Impact of an Acute Bout of Submaximal Aerobic Exercise on Circulating Leukocytes in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

International Journal of Exercise Science, 2022 · DOI: · Published: January 1, 2022

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how a single session of aerobic exercise affects the number and type of immune cells in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Participants with SCI performed a 30-minute arm cycling exercise, and their blood was tested before, immediately after, and 90 minutes after the exercise to measure changes in different types of white blood cells. The study found that certain types of immune cells, specifically lymphocytes, increased after exercise, suggesting that even a moderate workout can boost some aspects of the immune system in individuals with SCI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

8 participants with SCI (incomplete n = 6; complete n = 2)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Acute exercise significantly increased total lymphocytes, CD4+ T helper cells, CD8+ T cytotoxic cells, CD3-/CD56+ NK and CD3+/CD56+ NKT cells.
2
CD16+/CD14dim non-classical monocytes were reduced by 27% at the final time point, 90 minutes following exercise cessation.
3
The increases observed in these leukocytes over the course of two hours is likely explained through diurnal influence as no extraneous stimulus was present.

Research Summary

This study examined the impact of a 30-minute submaximal aerobic exercise bout on circulating leukocyte populations in individuals with SCI, finding increases in lymphocyte subsets. The exercise-induced changes in leukocyte counts were not associated with changes in catecholamine levels, suggesting other mechanisms are responsible for the immune cell mobilization. Diurnal variations were observed in some leukocyte counts during the seated control condition, highlighting the importance of considering daily biological rhythms in exercise immunology studies.

Practical Implications

Exercise Prescription

A 30-minute submaximal aerobic exercise session can be an effective way to modulate circulating immune cells in individuals with SCI.

Immunosurveillance Improvement

Increased circulating NK cell concentration may enhance pathogen detection through improved immunosurveillance, potentially benefiting individuals with SCI.

Inflammation Reduction

The reduction in proinflammatory CD16+/CD14dim monocytes during recovery from exercise suggests a potential anti-inflammatory effect, which could be beneficial for managing chronic inflammation in SCI.

Study Limitations

1
Small sample size with high interindividual variability limits generalizability to the broader SCI population.
2
Use of peak power output (PPO) instead of percentage of VO2max makes direct comparisons to other studies difficult.
3
Lack of statistical power to compare responses between paraplegia and tetraplegia groups.

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