Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences

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Inflammasome Suppression via Combined Training Modulates Downstream Cytokines (Interleukin-1β/Caspase-1) and Improves Insulin Resistance in Diabetic Rats

Articles InPress

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 Clinical Biomechanics and Ergonomics Center, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Shomal University, Amol, Iran

10.30476/ijms.2026.107912.4254

Abstract

Background: Diabetic Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is connected to prolonged systemic glucose metabolism and/or hyperinsulinemia-induced cardiac metaflammation. This study aims to investigate the effects of combined endurance and resistance training on the protein levels of nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich–containing family, pyrin domain–containing-3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, and interleukin -1β (IL-1β) in the myocardium of male rats with type 2 diabetes. 
Methods: In this experimental study, 24 male Wistar rats (8 weeks old, 260±20 g) were randomly divided into three groups: (n=8/groups): Normal Control (NC), Diabetes Control (DC), and Diabetes+Combined Training (DCT). After type 2 diabetes induction, the training group performed the combined training for 8 weeks, five sessions/week, in spring 2024 at AJA University of Medical Sciences. Approximately 48 hours following the end of the training protocol, blood samples and myocardium tissue were taken for subsequent assessment of inflammatory and biochemical markers. Group comparisons were achieved using one-way ANOVA, followed by the Tukey post hoc test using SPSS (version 22).
Results: Chronic implementation of combined training significantly downregulated final weight (P=0.033), protein levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and IL-1β (P=0.03, 0.001 and 0.019, respectively) in the cardiac tissue as well as modulation the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR: P=0.039) via attenuation of serum glucose and insulin levels (P=0.032 and 0.07) of the training group compared to the diabetic group. 
Conclusion: The modality of combined training (endurance+resistance) can reduce the risk factors associated with DCM in the myocardium of type 2 diabetic rats.

Highlights

Kambiz Pourfarzad (Google Scholar) 
Simin Riahy (Google Scholar)

Keywords

References
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Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences

Articles InPress, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 29 July 2026
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History
  • Received: 30 July 2025
  • Revised: 28 November 2025
  • Accepted: 23 January 2026
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