian; Parvin  Mirmiran; Alireza  Khalaj

doi:10.18502/ijph.v51i11.11181

Maryam Zarkesh Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Nozhat Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahdi Akbarzadeh Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maryam S Daneshpour Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Behnaz Mahmoodi Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Golaleh Asghari Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mehdi Hedayati Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Afsoon Daneshafrooz Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Rani Fedoruk Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Emad Yuzbashian Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Parvin Mirmiran Nutrition and Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Alireza Khalaj Department of Surgery, Tehran Obesity Treatment Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v51i11.11181

Keywords: Adipose tissue; Exercise; Non-diabetic

Abstract

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) has recently been studied for its potential influence on the functional response of the human body to exercise. We aimed to investigate the association of habitual physical activity (PA) with PPARγ mRNA level in the visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues (VAT and SAT) in non-obese and obese non-diabetic adults.

Methods: VAT and SAT were obtained from 95 individuals, including 40 non-obese (BMI<30kg/m²) and 55 obese (BMI≥30kg/m²) who underwent elective abdominal surgery (Tehran, Iran, 2012-2015). The assessment of habitual PA was performed by a valid and reliable International PA Questionnaire-long form, and the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) was evaluated. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR evaluated the PPARγ expression in VAT and SAT.

Results: PPARγ expression in both VAT (1.18 vs. 0.37 fold change, P<0.001) and SAT (2.07 vs. 0.29 fold change, P=0.004) among obese subjects was higher than the non-obese group. After controlling for age, sex, and total energy intake, a positive association was found between total METs and PPARγ expression in both VAT and SAT among obese participants (β=0.22, P=0.007 and β=0.12, P<0.001, respectively). Among obese participants, there was a direct association between leisure time-related METs with VAT PPARγ expression (β=0.05, P=0.026). Moreover, in this group, an association was observed between occupation-related METs with PPARγ in both fat tissues (β=0.11, P=0.002 and β=0.17, P=0.013, respectively), and household work-related METs with SAT PPARγ (β=0.21, P=0.011).

Conclusion: High PA as an indispensable part of a healthy lifestyle may exert its beneficial effect by regulating PPARγ expression.