Lifelong exercise practice and immunosenescence: Master athletes cytokine response to acute exercise

The study aimed to analyze the effects of aging and lifelong training on the main pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and the impact of acute exercise on the expression of these cytokines. Thirty-nine participants were allocated into 3 groups: young (31.8 ± 3.00 yrs.), middle-aged (54.2 ± 5.9 yrs.) and master athletes (53.1 ± 8.8 yrs.) and performed a maximal incremental test on a cycle ergometer. Blood samples were obtained before (Pre), 10 min post-exercise (Post) and 1 h post-exercise (Post 1 h). Mean VO_2max was similar for master athletes and youngers and higher compared to the middle-aged group. Resting values of the IL-1ra, IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-8 were higher in master athletes compared to the young and middle-aged groups (P < 0.01), while the highest values of IL-10 and IL-17 were observed for the youngers (29.49 ± 18.00 pg/mL and 66.24 ± 23.23 pg/mL, respectively) with the middle-aged group showing the lowest values (2.13 ± 1.40 pg/mL). Acute exercise effects (Post) were observed for IL-1β in the master athletes group, IL-6 in the young group and IL-4 for both groups (P < 0.05). No Post effects were observed for the middle-age group for all cytokines. The TNF-α/IL-10 ratio was higher in all moments for the middle-aged (P < 0.05). In conclusion, lifelong training helps to maintain the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, together with IL-10 levels close to those found in young adults.