Physical exercise modulates the homeostasis of human regulatory T cells

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology Vol. 137; no. 5; pp. 1607 - 1610.e8
• Main Authors: Weinhold, Max, MA, Shimabukuro-Vornhagen, Alexander, MD, Franke, Axel, MD, Theurich, Sebastian, MD, Wahl, Patrick, PhD, Hallek, Michael, MD, Schmidt, Annette, PhD, Schinköthe, Timo, PhD, Mester, Joachim, PhD, von Bergwelt-Baildon, Michael, MD, PhD, Bloch, Wilhelm, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.2016; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; Blood; Exercise; Homeostasis; Immune system; Immunoglobulins; Inflammation; Lifestyles; Lymphocytes; Physical fitness; Software; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.10.035

To the Editor: A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk for various medical conditions, whereas regular physical activity (PA) has been shown to promote health and reduce the risk of developing chronic disorders such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, which are prevalent in industrialized countries.1 The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which PA mediates its beneficial effects are poorly understood. Because a common etiologic factor for many noncommunicable diseases of affluence is persistent sterile inflammation, PA could exert part of its effects by dampening chronic low-grade inflammation.2 The immune system needs to maintain a delicate balance between immune effector mechanisms, which can result in immune-mediated damage, and immunoregulatory mechanisms, which not only promote immune tolerance and dampen inflammation but can also increase the susceptibility to infection. Consistent with the increase in Treg-cell frequency, the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β, which plays an important role in Treg-cell development and function, was elevated in the relVo2peak-high group and neutralization of TGF-β resulted in increased T-cell proliferation (see Fig E5 in this article's Online Repository at www.jacionline.org).7 To validate these findings in an independent cohort, we performed a longitudinal study with athletes of the German Olympic Hockey Team who underwent a time-dense, high-intensity training in preparation for the Olympic Summer Games 2012.