Immune activation and inflammation participate in the progression of chronic heart failure (CHF). Th17 cells and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells both come from naive Th cells and share reciprocal development pathways but exhibit opposite effects. We hypothesized that the Th17/Treg balance was impaired in patients with CHF, and exercise can improve it. Rats with ischemic cardiomyopathy were prepared by ligaturing the left anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery. Rats in training group were trained with treadmill; Th17 cells increased significantly while Treg cells significantly decreased in s by flow cytometry, and the peripheral blood level of IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α was obviously elevated by ELISA assay. We found that Th17/Treg balance is impaired in CHF rats, suggesting Th17/Treg imbalance potentially plays a role in the pathogenesis of CHF. Exercise can improve Th17/Treg imbalance, which also improves cardiac function of CHF.
Keywords: Aerobic exercise; Heart failure; Regulatory T cells; T helper 17 cells.