Resistance Training Improves the Immune Response, Mainly Associated with CD8⁺ T Lymphocytes and B Lymphocytes, in Mice

Abstract

Studies investigating the effects of different modalities of exercises on the immune system are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of eight weeks of resistance and aerobic training on the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes from mice. Eighteen male C56BL6/J mice were divided into groups (n=6), sedentary, aerobic, and resistance training. After 8 weeks, animals were euthanized, and their splenocytes were labeled and cultured with and without stimulation. Lymphocyte proliferation (CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD21/CD35⁺) was evaluated by flow cytometry. The mice subjected to resistance exercise exhibited greater proliferation for total, CD8⁺ and B lymphocytes (p<0.05), but not CD4⁺ cells (p>0.05), compared with their sedentary counterparts. We found significant correlations between maximum load and total, CD8⁺ and B lymphocytes proliferation rates (p<0.05). In conclusion, our results showed that resistance training promoted an improvement in the immune response associated with CD8⁺ and B lymphocytes.

Keywords:
mouse; immunology; lymphocyte proliferation; resistance training; aerobic exercises

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mice under aerobic training showed significantly higher workload after 4 and 8 weeks.

• Resistance exercises generate greater rates of total lymphocytes, CD8⁺ and B lymphocytes.

• Maximum load of resistance training correlates with proliferation of total lymphocytes, CD8⁺ and B cells.

• Resistance training promoted improvement to immune response associated with CD8⁺ and B lymphocytes.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT