Exercise training suppresses scavenger receptor CD36 expression in kupffer cells of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis model mice

Although nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an important component of the metabolic syndrome, scavenger receptor CD36 also modulates NASH development. This study aimed to clarify whether exercise training suppresses CD36 expression in a mouse model of NASH. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: normal diet (ND) sedentary, ND exercise, high-fat diet and high-fructose water (HFF) sedentary, and HFF exercise groups. The exercise groups were trained on a motorized treadmill at running speeds of 15–20 m/min for 60 min/day, 5 times/week for 16 weeks. CD36 cell surface expression of hepatic resident macrophages, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ protein, and mRNA levels in the liver were increased in HFF sedentary mice but were attenuated in HFF exercise mice. Hepatic resident macrophages were significantly lower in HFF exercise mice than in HFF sedentary mice. Our findings indicated that exercise training reduced macrophage quantity in the liver, and downregulated CD36 and PPAR-γ expression in liver and macrophages.