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Physical exercise, immune response and susceptibility to infections -- current knowledge and growing research areas
  • +7
  • Marcin Kurowski,
  • Sven Seys,
  • Matteo Bonini,
  • Stefano R. Del Giacco,
  • Luís Delgado,
  • Zuzana Diamant,
  • Marek Kowalski,
  • Andre Moreira,
  • Maia Rukhadze,
  • Mariana Couto
Marcin Kurowski
Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lodzi

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Sven Seys
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
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Matteo Bonini
Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Campus di Roma
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Stefano R. Del Giacco
Universita degli Studi di Cagliari Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Sanita Pubblica
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Luís Delgado
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular
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Zuzana Diamant
Lunds Universitet Lungmedicin och Allergologi
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Marek Kowalski
Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lodzi
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Andre Moreira
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular
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Maia Rukhadze
Tbilisi State Medical University
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Mariana Couto
CUF
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Abstract

This review presents state-of-the-art knowledge and identifies knowledge gaps for future research in the area of exercise-associated modifications of infection susceptibility. Regular moderate-intensity exercise is believed to have beneficial effects on immune health through lowering inflammation intensity and reducing susceptibility to respiratory infections. Infection-promoting consequences are attributed to strenuous exercise as performed by professional athletes. In about half of the athletes presenting respiratory symptoms, no causative pathogen can be identified. Acute bouts of exercise enhance release of proinflammatory mediators thus probably leading to appearance of infection-like respiratory symptoms. Studies assessing influence of regularly repeated exercise on immune response and systemic inflammation are far less numerous than those regarding acute exercise effects. This identifies another knowledge gap requiring further assessment both in recreational and in professional athletes Additionally, ambient and environmental conditions modify systemic inflammatory response and infection susceptibility in particular in outdoor athletes. Both acute and chronic regular exercise influence humoral and cellular immune response mechanisms resulting in decreased specific and non-specific response in competitive athletes. Most promising areas of further research in exercise immunology include: detailed immunological characterization of infection-prone and infection-resistant athletes; efficacy of nutritional and pharmaceutical interventions as countermeasures to infections’ symptoms; and influence of various exercise loads on susceptibility to infections with respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Establishing uniform definition of “elite athlete’ shall hopefully allow for comparable and straightforward interpretation of data coming from different studies and settings.
23 Jun 2021Submitted to Allergy
29 Jun 2021Submission Checks Completed
29 Jun 2021Assigned to Editor
29 Jun 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Jul 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
15 Dec 20211st Revision Received
21 Dec 2021Submission Checks Completed
21 Dec 2021Assigned to Editor
21 Dec 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
04 Jan 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
05 Jan 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
08 Mar 20222nd Revision Received
08 Mar 2022Submission Checks Completed
08 Mar 2022Assigned to Editor
09 Mar 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
25 Mar 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Mar 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Sep 2022Published in Allergy volume 77 issue 9 on pages 2653-2664. 10.1111/all.15328