Influence of acute moderate- to high-intensity aerobic exercise on markers of immune function and microparticles in renal transplant recipients

• Published in: American journal of physiology. Renal physiology 2020-01, Vol.318 (1), p.F76-F85
• Main Authors: Highton, Patrick J, White, Alice E M, Nixon, Daniel G D, Wilkinson, Thomas J, Neale, Jill, Martin, Naomi, Bishop, Nicolette C, Smith, Alice C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aerobics; Age; Aged; Biomarkers; Cell activation; Cell-Derived Microparticles - physiology; Epidermal growth factor receptors; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; Flow Cytometry; Glomerular filtration rate; Glomerular Filtration Rate - physiology; Health risk assessment; Humans; Immune response; Immune System - physiology; Immunosuppression; Inflammation; Kidney diseases; Kidney Transplantation; Leukocytes; Male; Microparticles; Middle Aged; Monocytes; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Physical fitness; Platelets; Postoperative Period; Renal function; Renal Insufficiency - physiopathology; Renal Insufficiency - surgery; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - physiopathology; Tissue factor; Transplant Recipients; Walking
• ISSN: 1931-857X; 1522-1466
• DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00332.2019

Renal transplant recipients (RTRs) and patients with nondialysis chronic kidney disease display elevated circulating microparticle (MP) counts, while RTRs display immunosuppression-induced infection susceptibility. The impact of aerobic exercise on circulating immune cells and MPs is unknown in RTRs. Fifteen RTRs [age: 52.8 ± 14.5 yr, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): 51.7 ± 19.8 mL·min ·1.73 m (mean ± SD)] and 16 patients with nondialysis chronic kidney disease (age: 54.8 ± 16.3 yr, eGFR: 61.9 ± 21.0 mL·min ·1.73 m , acting as a uremic control group), and 16 healthy control participants (age: 52.2 ± 16.2 yr, eGFR: 85.6 ± 6.1 mL·min ·1.73 m ) completed 20 min of walking at 60-70% peak O consumption. Venous blood samples were taken preexercise, postexercise, and 1 h postexercise. Leukocytes and MPs were assessed using flow cytometry. Exercise increased classical ( = 0.001) and nonclassical ( = 0.002) monocyte subset proportions but decreased the intermediate subset ( < 0.001) in all groups. Exercise also decreased the percentage of platelet-derived MPs that expressed tissue factor in all groups ( = 0.01), although no other exercise-dependent effects were observed. The exercise-induced reduction in intermediate monocyte percentage suggests an anti-inflammatory effect, although this requires further investigation. The reduction in the percentage of tissue factor-positive platelet-derived MPs suggests reduced prothrombotic potential, although further functional assays are required. Exercise did not cause aberrant immune cell activation, suggesting its safety from an immunological standpoint (ISRCTN38935454).