Inflammatory cytokines and immune system modulation by aerobic versus resisted exercise training for elderly

We sought to investigate whether regular balance training of moderate intensity (BT) has an effect on changes in selected cytokines, neurotrophic factors, CD200 and fractalkine in healthy older adults and participants with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Sixty-two subjects were divided into groups depending on experimental intervention: (1) group of people with PD participating in BT (PDBT), (2) group of healthy older people participating in BT (HBT), (3,4) control groups including healthy individuals (HNT) and people with PD (PDNT). Blood samples were collected twice: before and after 12 weeks of balance exercise (PDBT, HBT), or 12 weeks apart (PDNT, HNT). The study revealed significant increase of interleukin10 (PDBT, p = 0.026; HBT, p = 0.011), β-nerve growth factor (HBT, p = 0.002; PDBT, p = 0.016), transforming growth factor-β1 (PDBT, p = 0.018; HBT, p < 0.004), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (PDBT, p = 0.011; HBT, p < 0.001) and fractalkine (PDBT, p = 0.045; HBT, p < 0.003) concentration only in training groups. In PDBT, we have found a significant decrease of tumor necrosis factor alpha. No training effect on concentration of interleukin6, insulin-like growth factor 1 and CD200 was observed in both training and control groups. Regular training can modulate level of inflammatory markers and induce neuroprotective mechanism to reduce the inflammatory response.

It is widely well documented that ageing is accompanied by remodelling of the immune system including thymic atrophy and increased frequency of senescent T cells, thereby leading to immune compromise. The interaction of physical activity and the immune response is very complex and depends on the immune system status as well as the intensity, the type and the frequency of exercise. However, daily physical activity which particularly influences immunity and which declines dramatically with age, has not been widely reported in the studies. Therefore, this study was designed to explain whether physical activity sustained throughout life attenuates or reverses immunosenescence.The study subjects (n=99) were recruited from the University of the Third Age; they were assessed for the presence of chronic diseases and their functional capacity (6-min walking test) and cardiorespiratory (6-min Åstrand test) fitness were evaluated. Eventually, 54 subjects of the mean age >65 years participated in the study. The baseline peripheral naïve and memory T cells were analysed by flow cytometry in 34 elderly subjects who had maintained a high level of physical activity (Nordic-walking, Tai-Chi, cycling, 2-4 times per week) for much of their adult lives, and in 20 elderly people who had not been involved in regular exercise. The elderly who demonstrated a superior gait speed >1.3 m/s had a significantly higher the CD4+ naïve T lymphocyte population and a higher CD4+naïve/CD4+memory ratio compared to the inactive group. Above 50% of active individuals had the CD4/CD8 ratio ≥1 or ≤2.5 contrary to the inactive ones who demonstrated the values of CD4/CD8 ratio <1. Interestingly, the fat mass (FM) was positively correlated with CD4+ and CD4+memory in the inactive group which means that the number of CD4+memory cells and CD4+ T cells increased with the body fat content. Based on cytometry flow analysis, we concluded that major features of immunosenescence are contingent on lifestyle exercise in older adults.

No abstract