High physical activity in young children suggests positive effects by altering autoantigen‐induced immune activity

Abstract

Physical activity in children is associated with several positive health outcomes such as decreased cardiovascular risk factors, improved lung function, enhanced motor skill development, healthier body composition, and also improved defense against inflammatory diseases. We examined how high physical activity vs a sedentary lifestyle in young children influences the immune response with focus on autoimmunity. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells, collected from 55 5-year-old children with either high physical activity (n = 14), average physical activity (n = 27), or low physical activity (n = 14), from the All Babies In Southeast Sweden (ABIS) cohort, were stimulated with antigens (tetanus toxoid and beta-lactoglobulin) and autoantigens (GAD65 , insulin, HSP60, and IA-2). Immune markers (cytokines and chemokines), C-peptide and proinsulin were analyzed. Children with high physical activity showed decreased immune activity toward the autoantigens GAD65 (IL-5, P < 0.05), HSP60 and IA-2 (IL-10, P < 0.05) and also low spontaneous pro-inflammatory immune activity (IL-6, IL-13, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and CCL2 (P < 0.05)) compared with children with an average or low physical activity. High physical activity in young children seems to have positive effects on the immune system by altering autoantigen-induced immune activity.

Cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and circulating white blood cells in US youth

“…Some studies have suggested that a sedentary lifestyle may lead to a deteriorated immune response. 2 We, however, did not observe any association between sedentary behavior and WBC count or any subfraction. 9 Therefore, our findings corroborate the results of a previous meta-analysis which indicate that there is limited available evidence demonstrating that the overall volume or patterns of sedentary behavior are associated with health and development in children and young people.…”

“…It has been previously suggested that high PA in young children suppresses the immune activity and induces anti-inflammatory effects. 2 The current study found that meeting the international PA recommendations was weakly associated with lower total WBC count and with higher odds of depicting a normal range in this parameter in both, boys and girls. Similarly, boys who were active had lower neutrophil concentration in comparison with more inactive counterparts.…”

“…exercise, immune system, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, physical fitness, sedentary time fitness (CRF) [6][7][8] have an inverse relationship with several inflammatory markers (eg, c-reactive protein-CRP) in children and adolescents. Carlsson et al 2 suggested that physical inactivity (ie, not achieving the minimal international PA recommendations of 60 min/day of MVPA) and self-reported sedentary behaviors may alter the immune activity and facilitate an autoimmune reaction. Nonetheless, studies using accelerometer-derived sedentary behavior seem to contradict these observations, particularly after adjusting the predictive models for MVPA.…”

Mechanisms of vascular comorbidity in autoimmune diseases

“…Carlsson et al stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from children with high versus average physical activity. The authors found that high physical activity was associated with lower immune reactivity toward autoantigens GAD65, HSP60, and IA-2 and also with lower spontaneous pro-inflammatory immune activity [ 32 ▪ ].…”

Immunmodulatorische Effekte sportlicher Aktivität

“…Carlsson et al demonstrierten bei fünfjährigen Kindern, dass sich die Reagibilität von mononukleären Zellen (Sekretion von IL-6, IL-13, IFN-γ, TNF-α und CCL-2) gegenüber Autoantigenen (GAD65, Insulin, HSP60 und IA-2) in Abhängigkeit vom körperlichen Aktivitätsniveau unterscheidet (29). Hierbei zeigte sich, dass die Zellen von Kindern mit viel körperlicher Aktivität signifikant weniger spontane proinflammatorische Aktivität und zusätzliche eine verminderte Aktivität gegenüber Autoantigenen zeigten.…”