Tai Chi Chuan Increases Circulating Myeloid Dendritic Cells

Abstract

Dendritic cells, the most potent antigen-presenting cells linking innate and adoptive immunity, are thought to be important targets of immune modulators such as exercise. We examined the effect of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) on dendritic cells. TCC practitioners were further divided to high-level practitioners (TCC-H) and low-level practitioners (TCC-L). The quantities of myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells were estimated by flow cytometry. We examined parameters including age, body weight, body length, body fat, and serum albumin level, in the controls, TCC-H and TCC-L, which did not differ significantly. The mean peak VO(2) (volume of O(2) utilization) of the TCC-H group was greater than that of the sedentary control group. White blood cell (WBC) count in the entire TCC group was greater than that of the controls. The quantity of myeloid dendritic cells was significantly greater in the TCC group, whereas the quantity of plasmacytoid dendritic cells was similar for both groups. Among the TCC subgroups, the quantity of myeloid dendritic cells, but not plasmacytoid dendritic cells, in the TCC-H group was greater than that of TCC-L practitioners. TCC could increase the number of circulating myeloid dendritic cells, but not plasmacytoid dendritic cells, in a performance level-dependent manner.

Influence of Enriched Environment on Viral Encephalitis Outcomes: Behavioral and Neuropathological Changes in Albino Swiss Mice

“…Another possibility is that the EE may induce NK cell activity previously described as absent in a VSV encephalitis murine model maintained in standard cages [15]. In line with these views, voluntary exercise such as that observed in an EE increases the number of blood dendritic cells [49], [50], [51], [52] and NK cells [6]. Because we did not use selective markers for other immune cells such as recruited monocytes/macrophages [53], dendritic cells [15], or NK cells [54], it remains to be confirmed whether these cells are associated or not with the immune response induced by Piry virus infection and whether or not EE affects their distribution and number.…”

‘As above, so below’ examining the interplay between emotion and the immune system

“…When collated this research suggests that performing T'ai chi exercises leads to an improvement of both cell-mediated immunity and antibody response to infection. [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] However, it should be noted that few studies have demonstrated a unified mechanism behind these improvementsinstead focusing on specific players in the immune response such as circulating myeloid dendritic cells 28,37 or pro-inflammatory CD14 + CD16 + monocytes. 38 Laughter has also been reported to have a surprisingly potent modulating effect on the immune system.…”

The Effect of T'ai Chi Exercise on Immunity and Infections: A Systematic Review of Controlled Trials

“…Full reports of 36 studies were acquired, and 20 were also excluded because they were uncontrolled observational studies (10), studies with unparallel controls (2), duplicate publications (3), studies using athletes (2), and studies with other outcome measures (3). Sixteen studies published between 1988 and 2010, including 7 RCTs, [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] 4 CCTs, [18][19][20][21] and 5 RCSS, [22][23][24][25][26] met this review's inclusion criteria. These studies were conducted in the United States, 13,14,16,19 Taiwan, 22 and mainland China.…”

“…Sixteen studies published between 1988 and 2010, including 7 RCTs, [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] 4 CCTs, [18][19][20][21] and 5 RCSS, [22][23][24][25][26] met this review's inclusion criteria. These studies were conducted in the United States, 13,14,16,19 Taiwan, 22 and mainland China. 11,12,15,17,18,20,21,[23][24][25][26] Seven 7studies 13,14,16,19,22,24,25 were published in English, 8 studies 11,12,15,17,18,21,23,26 were published in Chinese, and the remaining 1 study 20 was a proceeding.…”

“…These studies were conducted in the United States, 13,14,16,19 Taiwan, 22 and mainland China. 11,12,15,17,18,20,21,[23][24][25][26] Seven 7studies 13,14,16,19,22,24,25 were published in English, 8 studies 11,12,15,17,18,21,23,26 were published in Chinese, and the remaining 1 study 20 was a proceeding.…”