Leicht 2013 - Spinal cord injury - Known and possible influences on the immune response to exercise.pdf (266.69 kB)
Download fileSpinal cord injury: known and possible influences on the immune response to exercise
journal contribution
posted on 2015-03-16, 13:49 authored by Christof LeichtChristof Leicht, Vicky Goosey-TolfreyVicky Goosey-Tolfrey, Nicolette BishopNicolette BishopA spinal cord injury (SCI) can increase the risk of infection by impacting on
many aspects of immune function; one particularly well-documented observation
is a reduction in lymphocyte numbers. The vast majority of lymphoid cells
express adrenergic receptors. Therefore, autonomic function loss and concomitant
alterations in resting and post-exercise catecholamine concentrations, particularly
so in individuals with a tetraplegia, may impact directly on immune cells and
depress immunity. Other factors are further likely to contribute, examples including
altered muscular, endocrine and cardiovascular function following SCI. However,
some alterations, such as increases in natural killer cell cytotoxicity following
exercise in those with a tetraplegia, are unrelated to the catecholamine
response. Likewise, mucosal immunity in individuals with a tetraplegia appears to
be similarly influenced by exercise as in the able-bodied population. Indeed, rehabilitation
therapy and exercise can increase some measures of immunity and autonomic
function in those with an SCI. It is therefore possible that compensatory
mechanisms offset disability-related detriments. This may be by way of sympathetic
reflex activity, receptor hypersensitivity, or parasympathetic and neuroendocrine
adjustments. Future work needs to explore these mechanisms further to
clarify the implications of an SCI on the immune response to exercise and susceptibility
to infection. In this article, we review the impacts of an SCI on immune, and specifically, exercise
immune function. The relevant anatomical and physiological foundations of
the immune system are first briefly laid out in order to understand the potential
impacts of neural and neuroendocrine dysfunction on the immune system. With
the limited number of human studies available, we have then aimed specifically to
gather all relevant existing literature on exercise immunology in individuals with
an SCI in patient, recreationally active and athlete populations. We believe that an
understanding of the impacts of exercise can provide a tool to help maintain or
improve health in individuals with an SCI.
Funding
We thank the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport for on-going support.
History
School
- Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences