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Cited by 1,016Exercise and Physiological ResponsesCardiovascular and exercise physiologySports Performance and Training

Immune function in sport and exercise

Gleeson, Michael·2007·Journal of Applied Physiology
DOI 10.1152/japplphysiol.00008.2007
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Abstract

Regular moderate exercise is associated with a reduced incidence of infection compared with a completely sedentary state. However, prolonged bouts of strenuous exercise cause a temporary depression of various aspects of immune function (e.g., neutrophil respiratory burst, lymphocyte proliferation, monocyte antigen presentation) that usually lasts ∼3–24 h after exercise, depending on the intensity and duration of the exercise bout. Postexercise immune function dysfunction is most pronounced when the exercise is continuous, prolonged (>1.5 h), of moderate to high intensity (55–75% maximum O 2 uptake), and performed without food intake. Periods of intensified training (overreaching) lasting 1 wk or more may result in longer lasting immune dysfunction. Although elite athletes are not clinically immune deficient, it is possible that the combined effects of small changes in several immune parameters may compromise resistance to common minor illnesses, such as upper respiratory tract infection. However, this may be a small price to pay as the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise mediated through cytokines and/or downregulation of toll-like receptor expression are likely mediators of many of the long-term health benefits of regular exercise.

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Crossref · 10.1152/japplphysiol.00008.2007

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56 of 56 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • A prolonged bout of strenuous exercise increases the expression of TLRs.

    “Our finding is in agreement with the report showing that a prolonged bout of strenuous exercise increases the expression of TLRs (Gleeson, 2007).”

    From Six-Week Endurance Exercise Alters Gut Metagenome That Is not Reflected in Systemic Metabolism in Over-weight Women (2018) · cites this paper as Gleeson, 2007

  • Exercising while glycogen-depleted increases circulating cortisol and causes disturbances in several indices of immune function, and post-exercise immune dysfunction is most pronounced following prolonged, continuous exercise (>1.5 h) performed without food.

    “Exercising while glycogen-depleted increases circulating cortisol and causes disturbances in several indices of immune function (including plasma glutamine and circulating leukocytes) [6], and post-exercise immune dysfunction is most pronounced following prolonged, continuous exercise (> 1.5 h) performed without food [47].”

    From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: nutritional considerations for single-stage ultra-marathon training and racing (2019) · cites this paper as [47]

  • Glucocorticoids released during intense exercise diminish TLR expression, and therefore the capacity to produce anti-inflammatory cytokines and host antimicrobial defense.

    “Glucocorticoids released during intense exercise has also been shown to diminish the TLR expression, and therefore the capacity to produce anti-inflammatory cytokines and host antimicrobial defense [68].”

    From Exercise-induced stress behavior, gut-microbiota-brain axis and diet: a systematic review for athletes (2016) · cites this paper as [68]

  • Prolonged intense exercise could negatively affect neurotransmitter homeostasis and immune response when glutamine levels are depleted to detoxify ammonia in the brain, causing a more excitatory-glutamate driven response and a decline in GABA-mediated inhibitory pathways.

    “Therefore, prolonged intense exercise could negatively affect neurotransmitter homeostasis and immune response when glutamine levels are depleted [80, 81] in order to detoxify ammonia in the brain causing a more excitatory-glutamate driven response to exercise-induced stress and a decline in GABA-mediated inhibitory pathways.”

    From Exercise-induced stress behavior, gut-microbiota-brain axis and diet: a systematic review for athletes (2016) · cites this paper as [81]

  • Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease are related to a state of low-grade systemic inflammation.

    “Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease are related to a state of low-grade systemic inflammation [7, 27–29].”

    From Exercise as a Mean to Control Low‐Grade Systemic Inflammation (2008) · cites this paper as [27]

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Authors
Gleeson, M.
Affiliations
Loughborough University (GB)
Corresponding author
Gleeson, Michael
ORCID
Gleeson, Michael
Venue
Journal of Applied Physiology
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Published
2007-08
Volume
103
Issue
2
Pages
693-699
ISSN
  • 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
  • 8750-7587
  • 1522-1601
DOI
10.1152/japplphysiol.00008.2007
OpenAlex
W2107037784
Cited by
1,016
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 36 · 2025: 42 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 56 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 55 · 2018: 72 · 2017: 64 · 2016: 64 · 2015: 66 · 2014: 71 · 2013: 68 · 2012: 72
FWCI
41.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
Keywords
exercise immunology, immune function, exercise-induced immunosuppression, upper respiratory tract infection, neutrophil respiratory burst, lymphocyte proliferation, overtraining, elite athletes, cytokines, Toll-like receptors, anti-inflammatory effects of exercise, infection resistance
MeSH terms
Depression, Humans, Immune System, Inflammation, Pharyngitis, Risk Factors, Sports, Exercise

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