Physical exercise, immune response, and susceptibility to infections-current knowledge and growing research areas

Data de publicação: Data Ahead of Print:

Autores da FMUP

  • José Luís Dias Delgado

    Autor

  • André Miguel Afonso De Sousa Moreira

    Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

  • Kurowski, M
  • Seys, S
  • Bonini, M
  • Del Giacco, S
  • Diamant, Z
  • Kowalski, ML
  • Rukhadze, M
  • Couto, M

Unidades de investigação

Abstract

This review presents state-of-the-art knowledge and identifies knowledge gaps for future research in the area of exercise-associated modifications of infection susceptibility. Regular moderate-intensity exercise is believed to have beneficial effects on immune health through lowering inflammation intensity and reducing susceptibility to respiratory infections. However, strenuous exercise, as performed by professional athletes, may promote infection: in about half of athletes presenting respiratory symptoms, no causative pathogen can be identified. Acute bouts of exercise enhance the release of pro-inflammatory mediators, which may induce infection-like respiratory symptoms. Relatively few studies have assessed the influence of regularly repeated exercise on the immune response and systemic inflammation compared to the effects of acute exercise. Additionally, ambient and environmental conditions may modify the systemic inflammatory response and infection susceptibility, particularly in outdoor athletes. Both acute and chronic regular exercise influence humoral and cellular immune response mechanisms, resulting in decreased specific and non-specific response in competitive athletes. The most promising areas of further research in exercise immunology include detailed immunological characterization of infection-prone and infection-resistant athletes, examining the efficacy of nutritional and pharmaceutical interventions as countermeasures to infection symptoms, and determining the influence of various exercise loads on susceptibility to infections with respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. By establishing a uniform definition of an "elite athlete," it will be possible to make a comparable and straightforward interpretation of data from different studies and settings.

Dados da publicação

ISSN/ISSNe:
0105-4538, 1398-9995

ALLERGY  Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Tipo:
Review
Páginas:
2653-2664
Link para outro recurso:
www.scopus.com

Citações Recebidas na Web of Science: 8

Citações Recebidas na Scopus: 21

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Keywords

  • clinical immunology; infections; mucosal immunity; sports

Proyectos asociados

Airborne food and aeroallergens levels in healthcare settings. An unaccounted but potentially relevant source of exposure?

Investigador Principal: André Miguel Afonso de Sousa Moreira

Estudo Clínico Académico (Aeroallergens) . 2020

Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) correlates with eosinophil cell counts in the induced sputum of elite swimmers

Investigador Principal: André Miguel Afonso de Sousa Moreira

Estudo Clínico Académico (ECP) . 2021

How exercise, physical activity and diet modulate immune and stress responses

Investigador Principal: André Miguel Afonso de Sousa Moreira

Estudo Clínico Académico . 2020

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