The impact of high-intensity interval exercise training on NK-cell function and circulating myokines for breast cancer prevention among women at high risk for breast cancer

Adriana M Coletta; Nadia H Agha; Forrest L Baker; Grace M Niemiro; Preteesh L Mylabathula; Abenaa M Brewster; Therese B Bevers; Enrique Fuentes-Mattei; Karen Basen-Engquist; Susan C Gilchrist; Richard J Simpson

doi:10.1007/s10549-021-06111-z

The impact of high-intensity interval exercise training on NK-cell function and circulating myokines for breast cancer prevention among women at high risk for breast cancer

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2021 Jun;187(2):407-416. doi: 10.1007/s10549-021-06111-z. Epub 2021 Feb 8.

Authors

Adriana M Coletta^{1

2

3}, Nadia H Agha⁴, Forrest L Baker^{5

6}, Grace M Niemiro⁵, Preteesh L Mylabathula^{5

6}, Abenaa M Brewster⁷, Therese B Bevers⁷, Enrique Fuentes-Mattei⁸, Karen Basen-Engquist⁹, Susan C Gilchrist^{7

10}, Richard J Simpson^{5

6

9

11

12}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health and Kinesiology, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. adriana.coletta@hci.utah.edu.
² Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. adriana.coletta@hci.utah.edu.
³ Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, 2000 Circle of Hope Drive, Research South Building Room 4747, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA. adriana.coletta@hci.utah.edu.
⁴ Department of Health and Human Performance, The University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
⁶ Department of Nutritional Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
⁷ Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
⁸ Department of Radiation Oncology Clinical Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
⁹ Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
¹¹ Department of Immunobiology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
¹² The University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA.

Abstract

Purpose: Preclinical evidence suggests that natural killer cell (NK-cell) function and myokines facilitate the protective effects of exercise for breast cancer prevention. Since higher-intensity exercise acutely promotes greater mobilization and larger changes in NK-cell cytotoxicity than lower-intensity, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) might offer increased immune protection compared to moderate-intensity continuous-training (MICT). This study compared a 12-week HIIT program to a 12-week MICT program and usual care on changes in resting NK-cell function and circulating myokines among women at high risk for breast cancer.

Methods: Thirty-three women were randomized to HIIT, MICT, or usual care, for a supervised exercise intervention. Blood was collected at baseline and end-of-study. The cytotoxic activity of CD3-/CD56+ NK-cells against the K562 target cell line in vitro was determined by flow cytometry. Circulating myokines (IL-15, IL-6, irisin, OSM, osteonectin, IL-7) were assessed with luminex multiplex assays and ELISA. One-way ANOVA and paired sample t-tests assessed between- and within-group differences, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients determined relationships between baseline fitness and change variables.

Results: Significant differences were not observed between groups for change in NK-cell function or circulating myokines (p > 0.05). Significant correlations were only observed for baseline peak aerobic capacity (ml/kg/min) and change in NK-cell-specific lysis (r = - 0.43, p = 0.02) and hemacytotoxicity for the total sample (r = - 0.46, p = 0.01).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that exercise intensity may not significantly impact change in resting NK-cell function and circulating myokines among women at high risk for breast cancer. Structured exercise training may have a larger impact on NK-cell function in those with lower levels of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Clinical trial registration: NCT02923401; Registered on October 4, 2016.

Keywords: Breast cancer prevention; Cytokines; Exercise immunology.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Breast Neoplasms*
Cardiorespiratory Fitness*
Exercise
Exercise Therapy
Female
High-Intensity Interval Training*
Humans

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02923401

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Associated data

Grants and funding