Summary
The number of leukocytes, neutrophils, and natural killer (NK) cells increases proportionally to exercise intensity immediately after exercise, but the numbers of neutrophils and NK cells are approximately the same as before exercise. However, the number and activity of leukocytes are suppressed and the frequency of respiratory infection is increased after repeated prolonged exercise. Hyperthermia also induces increases in the numbers of leukocytes and NK cells, and cell activity proportionally rises with core temperature, resulting in lower susceptibility to infection. Plasma concentrations of cortisol, catecholamines, and growth hormone increase markedly during and after severe exercise. The decrease in lymphocyte number and immunosuppression after severe exercise may result from an increase in cortisol induced by exercise. The concentrations of interleukin 1 and interleukin 6 in exercise-loaded mice after 2 h after lipopolysaccharide administration were significantly lower than those in the sedentary control group, when mice were primed with Propionibacterium acnes. The longer survival time in the mice that exercised after lipopolysaccharide administration may by induced by a decrease in serum concentrations of interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor-α caused by exercise-induced increases in adrenocorticotropic hormone and glucocorticoids because interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor-α can accelerate the release of interleukin 6.
Glutamine is utilized as an important nutrient for lymphocytes and macrophages, and plasma glutamine concentrations are usually lower in rats trained by chronic exercise. Thus, it can be said that immunosuppression is in part induced by lower plasma glutamine concentration caused by prolonged training. Chronic fatigue and appetite suppression sometimes occur during excessive training. Decreased food intake due to appetite suppression accompanied by chronic fatigue induces immunosuppression.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Fitzgerald L (1991) Overtraining increases the susceptibility to infection. Int J Sports Med 12: 5–8
Kaufman JC, Harris TJ, Higgins J, Maisel AS (1994) Exercise-induced enhancement of immune function in the rat. Circulation 90: 525–532
Brandenberger G, Follenius M (1975) Influence of timing and intensity of muscular exercise on temporal pattern of plasma cortisol level. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 40: 845–849
Luger A, Deuster PA, Kyle SB, et al (1986) Acute hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses to the stress of treadmill exercise. N Engl J Med 316: 1309–1315
Kjaer M (1989) Epinephrine and some other hormonal responses to exercise in man: with special reference to physical training. Int J Sports Med 10: 2–15
Kappel M, Tvede N, Galbo H, et al (1991) Evidence that the effect of physical exercise on NK cell activity is mediated by epinephrine. J Appl Physiol 70: 2530–2534
Tvede N, Kappel M, Klarlund K, et al (1994) Evidence that the effect of bicycle exercise on blood mononuclear cell proliferative responses and subsets is mediated by epinephrine. Int J Sports Med 15: 100–104
Cohen JJ, Duke RC (1984) Glucocorticoid activation of a calcium-dependent endonuclease in thymocyte nuclei leads to cell death. J Immunol 132: 38–42
Besedovsky HO, Del Rey AE, Sorkin E, Dinarello CO (1986) Immunoregulatory feedback between interleukin-1 and glucocorticoid hormones. Science 233: 652–654
Hori S (1995) Adaptation to heat. Jpn J Physiol 45: 921–946
Kappel M, Kharazmi A, Nielsen H, et al (1994) Modulation of the counts and functions of neutrophils and monocytes under in vivo hyperthermia conditions. Int J Hyperth 10: 165–173
Kappel M, Tvede N, Hansen MB, et al (1995) Cytokine production ex vivo: effect of raised body temperature. Int J Hyperth 11: 329–335
Downing JF, Taylor MW, Wei KM, et al (1987) In vivo hyperthermia enhances plasma antiviral activity and stimulates peripheral lymphocytes for increased synthesis of interferon-gamma. J Interferon Res 7: 185–193
McCarthy DA, Dale MM (1988) The leucocytosis of exercise. A review and model. Sports Med 6: 333–363
Pedersen BK, Ullum H (1994) NK cell response to physical activity: possible mechanisms of action. Med Sci Sports Exerc 26: 140–146
Whiteside TL, Herberman RB (1989) Short analytical review. The role of natural killer cells in human diseases. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 53: 1–23
Leithead CS, Lind AR (1964) Heat stress and heat disorders. Davies, Philadelphia
Brenner IK, Shek PN, Shephard RJ (1995) Heat exposure and immune function: potential contribution to the exercise response. Exerc Immunol Rev 1: 49–80
Klokker M, Kharazmi A, Galbo H, et al (1993) Influence of in vivo hypobaric hypoxia on function of lymphocytes, neutrocytes, natural killer cells, and cytokines. J Appl Physiol 74: 1100–1106
Ishizashi H, Yoshimoto T, Nakanishi K, et al (1995) Effect of exercise on endotoxin shock with special reference to changes in concentration of cytokines. Jpn J Physiol 45: 553–560
Ardawi MS, Newsholme EA (1984) Intracellular localization and properties of phosphate-dependent 217: 289–296
Koyama K, Kaya M, Tsujita J, Hori S (1998) Effects of decreased plasma glutamine concentrations on peripheral lymphocyte proliferation in rats. Eur J Appl Physiol 77: 25–31
Heeneman S, Dejong CHC, Deutz NEP (1994) Effects of methionine sulphoximine treatment on renal amino acid and ammonia metabolism in rats. Pflüger Arch 427: 524–532
Ishigaki S (1999) Can leptin be an index of overtraining glutaminase in rat mesenteric lymph nodes. Biochem J (in Japanese). Bull Res Inst Mod Phys Educ Kyoto Sangyo Univ 8: 65–79
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2001 Springer Japan
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hori, S. (2001). Exercise and Immunity. In: Kosaka, M., Sugahara, T., Schmidt, K.L., Simon, E. (eds) Thermotherapy for Neoplasia, Inflammation, and Pain. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-67035-3_29
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-67035-3_29
Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo
Print ISBN: 978-4-431-67037-7
Online ISBN: 978-4-431-67035-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive