PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EFFECTS CHANGES IN INNATE AND AQUIRED IMMUNE RESPONSE

Introduction: Physically active lifestyle affords healthier life while sessile way of life reduces quality of life. Many different factors may change the immune functions. Very young or elderly people, chronic diseases or exhausted people, as well as a person after intensive physical exertion may respond weakly to hazardous agents, which may contribute to the spread of the disease. There is a general perception that physical activity contribute to protection against acute respiratory infection, but among professional athletes, coaches, and sport physicians, it is spread an opinion that athletes have an increased risk of acute respiratory infection during intensive exercise training. The aim of this study was to examine changes in innate and acquired immunity in athletes. Patients and methods: the peripheral blood was taken during a routine examination of professional athletes, analyzed by flow cytometry and compared with the control values of voluntary blood donors, as well as with “recreational” or noncompetitive athletes. Results: our data showed increased percentage of cells of innate immunity: NK (CD3-CD56+), NKT (CD3+CD56+) and regulatory T cells (Tregs CD4+CD25+FoxP3+) in professional athletes compared with healthy controls and noncompetitive athletes. Percentage of cytotoxic T cells (CD 8 +) and B lymphocytes (CD 19 +) in trained athletes were slightly elevated. Conclusion: intensive physical activity in professionally trained athletes had a positive impact on innate immunity, which represents the first line of defense. Moderate exercise may increase the protection against various harmful agents and prevent infectious illness.