Abstract
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that regular exercise training in elderly people affects the type 1/type 2 balance. Nine elderly women who train by walking (mean±S.E.M., age 63±1 years, VO 2 peak 32.2±1.0 ml kg-1 min-1), 12 age-matched untrained women (63±1 years, 27.8±0.9 ml kg -1 min-1), and nine young untrained women (26±1 years, 37.8±1.3 ml kg-1 min-1) participated in the study. We measured interferon γ (IFN-γ), IL-2, and IL-4 in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, to compare type 1 and type 2 T cells. The number of CD4+ cells expressing intracellular IFN-γ (CD4+/IFN-γ cell) significantly higher in the elderly trained than in the young (P<0.01). The number of CD8+/IL-2 cells was significantly higher in the elderly trained than in the elderly untrained (P<0.05). The number of CD8+/IL-4 cells was significantly higher in the young than in the elderly untrained (P<0.01). No significant differences were apparent in the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio within CD4+ and CD8+ cells from the three groups. These results might indicate that the effect of age on the balance of type 1/type 2 T cells was stronger than the effect of physical training.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 951-956 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Mechanisms of Ageing and Development |
Volume | 124 |
Issue number | 8-9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2003 Aug |
Keywords
- Aging
- Exercise
- Immunity
- Interferon-gamma
- Interleukin-4
- T-lymphocytes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ageing
- Biochemistry
- Developmental Biology
- Developmental Neuroscience