Moderate intensity treadmill exercise influences the immune system and prostate signalome in a rat model of prostate cancer

Material & Methods: Fifty-five male Wistar rats were divided into: control sedentary (SED+CONT; n=10), control exercised (EX+CONT; n=10), induced sedentary (SED+PCa; n=15), and induced exercised (EX+PCa; n=20). Exercised animals were trained in a treadmill, for 53 weeks. PCa induction consisted of flutamide and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea administration, followed by testosterone propionate implants. At sacrifice, prostate was collected for histopathological, immunohistochemical and antibody microarray analysis. Peripheral blood was collected for biochemical and immunophenotyping analysis. Data were analysed using SPSS 25 and values were statistically significant at p<0.05. Results: Body weight was lower in exercised groups than in sedentary ones, either in control and in PCa groups (p<0.05). C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) levels were not different among groups. observed in prostate gland. Peripheral levels of γδ T cells (p<0.05). Exercise training also induced Oestrogen Receptor (ESR1) upregulation and Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase 13 (MAPK13) downregulation.