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An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 10, 2013
Exercise and respiratory tract viral infections
Stephen A Martin1, Brandt D Pence, Jeffrey A Woods
1Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.
Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews
|December 4, 2009
Summary
Moderate exercise enhances immune function and may reduce respiratory viral infection severity. This occurs as exercise-induced stress hormones decrease inflammation and shift immune responses toward a TH2 phenotype, improving infection outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Exercise Physiology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Prolonged intense exercise can lead to immunosuppression.
- Moderate-intensity exercise is associated with improved immune function.
- Moderate exercise may reduce the risk and severity of respiratory viral infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a model explaining how moderate exercise impacts immune responses to respiratory viral infections.
- To elucidate the role of stress hormones in exercise-induced immunomodulation.
- To understand the shift in immune cell phenotypes (TH1/TH2) following moderate exercise.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of available scientific evidence.
- Development of a theoretical model based on existing data.
- Analysis of the effects of stress hormones on local inflammation.
- Examination of immune response polarization (TH1 vs. TH2).
Main Results:
- Moderate exercise-induced increases in stress hormones can mitigate excessive local inflammation.
- The immune response is skewed from a TH1 to a TH2 phenotype.
- This immunomodulatory effect is proposed to improve outcomes in respiratory viral infections.
Conclusions:
- Moderate exercise beneficially modulates the immune system.
- Stress hormones play a key role in the anti-inflammatory and immune-skewing effects of moderate exercise.
- The presented model provides a framework for understanding how moderate exercise enhances resistance to respiratory viral infections.
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