title: Exercise training, lymphocyte subsets and their cytokines production: experience of an Italian professional football team and their impact on allergy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, numerous articles have attempted to shed light on our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of exercise-induced immunologic changes and their impact on allergy and asthma. It is known that lymphocyte subclasses, cytokines, and chemokines show modifications after exercise, but outcomes can be affected by the type of exercise as well as by its intensity and duration. Interesting data have been presented in many recent studies on mouse models, but few studies on humans have been performed to check the long-term effects of exercise over a whole championship season.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study evaluated lymphocyte subsets and their intracellular IL-2, IL-4, TNF-α, and IFN-γ production in professional football (soccer) players, at three stages of the season, to evaluate if alterations occur, particularly in relation to their allergic status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite significant mid-season alterations, no significant lymphocyte subclasses count modifications, except for NKs that were significantly higher, were observed at the end. IL-2 and IL-4 producing cells showed a significant decrease (P = 0.018 and P = 0.001, but in a steady fashion for IL-4), confirming the murine data about the potential beneficial effects of aerobic exercise for allergic asthma.
authors: Department of Medical Sciences "M. Aresu", University of Cagliari, Asse Didattico "E1", Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Stefano R
authors: 0000-0002-4517-1749
authors: SR
authors: Del Giacco
authors: National Health Service, ASL 6, 09025 Sanluri, Italy ; Cagliari Calcio Football Club, 09123 Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: 0000-0002-3501-7502
authors: M
authors: Scorcu
authors: National Health Service, ASL 8 Public Health Services, "Businco" Hospital, 09121 Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Federico
authors: 0000-0002-8416-8737
authors: F
authors: Argiolas
authors: Department of Medical Sciences "M. Aresu", University of Cagliari, Asse Didattico "E1", Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Davide
authors: 0000-0002-5768-391X
authors: D
authors: Firinu
authors: Department of Medical Sciences "M. Aresu", University of Cagliari, Asse Didattico "E1", Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy.
authors: G Sergio
authors: 0000-0001-9169-9440
authors: GS
authors: Del Giacco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D056352:Athletes; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007558:Italy; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines