Exercise induced enhancement of T cell function and ERK p42[superscript MAPK] and p44[superscript MAPK] phosphorylation with advancing age in humans and mice
Year: 2003
Type: dissertation
Abstract: An age-related decline in immune function occurs with advancing age. This decline increases the incidence and severity of infection, leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality in the elderly population and is largely due to diminished T cell function, that adversely affects proliferation, cytokine production, and signal transduction. The MAPK pathway plays a crucial role in T cell proliferation and is specifically linked to IL-2 production and declines with age. Exercise has been shown to increase activation and phosphorylation the ERK pathway. The purpose of this study is to determine if moderate exercise can improve the mitogen induced immune response in humans. One mechanism that may explain increased proliferation and IL-production with chronic exercise is enhanced T cell signaling, specifically, greater activation of the p44[superscript MAPK] and p42[superscript MAPK] phosphorylation using an aged mouse model. In humans, there were trends towards exercised-induced proliferation and IL-2 production but no differences for the other cytokines. In mice, there were no differences between old exercise, old control, and young mice. However, p44[superscript MAPK] and p42[superscript MAPK] phosphorylation is detectable in mitogen stimulated T cells and may be detectable in antigen stimulated cells and cells receiving no stimulation with the possibility that exercise may increase phosphorylation.
Author: Sarah Jean Borengasser
Language: English
Subfield: Rehabilitation
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W3047121069