Tai Chi Chuan increases circulating myeloid dendritic cells.
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.
Chiang
Jasson
J
Chinese Culture University, Graduate Institute of Sport Coaching Science, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen
Yu-Yawn
YY
Akiko
Takafuji
T
Huang
Yu-Chuen
YC
Hsu
Ming-Ling
ML
Jang
Tsong-Rong
TR
Chen
Yu-Jen
YJ
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D026302:Tai Ji / Q000379:methods*