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Szilágyi A, Takács B, Szekeres R, Tarjányi V, Nagy D, Priksz D, Bombicz M, Kiss R, Szabó AM, Lehoczki A, Gesztelyi R, Juhász B, Szilvássy Z, Varga B. Effects of voluntary and forced physical exercise on the retinal health of aging Wistar rats. GeroScience 2024; 46:4707-4728. [PMID: 38795184 PMCID: PMC11336036 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01208-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging is accompanied by an increased prevalence of degenerative conditions, including those affecting ocular health, which significantly impact quality of life and increase the burden on healthcare systems. Among these, retinal aging is of particular concern due to its direct link to vision impairment, a leading cause of disability in the elderly. Vision loss in the aging population is associated with heightened risks of cognitive decline, social isolation, and morbidity. This study addresses the critical gap in our understanding of modifiable lifestyle factors, such as physical exercise, that may mitigate retinal aging and its related pathologies. We investigated the effects of different exercise regimens-voluntary (recreational-type) and forced (high-intensity)-on the retinal health of aging Wistar rats (18-month-old), serving as a model for studying the translational potential of exercise interventions in humans. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: a young control (3-month-old) for baseline comparison, an aged sedentary control, an aged group engaging in voluntary exercise via a running wheel in their cage, and an aged group subjected to forced exercise on a treadmill for six sessions of 20 min each per week. After a 6-month experimental period, we assessed retinal function via electroretinography (ERG), measured retinal thickness histologically, and analyzed protein expression changes relevant to oxidative stress, inflammation, and anti-aging mechanisms. Our findings reveal that voluntary exercise positively impacts retinal function and morphology, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation markers while enhancing anti-aging protein expression. In contrast, forced exercise showed diminished benefits. These insights underscore the importance of exercise intensity and preference in preserving retinal health during aging. The study highlights the potential of recreational physical activity as a non-invasive strategy to counteract retinal aging, advocating for further research into exercise regimens as preventative therapies for age-related ocular degenerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Szilágyi
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Barbara Takács
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Réka Szekeres
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Vera Tarjányi
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Dávid Nagy
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Dániel Priksz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Mariann Bombicz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Rita Kiss
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Adrienn Mónika Szabó
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Andrea Lehoczki
- Departments of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, South Pest Central Hospital, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Saint Ladislaus Campus, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral College, Health Sciences Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Rudolf Gesztelyi
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Béla Juhász
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Szilvássy
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Balázs Varga
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt 98., 4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
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Chu-Tan JA, Cioanca AV, Wooff Y, Kirkby M, Ellis M, Gulati P, Karl T, Boatright JH, Bales K, Nickerson J, Natoli R. Voluntary exercise modulates pathways associated with amelioration of retinal degenerative diseases. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1116898. [PMID: 36969592 PMCID: PMC10036398 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1116898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Exercise has been shown to promote a healthier and longer life and linked to a reduced risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases including retinal degenerations. However, the molecular pathways underpinning exercise-induced cellular protection are not well understood. In this work we aim to profile the molecular changes underlying exercise-induced retinal protection and investigate how exercise-induced inflammatory pathway modulation may slow the progression of retinal degenerations. Methods: Female C57Bl/6J mice at 6 weeks old were given free access to open voluntary running wheels for a period of 28 days and then subjected to 5 days of photo-oxidative damage (PD)-induced retinal degeneration. Following, retinal function (electroretinography; ERG), morphology (optical coherence tomography; OCT) and measures of cell death (TUNEL) and inflammation (IBA1) were analysed and compared to sedentary controls. To decipher global gene expression changes as a result of voluntary exercise, RNA sequencing and pathway and modular gene co-expression analyses were performed on retinal lysates of exercised and sedentary mice that were subjected to PD, as well as healthy dim-reared controls. Results: Following 5 days of PD, exercised mice had significantly preserved retinal function, integrity and reduced levels of retinal cell death and inflammation, compared to sedentary controls. In response to voluntary exercise, inflammatory and extracellular matrix integrity pathways were significantly modulated, with the gene expression profile of exercised mice more closely trending towards that of a healthy dim-reared retina. Conclusion: We suggest that voluntary exercise may mediate retinal protection by influencing key pathways involved in regulating retinal health and shifting the transcriptomic profile to a healthy phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A. Chu-Tan
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Adrian V. Cioanca
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Yvette Wooff
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Max Kirkby
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Marissa Ellis
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Pranay Gulati
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Tim Karl
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Katie Bales
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - John Nickerson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Riccardo Natoli
- Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
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AlQabandi Y, Nandula SA, Boddepalli CS, Gutlapalli SD, Lavu VK, Abdelwahab Mohamed Abdelwahab R, Huang R, Potla S, Bhalla S, Hamid P. Physical Activity Status and Diabetic Retinopathy: A Review. Cureus 2022; 14:e28238. [PMID: 36158437 PMCID: PMC9491630 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.28238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Substantial evidence highlights the association between physical inactivity and diabetes onset and complications. Little is known regarding the link between physical inactivity and diabetic retinopathy in terms of onset, progression, and severity. This review aims to investigate these associations and understand the underlying mechanisms behind these associations. Decreased sedentary times and the inclusion of more physical activity have been linked to the delayed onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy and less severe forms of said condition. Physical activity provides both protective and anti-inflammatory effects on the retina. Further research is needed to understand and elucidate the exact mechanisms by which lack of physical activity affects retinal health and the onset, progression, and severity of diabetic retinopathy.
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Chu-Tan JA, Kirkby M, Natoli R. Running to save sight: The effects of exercise on retinal health and function. Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2021; 50:74-90. [PMID: 34741489 DOI: 10.1111/ceo.14023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The benefits of exercise to human health have long been recognised. However, only in the past decade have researchers started to discover the molecular benefits that exercise confers, especially to the central nervous system (CNS). These discoveries include the magnitude of molecular messages that are communicated from skeletal muscle to the CNS. Despite these advances in understanding, very limited studies have been conducted to decipher the molecular benefits of exercise in retinal health and disease. Here, we review the latest work on the effects of exercise on the retina and discuss its effects on the wider CNS, with a focus on demonstrating the potential applicability and comparative molecular mechanisms that may be occurring in the retina. This review covers the key molecular pathways where exercise exerts its effects: oxidative stress and mitochondrial health; inflammation; protein aggregation; neuronal health; and tissue crosstalk via extracellular vesicles. Further research on the benefits of exercise to the retina and its molecular messages within extracellular vesicles is highly topical in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Chu-Tan
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Acton, Australia.,The Australian National University Medical School, The Australian National University, Acton, Australia
| | - Max Kirkby
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Acton, Australia
| | - Riccardo Natoli
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Acton, Australia.,The Australian National University Medical School, The Australian National University, Acton, Australia
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