Tai Chi exercise reduces circulating levels of inflammatory oxylipins in postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis: Results from a pilot study

Authors: SHEN, CHWAN-LI - Texas Tech University; Newman, John; ELMASSRY, MOAMEN - Texas Tech University; BORKOWSKI, KAMIL - University Of California, Davis; CHYU, MING-CHIEN - Texas Tech University; KAHATHUDUWA, CHANAKA - Texas Tech University; NEUGEBAUER, VOLKER - Texas Tech University; WATKINS, BRUCE - University Of California, Davis

Submitted to: Frontiers in Medicine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2023
Publication Date: 8/16/2023
Citation: Shen, C., Newman, J.W., Elmassry, M.M., Borkowski, K., Chyu, M., Kahathuduwa, C., Neugebauer, V., Watkins, B.A. 2023. Tai Chi exercise reduces circulating levels of inflammatory oxylipins in postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis: Results from a pilot study. Frontiers in Medicine. 10. Article 1210170. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1210170.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1210170

Interpretive Summary: Tai Chi (TC) controls pain through mind-body exercise and appears to alter inflammatory mediators. The impact of TC on lipids associated with inflammation and brain neural networks in women with knee osteoarthritic pain were investigated. Plasma samples collected from 12 women with knee osteoarthritic pain before and after 8wk of TC group exercise. Circulating lipid mediators of inflammation and pain were measured, and their associations with clinical pain/limitation assessments, and brain resting-state function magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) were assessed. TC exercise reduced proinflammatory prostaglandins and elevated metabolites associated with normal insulin function. Plasma endocannabinoids were elevated in subjects with increased pain. Several lipid mediators of inflammation were positively correlated with brain stress response center function. This pilot study suggests that TC exercise lowers pro-inflammatory signaling in women with knee osteoarthritic and suggest potential mechanisms for lipid mediator impact on brain connectivity, neuroinflammation, and pain.

Technical Abstract: Background Tai Chi (TC) controls pain through mind-body exercise and appears to alter inflammatory mediators. TC actions on lipid biomarkers associated with inflammation and brain neural networks in women with knee osteoarthritic pain were investigated. Methods A single-center, pre- and post-TC group (baseline and 8 wk) exercise pilot study in postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritic pain was performed. 12 eligible women participated in TC group exercise. The primary outcome was LC/MS determination of circulating endocannabinoids (eCB) and oxylipins (OxL). Secondary outcomes were correlations between eCB and OxL levels and clinical pain/limitation assessments, and brain resting-state function magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Results Differences in circulating quantitative levels (nM) of pro-inflammatory OxL after TC were found in women. TC exercise resulted in lower OxL PGE1 and PGE2 and higher 12-HETE, LTB4, and 12-HEPE compared to baseline. Pain assessment and eCB and OxL levels suggest crucial relationships between TC exercise, inflammatory markers, and pain. Higher plasma levels of eCB AEA, and 1, 2-AG were found in subjects with increased pain. Several eCB and OxL levels were positively correlated with left and right brain amygdala-medial prefrontal cortex functional connectivity. Conclusions TC exercise lowers pro-inflammatory OxL in women with knee osteoarthritic pain. Correlations between subject pain, functional limitations, and brain connectivity with levels of OxL and eCB showed significance. Findings indicate potential mechanisms for OxL and eCB and their biosynthetic endogenous PUFA precursors that alter brain connectivity, neuroinflammation, and pain.