Voluntary Running Suppresses Tumor Growth through Epinephrine- and IL-6-Dependent NK Cell Mobilization and Redistribution
Journal article, 2016

Regular exercise reduces the risk of cancer and disease recurrence. Yet the mechanisms behind this protection remain to be elucidated. In this study, tumor-bearing mice randomized to voluntary wheel running showed over 60% reduction in tumor incidence and growth across five different tumor models. Microarray analysis revealed training-induced up-regulation of pathways associated with immune function. NK cell infiltration was significantly increased in tumors from running mice, whereas depletion of NK cells enhanced tumor growth and blunted the beneficial effects of exercise. Mechanistic analyses showed that NK cells were mobilized by epinephrine, and blockade of beta-adrenergic signaling blunted training-dependent tumor inhibition. Moreover, epinephrine induced a selective mobilization of IL-6-sensitive NK cells, and IL-6-blocking antibodies blunted training-induced tumor suppression, intratumoral NK cell infiltration, and NK cell activation. Together, these results link exercise, epinephrine, and IL-6 to NK cell mobilization and redistribution, and ultimately to control of tumor growth.

physical-activity

cytokines

inflammation

muscle

phenotype

natural-killer-cells

il-6

missing-self-recognition

exercise

cancer

Author

L. Pedersen

Kobenhavns Universitet

M. Idorn

Copenhagen University Hospital

G. H. Olofsson

Copenhagen University Hospital

B. Lauenborg

Kobenhavns Universitet

Intawat Nookaew

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Systems and Synthetic Biology

R. H. Hansen

Amtssygehuset i Herlev

H. H. Johannesen

Amtssygehuset i Herlev

J. C. Becker

Universitats Klinikum Essen und Medizinische Fakultat

K. S. Pedersen

Kobenhavns Universitet

C. Dethlefsen

Kobenhavns Universitet

Jens B Nielsen

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Systems and Synthetic Biology

J. Gehl

Copenhagen University Hospital

B. K. Pedersen

Kobenhavns Universitet

P. T. Straten

Kobenhavns Universitet

Copenhagen University Hospital

P. Hojman

Copenhagen University Hospital

Kobenhavns Universitet

Cell Metabolism

1550-4131 (ISSN)

Vol. 23 3 554-562

Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)

Cell Biology

Areas of Advance

Life Science Engineering (2010-2018)

DOI

10.1016/j.cmet.2016.01.011

PubMed

26895752

More information

Created

10/7/2017