Moderate exercise mitigates cardiac dysfunction and injury induced by cyclosporine A through activation of the PGI2 / PPAR-γ signaling pathway

Background and purpose: The present study investigated the role of the prostaglandin I2/peroxisome proliferator activator receptor (PGI2/PPAR) signaling pathway in cardiac cell proliferation, apoptosis, and systemic hemodynamic variables under cyclosporine A (CsA) exposure alone or combined with moderate exercises. Experimental approach: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were classified into three groups, namely, control, CsA, and CsA + exercise. Findings/Results: After 42 days of treatment, the findings showed a significant enhancement in the expression of the β-MHC gene, enhancement in protein expression of Bax and caspase-3, and a significant decline in the protein expression of Bcl-2 expression, as well as increased proliferation intensity in the heart tissue of the CsA group compared to the control group. Systolic pressure, pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure (MAP), QT and QRS duration, and T wave amplitude, as well as QTc amount in the CsA group, showed a significant increase compared to the control group. PPAR-γ and PGI2 showed no significant changes compared to the control group. Moderate exercise along with CsA significantly enhanced the protein expression of PPAR-γ and PGI2 and declined protein expression of Bax, and caspase-3 compared to those in the CsA group. In the CsA + exercise group, systolic pressure, MAP, and Twave showed a significant decrease compared to the CsA group. Moderate exercises along CsA improved heart cell proliferation intensity and significantly reduced β-MHC gene expression compared to the CsA group. Conclusions and implications: The results showed moderate exercise alleviated CsA-induced heart tissue apoptosis and proliferation with the corresponding activation of the PGI2/PPAR-γ pathway.