Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
07:26
Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
The T cell and NK cell immune response to exercise
Michael Gleeson1, Nicolette C Bishop
1School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, England. m.gleeson@lboro.ac.uk
Annals of Transplantation
|October 14, 2006
Summary
Intense exercise temporarily reduces circulating lymphocytes, including T cells and NK cells. Overtraining in athletes can suppress resting immune function due to stress hormones and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Exercise transiently alters immune cell circulation and function.
- Acute intense exercise can lead to post-exercise lymphocytopenia.
- Immune responses in athletes may differ under intensified training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of exercise on immune cell dynamics.
- To understand the effects of acute and chronic exercise on T cell and NK cell function.
- To explore the relationship between training load, stress hormones, and immune suppression in athletes.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring circulating lymphocyte and subset counts post-exercise.
- Assessing T cell proliferation and cytokine production (IL-2, IFN-gamma) after exercise.
- Evaluating Natural Killer cell cytolytic activity (NKCA).
- Comparing resting immune function in athletes versus non-athletes.
- Investigating immune changes associated with intensified training periods.
Main Results:
- Exercise increases circulating lymphocytes, followed by a decrease (lymphocytopenia) during recovery, linked to reduced Type 1 T cells and NK cells.
- Acute, intensive exercise decreases T cell proliferation and IL-2/IFN-gamma production.
- NKCA is generally stable unless exercise is prolonged, intense, and stressful, then it can be depressed.
- Resting immune function is similar in athletes and non-athletes.
- Intensified training in athletes can depress resting immunity, associated with elevated cortisol and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, IL-1ra), dampening Type 1 immune responses.
Conclusions:
- Post-exercise lymphocytopenia is characterized by reduced Type 1 T cells and NK cells.
- Intensive exercise acutely impairs cell-mediated immunity.
- Overtraining and cumulative stress can lead to chronic immune suppression in athletes, characterized by a shift away from Type 1 responses.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
01:28Cells of the Innate Immune Response
The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
01:23Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Exercise significantly impacts cardiovascular response, which is crucial for understanding patient health and designing effective treatment plans.
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:25Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes
Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
01:22T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...