MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. They are involved in the regulation of physiological processes, such as adaptation to physical exercise, and also in disease settings, such as systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), and obesity. In SAH, microRNAs play a significant role in the regulation of key signaling pathways that lead to the hyperactivation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, proliferation, and phenotypic change in smooth muscle cells, and the hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system. MicroRNAs are also involved in the regulation of insulin signaling and blood glucose levels in T2D, and participate in lipid metabolism, adipogenesis, and adipocyte differentiation in obesity, with specific microRNA signatures involved in the pathogenesis of each disease. Many studies report the benefits promoted by exercise training in cardiovascular diseases by reducing blood pressure, glucose levels, and improving insulin signaling and lipid metabolism. The molecular mechanisms involved, however, remain poorly understood, especially regarding the participation of microRNAs in these processes. This review aimed to highlight microRNAs already known to be associated with SAH, T2D, and obesity, as well as their possible regulation by exercise training.

Several foods and nutrients are being studied extensively because they have a positive effect on thermogenesis and the browning of white adipose tissue. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate, through a systematic review, the effect of green tea for inducing browning of adipose tissue. The systematic review was built following the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyze. We searched the following electronic databases: PubMed (Medline), Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science. We included ten experimental articles that used green tea to treat induced obesity in rodents. Green tea reduced the weight of white and brown adipose tissue, positively regulated gene expression and microRNA that regulate the metabolism of adipose tissue, and morphological changes were identified as beige tissue. According to the results found, the factors involved in this induction to browning are PPARγ, PGC-1α, UCP1, CPT, and PRDM16. Therefore, green tea promotes the browning of adipose tissue in rodents. It is important to emphasize the need for studies in obese humans to identify whether the same metabolic response occurs.

Background: Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is associated with inflammation and fibrosis, which characterizes chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC). CCC manifests as arrhythmias, hypertrophy or dilation of the left ventricle, and it may progress to heart failure. Therefore, interventions are needed to slow the progression of CCC. Aims: We investigated the effects of exercise training in an animal model of CCC.Methods: C57BL/6 mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi were submitted to a progressively treadmill exercise training protocol. The cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiogram and electrocardiogram. RT-qPCR and morphometric analyses were performed on samples of cardiac tissue to quantify inflammation and fibrosis.Results: EKG analysis confirmed that all infected mice developed arrhythmias, with different degrees of severity. Exercise improved arrhythmias in 43.75% of chagasic trained mice, and the remaining mice did not show any alteration in EKG. The untrained chagasic group had no improvement in arrhythmias. The ventricular compliance in chagasic trained mice increased, as revealed by the reduction in isovolumetric relaxation time when compared to untrained mice. Exercise induced the reduction of gene expression of TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and MMP-9 and reduced fibrosis in the heart tissue of chagasic mice.Conclusion: Exercise reduced fibrosis in the heart and skeletal muscle, favoring the improvement of arrhythmias, and augment of cardiac complacency in mice with CCC, in addition to decreasing the expression of profibrotic and proinflammatory genes in the heart.

Several experimental studies of pulmonary emphysema using animal models have been described in the literature. However, only a few of these studies have focused on the assessment of ergometric function as a non-invasive technique to validate the methodology used for induction of experimental emphysema. Additionally, functional assessments of emphysema are rarely correlated with morphological pulmonary abnormalities caused by induced emphysema. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of elastase administered by tracheal puncture on pulmonary parenchyma and their corresponding functional impairment. This was evaluated by measuring exercise capacity in C57Bl/6 mice in order to establish a reproducible and safe methodology of inducing experimental emphysema. Thirty six mice underwent ergometric tests before and 28 days after elastase administration. Pancreatic porcine elastase solution was administered by tracheal puncture, which resulted in a significantly decreased exercise capacity, shown by a shorter distance run (â30.5%) and a lower mean velocity (â15%), as well as in failure to increase the elimination of carbon dioxide. The mean linear intercept increased significantly by 50% in tracheal elastase administration. In conclusion, application of elastase by tracheal function in C57Bl/6 induces emphysema, as validated by morphometric analyses, and resulted in a significantly lower exercise capacity, while resulting in a low mortality rate. Resumo: Vários estudos experimentais de enfisema pulmonar em modelos animais têm sido descritos na literatura científica. No entanto, apenas alguns destes estudos têm sido concentrados na avaliação da função ergométrica como técnica não-invasiva para validar a metodologia utilizada para a indução do enfisema experimental. Além disso, as avaliações funcionais de enfisema raramente se encontram correlacionadas com anomalias morfológicas pulmonares causadas por enfisema induzido. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da elastase administrada por punção traqueal no parênquima pulmonar e a sua disfunção funcional correspondente. Esta foi avaliada através da medição da capacidade de exercício em ratos C57Bl/6, de forma a estabelecer uma metodologia reprodutível e segura de induzir o enfisema experimental. Trinta e seis ratos foram submetidos a testes ergométricos antes e 28 dias após a administração de elastase. A solução de elastase pancreática suína foi administrada por punção traqueal, o que resultou numa diminuição significativamente da capacidade de exercício, demonstrada pela diminuição da distância percorrida (menos de 30,5%) e por uma velocidade média inferior (menos de 15%), assim como pela incapacidade de aumentar a eliminação de dióxido de carbono. A intersecção linear média aumentou significativamente em 50% na administração traqueal da elastase. Em conclusão, a aplicação de elastase por punção traqueal em ratos C57Bl/6 induz enfisema, conforme foi validado por análises morfométricas, e resultou numa capacidade de exercício significativamente mais baixa, embora se tenha obtido uma baixa taxa de mortalidade. Keywords: Pulmonary emphysema, Ergometric test, Porcine elastase, C57Bl/6, Palavras-chave: Enfisema pulmonar, ensaio ergométrico, Elastase suína, C57Bl/

As células-tronco mesenquimais (MSCs) têm demonstrado efeitos terapêuticos promissores devido às propriedades imunológicas, incluindo capacidades anti-inflamatórias, imunorreguladoras e imunossupressoras. Estudos demonstram que o potencial terapêutico das MSCs pode ser ampliado através da modificação genética. Neste contexto, diversas abordagens genéticas têm sido utilizadas para rejuvenescer células senescentes, melhorar a sobrevivência celular, aumentar a migração e o homing e a adesão a locais alvo. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo analisar os fundamentos biotecnológicos aplicados ao melhoramento genético de células-tronco mesenquimais humanas e suas potenciais aplicações clínicas no tratamento de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. O estudo caracteriza-se como uma revisão integrativa da literatura de artigos baseados na terapêutica das MSCs. As pesquisas bibliográficas foram realizadas na base de dados PubMed. Esta investigação permitiu observar os diferentes protocolos empregados nos estudos pré-clínicos e clínicos que utilizam MSCs modificadas em terapia celular para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. Apesar de resultados promissores terem sido observados, limitações, entendimento sobre segurança, biodisponibilidade e eficácia ainda precisam ser melhor avaliados.