Age-related changes of the immune system lead to an increased morbidity and mortality due to enhanced vulnerability to infectious diseases and malignancies. Recent studies revealed the important effects of physical activity on immune functions, which may largely depend on the type of exercise, its intensity and duration. However, limited information is available regarding the immunological effects of sport activities in older ages. The aim of our study was to examine the changes in a wide spectrum of lymphocyte subtypes after regular workout among healthy elderly individuals. We enrolled 29 elderly women with sedentary lifestyle (mean age: 67.03 ± 3.74 years) to take part in a 6-week long functional conditioning gymnastic exercise program. The percentages of peripheral natural killer (NK), NKT cells, T and B lymphocyte subtypes (early-/late-activated T, naïve and memory T, cytotoxic T (Tc), T-helper (Th)1, Th2, Th17, T regulatory type 1 (Tr1), CD4+CD127lo/-CD25bright Treg, as well as naïve and memory B cells) were determined by flow cytometry. Evaluation of the changes in functional capability of Treg cells was based on in vitro functional assays. At the end of exercise program, in parallel with improvements in body composition and physical performance, significant changes in naïve and memory lymphocyte ratios were observed. Importantly, levels of naïve Tc cells elevated, ratios of effector memory Tc cells decreased and distribution of memory B cells rearranged as well. Additionally, proportions of late-activated HLA-DR+ T cells increased, while percentages of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10 producing Tr1 cells, as well as immunosuppressive CD4+CD127lo/-CD25bright Treg cells decreased following the exercise workout. Changes observed after the regular exercise program indicate an improvement in the age-related redistribution of certain naïve and memory cell proportions and a retuned immune regulation in older ages.

Introduction: Effects of physical activity on immune functions may largely depend on the type of activity, its intensity and duration. However, little information is available regarding the immunological effects of sporting activities in older ages. The aim of our study was to examine the changes in a wide spectrum of lymphocyte subtypes after a period of regular workout among healthy women of different ages. Methods: In our study, we enrolled 16 elderly women (between ages of 60-75 years) formerly not engaged in regular physical activity, who took part in lightweight conditioning gymnastic exercise program. Eight young athletes and 26 young adults with sedentary lifestyle served as controls. The percentages of peripheral NK, NKT cells, T and B lymphocyte subtypes were determined by flow cytometry based on the staining of extracellular markers and intracellular cytokines. Results: Lymphocyte subgroups did not differ between the groups of young athletes and young adults with sedentary lifestyle. However, in elderly women, levels of NKT cells were lower, while ratios of T helper / T cytotoxic cells were higher compared to younger individuals. At the end of exercise program, in elderly women, percentages of naive B cells decreased, while levels of switched-memory B cells increased. Furthermore, proportions of Th2 cells increased, while levels of immunosuppressive CD4+CD127-CD25bright Treg cells decreased as the result of regular exercise. Conclusion: Differences observed after lightweight exercise programs reflect a presumably enhanced immunoreactivity and increased ability for immune responses in older ages.

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A fizikai aktivitásnak és testmozgásnak kiemelt jelentősége van az egészség fenntartásában és számos megbetegedés kockázatának csökkentésében. A testmozgásnak kifejezett immunomoduláló hatásai vannak, befolyásolja a veleszületett immunrendszer elemeinek, úgymint a neutrofileknek, makrofágoknak, természetes ölősejteknek arányát és funkcióját, mely sejtek a gyulladás kialakításában, fenntartásában, megszüntetésében egyaránt részt vesznek. Az adaptív immunrendszer esetében a Th1/Th2 egyensúly eltolódása történik Th2 irányba, valamint a magas intenzitású edzés emelkedést okoz a regulatórikus T sejtek arányában, szemben a nem megterhelő testmozgás Treg sejtarányt csökkentő hatásával. A testmozgásra adott válaszban a B sejtek érintettségéről nincsenek egyértelmű adatok, ellenben néhány tanulmány az immunglobulin szekréció csökkenéséről számolt be. Saját kutatásaink során a naív és memória B sejtarányok megváltozását figyeltük meg. Edzés hatására az IL-6, egy proinflammatórikus citokin segíti a T sejtek proliferációját, aktiválását, valamint a B sejtek antitesttermelő plazmasejtekké történő differenciálódását is. Az immunológiai változások hátterében a hormonális tényezők fontos szerepet játszanak. A testmozgás, mind az adrenalin, mind a noradrenalin szekrécióját serkenti, koncentrációjuk a vérben egyenesen arányos a testmozgás időtartamával. A kimerítő testedzéshez megnövekedett kortizolszint társul, míg kis intenzitású testmozgás jelentősen nem befolyásolja a kortizolszintet. A testmozgás és a fizikai stressz 3-10-szeresére emelheti az endorfinok koncentrációját, a β-endorfin gátolja a T- és B sejtek aktivitását, így csökkentve az antitesttermelést. A tesztoszteron az IL-4, IL-5, IFN-γ, illetve Ig-M és Ig-G antitestek csökkentéséhez vezet. Mindezek alapján az enyhe, illetve közepes terheléssel járó fizikai aktivitás hozzájárul az immunreaktivitás fokozódásához, illetve az immunrendszer erősödő válaszkészségéhez. Ezzel szemben azonban a fokozott intenzitással járó, kimerítő testedzés az immunfunkciók romlásához, az immunológiai védelem károsodásához vezet.

Introduction: Effects of physical activity on immune functions may largely depend on the type of activity, its intensity and duration. However, little information is available regarding the immunological effects of sporting activities in older ages. The aim of our study was to examine the changes in a wide spectrum of lymphocyte subtypes after a period of regular workout among healthy women of different ages. Methods: In our study, we enrolled 16 elderly women (between ages of 60-75 years) formerly not engaged in regular physical activity, who took part in lightweight conditioning gymnastic exercise program. Eight young athletes and 26 young adults with sedentary lifestyle served as controls. The percentages of peripheral NK, NKT cells, T and B lymphocyte subtypes were determined by flow cytometry based on the staining of extracellular markers and intracellular cytokines. Results: Lymphocyte subgroups did not differ between the groups of young athletes and young adults with sedentary lifestyle. However, in elderly women, levels of NKT cells were lower, while ratios of T helper / T cytotoxic cells were higher compared to younger individuals. At the end of exercise program, in elderly women, percentages of naive B cells decreased, while levels of switched-memory B cells increased. Furthermore, proportions of Th2 cells increased, while levels of immunosuppressive CD4+CD127-CD25bright Treg cells decreased as the result of regular exercise. Conclusion: Differences observed after lightweight exercise programs reflect a presumably enhanced immunoreactivity and increased ability for immune responses in older ages.