Obesity Affects β2 Adrenergic Regulation of the Inflammatory Profile and Phenotype of Circulating Monocytes from Exercised Animals

Anomalous immune/inflammatory responses in obesity take place along with alterations in the neuroendocrine responses and dysregulation in the immune/stress feedback mechanisms. Exercise is a potential anti-inflammatory strategy in this context, but the influence of exercise on the β2 adrenergic regulation of the monocyte-mediated inflammatory response in obesity remains completely unknown. The first objective of this study was to analyze the effect of exercise on the inflammatory profile and phenotype of monocytes from obese and lean animals, and the second aim was to determine whether obesity could affect monocytes’ inflammatory response to β2 adrenergic activation in exercised animals. C57BL/6J mice were allocated to different lean or obese groups: sedentary, with acute exercise, or with regular exercise. The inflammatory profile and phenotype of their circulating monocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry in the presence or absence of the selective β2 adrenergic receptor agonist terbutaline. Exercise caused an anti-inflammatory effect in obese individuals and a pro-inflammatory effect in lean individuals. β2 adrenergic receptor stimulation exerted a global pro-inflammatory effect in monocytes from exercised obese animals and an anti-inflammatory effect in monocytes from exercised lean animals. Thus, β2 adrenergic regulation of inflammation in monocytes from exercised animals seems to depend on the inflammatory basal set-point.