Endurance training induces depot-specific changes in IL-10/TNF-α ratio in rat adipose tissue

White adipose tissue (WAT) is the source of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and recently, it has been recognized as an important source of interleukin 10 (IL-10). Acute physical exercise is known to induce an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile, however, the effect of chronic physical exercise on the production of IL-10 by WAT has never been examined. We assessed IL-10 and TNF-α concentration in WAT of rats engaged in endurance training. Animals were randomly assigned to either a sedentary control group (S, n = 7) or an endurance trained group (T, n = 8). Trained rats ran on a treadmill 5 days/wk for 8 wk (55-65% VO_2max). Detection of IL-10 and TNF-α protein and mRNA expression, as well as the gene expression of PPAR-γ, and immunocytochemistry to detect mononuclear phagocytes were carried out. A reduction in absolute retroperitoneal adipose tissue (RPAT) weight in T (44%; p < 0.01), when compared with S was observed. IL-10 concentration was increased (1.5-fold, p < 0.05), to a higher extent than that of TNF-α (66%, p < 0.05) in the mesenteric adipose tissue (MEAT) of the trained group, while no change related to training was observed in RPAT. In MEAT, IL-10/TNF-α ratio was increased in T, when compared with S (30%; p < 0.05). PPAR-γ gene expression was increased in T (1.1-fold; p < 0.01), when compared with S in the same adipose depot. No monocyte infiltration was found. In conclusion, exercise training induced increased IL-10 expression in the mesenteric depot, resulting in a modified IL-10/TNF-α ratio. We also conclude that WAT presents a depot-specific response to endurance training regarding the studied aspects.