Exercise Immunology: Involved Components and Varieties in Different Types of Physical Exercise

Abstract

Physical exercise induces modifications in the immune system influencing either positively or negatively on health depending on its frequency, duration and intensity. Acute or moderate physical exercise increases appreciably the immune cells, including cytokine levels while decreasing other components like NK cells, leading to a stronger response to pathogens as well as decreasing liability to allergic reactions. The expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR) is elevated as well, augmenting the positive effect. Exhaustive physical exercise, by contrast, modifies the immune system adversely. This review explores the links between physical exercise, immune cells and cytokines, and the immunological effects that have been studied by the performance of different kinds of physical exercise.