Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training and Curcumin Supplementation on Cardiac Tissue HSP60 and HSP20 Levels and Gene Expression levels of miR-21 and miR-30 in Rats Exposed to Arsenic

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and curcumin supplementation on cardiac heat shock proteins level and gene expression level of microRNAs in rats exposed to arsenic. 32 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of Control, Curcumin, Exercise and concomitant(Curcumin+Exercise). Arsenic 5 mg/kg.day and curcumin 15 mg/kg.day, were consumed orally for entire the study period. HIIT were conducted for six weeks (5 d/w, 60 min/session (consisted of 10 intervals of running (4 min) at 85-90% of Vo2max with 2 min recovery at 50-60% of Vo2max). Tissue protein content and gene expression levels was assessed by Western blotting and PCR methods respectively. No between group difference was observed for gene expression levels of miR-21(P>0.05).The cardiac HSP60, HSP20 levels and the gene expression levels of miR-30 was significantly higher in all three intervention groups compared to Control group(P<0.001). Moreover, the cardiac HSP60, HSP20 content was significantly higher in concomitant group compared to both groups of Exercise and Curcumin(P<0.05). Arsenic exposure may likely increase the vulnerability of cardiomyocytes to injury by altering the amount of heat shock proteins content and the expression levels of microRNAs. Both HIIT and curcumin supplementation could be likely effective to reduce the hazards of arsenic within heart, However, the concomitant intervention might be had more beneficial effects. However, more research is still needed to be done due to the lack of similar evidence and no comprehensive measurement of the influential factors.