Chronic Resistance Exercise Training Improves Natural Killer Cell Activity in Older Women

• Published in: The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences Vol. 60; no. 10; pp. 1315 - 1318
• Main Authors: McFarlin, Brian K., Flynn, Michael G., Phillips, Melody D., Stewart, Laura K., Timmerman, Kyle L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01-10-2005
• Subjects: Aged; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Immune system; Killer Cells, Natural - physiology; Leukocyte Count; Older people; Risk factors; Women
• ISSN: 1079-5006; 1758-535X
• DOI: 10.1093/gerona/60.10.1315

Background. Regular exercise has been reported to slow the age-associated declines in natural killer cell activity (NKCA). To evaluate this response, we recruited older, postmenopausal women (65–85 years old) to fill one of two groups: training (10 weeks of resistance exercise; TR) or control. Methods. Blood samples were collected from an arm vein in the TR group at rest (PRE), immediately following (POST), and 2 hours (2H) following an acute bout of resistance exercise both before (BEFORE) and after (AFTER) training. Leukocytes and NKCA were determined by flow cytometry and a whole blood 51Cr release assay, respectively. Results. Acute exercise increased total leukocyte (p <.05), CD8 (p <.05), CD4 (p <.05), and CD56 counts (p <.05), but there was no effect of training. NKCA was greater TR-AFTER-PRE (136%), -POST (80%), and -2H (127%) compared to similar values from TR-BEFORE (p <.05). Conclusion. Increased resting NKCA after chronic resistance training suggests that immunity has been improved.