Aging, exercise, training, and the immune system.
Human immune function undergoes adverse changes with aging, including development of a relative immune deficiency and an immune dysregulated state. The T cells show the largest age-related differences in distribution and function. The antibody production capacity of B cells also shows an age-related decline. Acute bouts of exercise modulate many immune parameters as seen in peripheral blood. With regard to NK cell activity, a single bout of moderate exercise seems to be well tolerated by the elderly, and the resting NK cell activity of elderly subjects seems to increase with training. Cross-sectional comparisons of immune status imply that habitual physical activity may enhance NK cell activity and check certain aspects of the age-related decline in T cell function. Future studies are required to clarify whether such long-term exercise and resulting improvements of immune function give rise to any beneficial effects on infections, malignancies, and autoimmune disorders.
Shinkai
S
S
Department of Public Health, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.
Konishi
M
M
Shephard
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051381:Rats; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines