title: Lifelong training improves anti-inflammatory environment and maintains the number of regulatory T cells in masters athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to quantify and characterize peripheral blood regulatory T cells (Tregs), as well as the IL-10 plasma concentration, in Masters athletes at rest and after an acute exhaustive exercise test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen Masters athletes (self-reported training: 24.6 ± 1.83 years; 10.27 ± 0.24 months and 5.45 ± 0.42 h/week per each month trained) and an age-matched control group of ten subjects (that never took part in regular physical training) volunteered for this study. All subjects performed an incremental test to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer. Blood samples were obtained before (Pre), 10 min into recovery (Post), and 1 h after the test (1 h).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Absolute numbers of Tregs were similar in both groups at rest. Acute exercise induced a significant increase in absolute numbers of Tregs at Post (0.049 ± 0.021 to 0.056 ± 0.024 × 109/L, P = 0.029 for Masters; 0.048 ± 0.017 to 0.058 ± 0.020 × 109/L, P = 0.037 for control) in both groups. Treg mRNA expression for FoxP3, IL-10, and TGF-β in sorted Tregs was similar throughout the trials in both groups. Masters athletes showed a higher percentage of subjects expressing the FoxP3 (100% for Masters vs. 78% for Controls, P = 0.038) and TGF-β (89% for Masters vs. 56% for Controls, P = 0.002) after exercise and a higher plasma IL-10 concentration (15.390 ± 7.032 for Masters vs. 2.411 ± 1.117 for control P = 0.001, ES = 2.57) at all timepoints. KLRG1 expression in Tregs was unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings showed that Masters athletes have elevated anti-inflammatory markers and maintain the number of Tregs, and may be an adaptive response to lifelong training.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sports Science and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Pavilhão III, Estádio Universitário de Coimbra, Santa-Clara, 3040-156, Coimbra, Portugal. lucielegm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luciele G
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9342-5563
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Minuzzi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sports Science and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Pavilhão III, Estádio Universitário de Coimbra, Santa-Clara, 3040-156, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rama
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Ashby Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK.
authors.forename: Nicolette C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sports Science and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Pavilhão III, Estádio Universitário de Coimbra, Santa-Clara, 3040-156, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosado
authors.affiliation: Portuguese Institute for Blood and Transplantation, São Martinho do Bispo, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinho
authors.affiliation: Flow Cytometry Unit-Clinical Pathology Service, University Hospital Centre of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sports Science and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Pavilhão III, Estádio Universitário de Coimbra, Santa-Clara, 3040-156, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C113413:KLRG1 protein, human; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10
keywords: Aging; FoxP3; Interleukin-10; Master athletes; TGF-beta; Treg cells