Abstract
Physical activity has an influence on a variety of processes in an athlete’s organism including the immune system. Unfortunately, there is a lack of studies regarding racehorse immune cells, especially when the horse model is compared to human exercise physiology. The aim of the study was to determine changes in immune cell proliferation, lymphocyte populations, and monocyte functionality in trained and untrained racehorses after exercise. In this study, field data were collected. The cells from 28 racehorses (14 untrained and 14 well-trained) were collected before and after exercise (800 m at a speed of about 800 m/min) and cultured for 4 days. The expression of CD4, CD8, FoxP3, CD14, MHCII, and CD5 in PBMC, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as well as cell proliferation, were evaluated by flow cytometry. In addition, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, INF-γ, and TNF-α concentrations were evaluated by ELISA. The creation of an anti-inflammatory environment in well-trained horses was confirmed. In contrast, a pro-inflammatory reaction occurred in untrained horses after training. In conclusion, an anti-inflammatory state occurs in well-trained racehorses, which is an adaptational reaction to an increased workload during training.
Highlights
In humans, there are studies that include both the innate and adaptive immune response after exercise, but the detailed influence on the whole body is still unknown [1,2,3]
Exhaustive and prolonged exercise can result in a transient decrease of leukocyte functions which is linked with reduced T, B, and natural killer (NK) cell activity in humans [3]
Exercise immune-enhancement during training is obtained by redeploying immune cells to peripheral tissues, where leucocytes can recognize and destroy damaged/infected cells [10,11]
Summary
There are studies that include both the innate and adaptive immune response after exercise, but the detailed influence on the whole body is still unknown [1,2,3]. Exhaustive and prolonged exercise can result in a transient decrease of leukocyte functions which is linked with reduced T, B, and natural killer (NK) cell activity in humans [3]. This short-term window of immune suppression is termed the “open-window” hypothesis. Exercise immune-enhancement during training is obtained by redeploying immune cells to peripheral tissues, where leucocytes can recognize and destroy damaged/infected cells [10,11] It is not clear if the occurrence of immune system reactions after exercise is a positive adaptation or is harmful
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