To examine the effect of running exercise on behavioral measures of pain and intervertebral disc (IVD) inflammation in the SPARC-null mouse model.

Male and female 8-month old SPARC-null and age-matched control mice received a home cage running wheel or a control, fixed wheel for 6 months. Behavioral assays were performed to assess axial discomfort (grip test) and radiating leg pain (von Frey, acetone tests) and voluntary running was confirmed. Expression of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-10, CCL5, CXCL1, CXCL5, RANKL, M-CSF, and VEGF) in IVDs was determined. Additional inflammatory (IL-1β, IL-1Ra, CXCR1, CXCR2) and macrophage phenotypic markers (ITGAM, CD80, CD86, CD206, Arg1) in IVDs were investigated by qPCR.

Voluntary running attenuated behavioral measures of pain in male and female SPARC-null mice. Increases in mediators including IL-1β, CXCL1 and CXCL5 were observed in SPARC-null compared to control IVDs. After 6 months of running, increases in M-CSF and VEGF were observed in male SPARC-null IVDs. In females, pro-inflammatory mediators, including CXCL1 and CXCL5 were downregulated by running in SPARC-null mice. qPCR analysis further confirmed the anti-inflammatory effect of running in female IVDs with increased IL-1Ra mRNA. Running induced upregulation of the macrophage marker ITGAM mRNA in males.

Voluntary running reversed behavioral signs of pain in male and female mice and reduced inflammatory mediators in females, but not males. Thus, the therapeutic mechanism of action may be sex-specific.