Moderate physical exercise improves lymphocyte function in melanoma-bearing mice on a high-fat diet

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Metabolic Syndrome

Background:

• Obesity induces chronic inflammation, increasing cancer risk.
• High-fat diets (HFD) can impact tumor progression and immune function.
• Murine models are crucial for studying melanoma development and therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of HFD and exercise on melanoma growth.
• To evaluate alterations in tumor non-infiltrated lymphocytes function.
• To assess the interplay between diet, exercise, and melanoma in a murine model.

Main Methods:

• Eight groups of female mice were subjected to different diets (normolipidic vs. high-fat) and exercise protocols.
• Melanoma was induced by B16F10 cell implantation after 8 weeks of intervention.
• Immune cell proliferation and T-helper 1 response were analyzed.

Main Results:

• HFD led to significant weight gain and increased energy consumption in mice.
• Tumor growth was accelerated by HFD but attenuated by exercise.
• Exercise modulated lymphocyte proliferation and T-helper 1 response in melanoma-bearing mice.

Conclusions:

• Exercise can mitigate melanoma progression, even in the context of a high-fat diet.
• Modulating lymphocyte function through exercise is a promising therapeutic avenue.
• Moderate-intensity exercise may complement existing treatments for advanced melanoma.