Previously, we found that miR-492 delayed the progression of atherosclerosis (AS) by acting as an up-stream regulator of resistin. Therefore, we hypothesized that the anti-atherogenic effects of exercise are related to miR-492-mediated downregulation of resistin and repair of endothelial injury. In this study, we investigated the effects of the miR-492/resistin axis on improving endothelial injury in ApoE-/- mice (ApoE-deficient/knockout in C57BL/6 mice) through swimming exercises. Our results showed that the severity of AS and insulin resistance (IR) in these mice were significantly reduced by swimming exercises. In addition, miR-492 expression in the aortic endothelium of ApoE-/- mice was decreased, in addition to increased levels of resistin. Interestingly, swimming exercises increased miR-492 expression while decreasing that of resistin. Taken together, swimming exercises delayed the progression of AS, possibly by upregulating miR-492 and downregulating resistin in aortic endothelium. Therefore, exercises modulated glucose and lipid metabolism, alleviated endothelial IR, and repaired endothelial injury.
Animals Aorta