Exercise, Inflammation, and Innate Immunity

Exercise and immunity in horses

“…GMC-SF) but also an increase of antiinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, IL-1ra), and an increase in concentration of an inflammatory protein (CRP). 4,15 Equine phagocytes sampled during exercise have an increased phagocytic capacity. 2,16 Many changes also occur during the period after exercise.…”

“…This is especially true in the elderly. 3,4 • Intense physical activity, and particularly a competition, induces an increased (+150%) susceptibility to upper airway respiratory diseases, just after the exercise. Moreover, intense exercise seems to reactivate latent infections.…”

“…Air quality and characteristics (chemical, biological and physical) as well as high level of ventilation are thought to be favoring factors. 4 In horses, epidemiological studies have also shown an increased susceptibility to infectious disease in young racehorses, despite appropriate vaccination. 11 (Table 45.2).…”

“…The fact that some scientists propose to treat the IAD by anti-inflammatory drugs administration while others recommend to control it by giving stimulants of immunity gives an idea of the extent of the lack of knowledge on this syndrome. 4 Inflammatory reaction and resistance to infection, before, during and after an intense exercise in man. The recovery period is associated with an immunodepression called the 'Open Window Period'.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] The difficulty of assessing this relationship is due to numerous factors, among which the complexity of the immune function, the variability of the exercise considered (which varies by equestrian discipline, intensity and duration), the population studied (sedentary, athletic, research to evaluate the immune response against viral attack. It is a stimulant of the Toll-like receptor type 3 (TLR3), an intracellular receptor included in the endosome membrane and which is involved in the recognition of viral DNA/RNA.…”