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Aktuelle Rheumatologie 2003; 28(4): 187-195
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-41639
Originalarbeit
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Immunologie und Sport

Immunology and SportsF. C. Mooren1
  • 1Institut für Sportmedizin (Direktor Prof. Dr. med. K. Völker), Universitätsklinikum Münster
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Publication History

Publication Date:
25 August 2003 (online)

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Zusammenfassung

Eine Vielzahl von Erfahrungsberichten vermittelt ein janusköpfiges Bild des Einflusses von körperlicher Belastung auf das Immunsystem. Viele Sportler berichten darüber, dass sie seit Beginn ihres Trainings wesentlich seltener Probleme mit Infektionen, insbesondere des oberen Respirationstraktes, zu tun haben. Andererseits gibt es eine Reihe von Hinweisen, dass es nach intensiveren Belastungen, z. B. nach Marathon- oder Triathlon-Wettkämpfen, in den darauf folgenden Tagen zu einer erhöhten Infektinzidenz kommt. Die vorliegende Übersichtsarbeit versucht die Zweischneidigkeit der Interaktionen zwischen Sport und Immunsystem und ihren möglichen Bezug zur Belastungsintensität darzustellen. Dazu werden die Effekte akuter und chronischer sportlicher Belastung auf das Immunsystem sowie ihre potenziell zugrunde liegenden Mediator-Mechanismen diskutiert. Abschließend werden die hierzu aktuellen Konzepte über den Zusammenhang von Belastungsintensität und Immunsuppression (Theorie des offenen Fensters) sowie der Belastungsintensität und des Infektionsrisikos (J-Kurve) präsentiert.

Abstract

There is no debate that physical activity is an important modulator of the immune system. During the last 20 years several investigations described the effects of exercise on circulating number and on the function of many immune system components. Recent studies focus predominantly on the response of the immune system to acute exercise. During and immediately after exercise the leukocyte count in peripheral blood samples increases. After exercise granulocytes and lymphocytes show a divergent behaviour. While granulocytes show a delayed phase of an increased count, the lymphocyte count falls below pre-exercise levels. In addition to the altered cell numbers acute exercise affects numerous cellular functions like lymphocyte proliferation and immune globuline synthesis, natural killer cell activity and neutrophile functions like adhesion migration, phagocytosis and oxidative burst. These effects are mediated by multiple mechanisms such as exercise-induced changes in hormonal and inflammatory mediators. Moreover, metabolic changes like increases in free fatty acids and decreases in plasma glutamine as well as changes in redox status have been shown to affect immune cell function. Less information is available on the effects of chronic exercise or training on the immune system. There is a tendency towards slightly lower numbers of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Additionally most recent investigations showed an improved activity of the natural killer cells after training. Finally, the present concepts of exercise immunology, namely the open window hypothesis, which describes the dependence of post exercise immuno-suppression on exercise intensity, and the J-curve, which describes the dependence of the infection risk on exercise intensity, are presented.

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PD Dr Frank Ch. Mooren

Institut für Sportmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Münster

Horstmarer Landweg 39

48129 Münster

Email: mooren@uni-muenster.de