Acute high-intensity exercise enhances T cell proliferation compared to moderate-intensity exercise, 2025, Siedlik et al

Acute high-intensity exercise enhances T cell proliferation compared to moderate-intensity exercise

Jacob A. Siedlik, Jake A. Deckert, Amanda J. Dunbar, Anuja Bhatta, Nicole M. Gigliotti, Marcia A. Chan, Stephen H. Benedict, Matthew Bubak, John P. Vardiman, Philip M. Gallagher

Published: 13 March 2025

[Line breaks added]

Abstract
Conventional belief is that high-intensity (HI) exercise inhibits immune function; however, recent work challenges this position. The purpose of this was to quantify changes in T cell proliferative capacity following either a HI or moderate-intensity (MI) exercise.

Sixteen males were randomly selected to a HI or MI exercise group. Blood was obtained baseline and immediately, 1, 4, and 6 h post-exercise for analyses of CD3+ T cell proliferation (co-stimulation via phytohaemagglutinin or CD3 + CD28).

The proliferative response increased in T cells in the HI group and remained significantly elevated up to 6 h post-exercise in both co-stimulation conditions. In contrast, the MI group saw no change proliferative ability following exercise.

Analyses of serum stress hormones, and immunomodulatory cytokines failed to reveal any correlated variations that could clarify the T cell findings.

We suggest the increase in proliferative capacity following HI exercise is indicative of an exercise-induced activation that provides for enhanced functional responses to stimuli. Moreover, this study shows that HI exercise increases T cell processes, effectively priming them for activation in response to stimuli.

This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06638684).

Link (Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism) [Paywall]

 

Too short of a study for the second one, at least for ME research. The measurements should have been extended to 24 hrs and better yet, longer. Immune cells have delays, so they can sit effectively unchanged for 6 hrs, but then at 24 hrs, abruptly start spewing out cytokines, or replicating, or whatever else. As I understand it, IFN-g rises abruptly 24 hrs after exertion.

 

Surely high-intensity exercise is very detrimental for ME?

 

I posted this not as a potential reason to participate in exercise, but just because it shows what happens after exercise. Who knows, maybe T cell proliferation might be a step in causing PEM.

 

Thanks - I guess if T cells are somehow impaired in ME then creating more impaired T cells is presumably not helpful for PEM.

 

Possibly, who knows. It’s already quite an assumption to presume T-cells respond the same way to exertion in people sick with ME/CFS and healthy controls. In fact, I think it would be fascinating to do the kind of exercise studies @forestglip has been sharing recently in pwME. (But that would be tough, ethically).