Proteomic analysis of HIIT-regulated activation of spinal microglia in OA rats
The protein sequencing approach was used to analyse the gene transcriptome between OA and OA+HIIT rats to elucidate the mechanisms of action by which HIIT would relieve OA-induced pain. A total of 32 genes showed significant differences, of which 10 genes were up-regulated and 22 genes were down-regulated when compared OA+HIIT with OA group (Figure 5A, E). PPI network shows the interactions between different proteins (Figure 5B). KEGG pathway analysis was shown in Figure 5C-D, in which Jak2/Stat3 signaling pathway is closer to HIIT treatment. The qRT-PCR analysis verified down-regulation of genes related to HIIT, with the expression levels of Stat3, Stat1, Jak2, and Grb2 significantly down-regulated in the OA+HIIT group compared with the OA group (P < 0.05, Figure 5F).