3.4 Impact of physical activity and TV attendance on unstimulated cytokine levels
In unstimulated conditions, levels of IL-5, IL-7, IL-9, IL-17A, IL-23A, CCL4 and CXCL10 were significantly higher, and levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-25 significantly lower in asthmatic children who were more physically active compared to those who never or only occasionally exercised (Fig. 3A). In healthy subjects, increased cytokine levels with higher weekly PA could only be observed for IL-17A, TNF-α, CCL3 and CCL4 (Fig. 3C).
Again, in unstimulated conditions, high daily TVA decreased levels of IL-12p70, IL-25, IL-33 and IFNλ-2 in asthmatic children (Fig. 3B). A more sedentary behavior increased IL-1β, IL-6, IL-7, IL-17A, IL-23A, IL-27, CCL3 and CCL4 in healthy children, whereas IL-33 levels decreased (Fig 3D). Cytokines that showed no significant difference in baseline levels between the two groups according to PA and TVA are found in Online Supplementary (S-Fig. 6 - S-Fig. 7).