Role of Endurance Training in Preventing Pathological Hypertrophy via Large Tumor Suppressor (LATS) Changes

One of the negative effects of cardiac sympathetic hyperactivity is pathologic hypertrophy. Recent studies have indicated that large tumor suppressor (LATS) is one of the molecules which play a critical role in cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Considering the preventive role of exercise training, we evaluated the effects of endurance training on LATS gene expression and its upstream pathway in the present study. Eighteen male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: endurance and control. Endurance training was performed for 8 weeks, 1 hour per day, and 6 days per week on the treadmill at a 15° inclination. Pathologic hypertrophy was induced with the injection of 3 mg/kg-1 of isoproterenol for 7 days; and after 24 hours, the left ventricle was separated and the gene expressions of LATS, MST, and MAP4K were measured. The apoptosis cells of the left ventricle were counted via TUNEL assay. The data were analyzed using the t-test and the Mann–Whitney test. The gene expressions of LATS and MAP4K in the training group decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.001). In addition, the apoptosis levels of cardiomyocytes in the training group decreased and the left ventricular weight increased significantly. There were no differences in MST gene expression between the groups (P = 0.061). Our results showed that endurance exercise training diminished LATS suppression by reducing the expression of MAP4K, preventing the propagation of apoptosis induced by hypertrophy in the cardiomyocytes of the Wistar rats.