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Int J Sports Med 1994; 15: S127-S130
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1021127
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training on Lymphocyte Subpopulations

A. LaPerriere1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , M. H. Antoni2 , 3 , G. Ironson1 , 2 , 3 , A. Perry5 , P. McCabe3 , N. Klimas2 , 4 , L. Helder2 , 3 , N. Schneiderman1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , M. A. Fletcher2 , 4
  • 1Department of Psychiatry
  • 2Center for the Biopsychosocial Study of AIDS
  • 3Department of Psychology
  • 4Department of Medicine
  • 5Exercise Sciences and Sport Studies, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
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Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effects of an aerobic exercise training program on subpopulations of lymphocyte phenotypes. Fourteen healthy but sedentary males, 18-40 years of age, were randomly assigned to either an aerobic exercise training or control condition. Aerobic exercise training consisted of three 45-minute sessions of cycle ergometry exercise per week at 70-80% of age-predicted maximum heart rate for ten weeks. The aerobic exercise training resulted in a significant decrease in submaximal heart rate from 176 to 150 beats per minute to a fixed work rate of 150 watts (p<.01). This training effect was accompanied by increases in the resting level of the following lymphocyte subpopulations: CD2 (1717 vs 2183 mm3; p<.01), CD4 (942 vs 1280mm3; p<.01), CD45RA+CD4+ (312 vs 595mm3; p<.01), CD8 (655 vs 816mm3; p<.05), and CD20 (162 vs 244mm3; p<.01) cell counts. These findings indicate that several lymphocyte subpopulations are increased following a 10-week program of aerobic exercise training.

Key words

Aerobic training - exercise - immune system - lymphocyte phenotypes