Intense Physical Exercise Induces an Anti-inflammatory Change in IgG N-Glycosylation Profile

Abstract

Exercise is known to improve many aspects of human health, including modulation of the immune system and inflammatory status. It is generally understood that exercise reduces inflammation, but there are missing links in terms of understanding the mechanisms as well as the differences between exercise modalities. N-glycosylation of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and total plasma proteins was previously shown to reflect changes in inflammatory pathways, which could provide valuable information to further clarify exercise effects. In order to further expand the understanding of the relationship between physical activity and inflammation, we examined the effect of intense exercise, in the form of repeated sprint training (RST), on IgG and total plasma proteins N-glycosylation in combination with traditionally used inflammation markers: C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and leukocyte count. Twenty-nine male physical education students were separated into treatment (RST, N = 15) and control (N = 14) groups. The RST group completed a 6-week exercise protocol while the control group was instructed to refrain from organized physical activity for the duration of the study. Three blood samples were taken at different time points: prior to start of the training program, the final week of the exercise intervention (EXC), and at the end of the 4-week recovery period (REC). Following the end of the recovery period IgG N-glycosylation profiles showed anti-inflammatory changes in RST group compared to the control group, which manifested as a decrease in agalactosylated (p = 0.0473) and an increase in digalactosylated (p = 0.0473), and monosialylated (p = 0.0339) N-glycans. Plasma protein N-glycans didn't change significantly, while traditional inflammatory markers also didn't show significant change in inflammatory status. Observed results demonstrate the potential of intense physical exercise to reduce levels of systemic basal inflammation as well as the potential for IgG N-glycosylation to serve as a sensitive longitudinal systemic inflammation marker.

Kale Attenuates Inflammation and Modulates Gut Microbial Composition and Function in C57BL/6J Mice with Diet-Induced Obesity

“…Glycosylation plays a role in cell to cell communication, intracellular signaling pathways and the modulation of the immune response [ 25 ] and regulates host immune responses, such as the reorganization of T cell receptor complexes, modulation of immune receptor clustering, endocytosis, receptor signaling and immunoglobulin functions [ 26 ]. Altered glycosylation patterns are reported in chronic inflammation and inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer and infections [ 27 ]. Glycans without a terminal galactose induce the pro-inflammatory properties of immunoglobulin G and are observed in inflammatory diseases [ 28 ].…”

Effects of estradiol on biological age measured using the glycan age index

“…One of the important elements that is still missing is the ability to change the biomarker with lifestyle changes or pharmacological interventions. Recently a modest improvement in epigenetic age was reported in a small group of individuals undertaking quite radical pharmacological intervention [20] and glycan age was shown to slightly improve by exercise [21]. However, all these changes were modest compared to the effects of the suppression of gonadal hormones, which more than doubled glycan age in some of the participants.…”

Extensive weight loss can reduce immune age by altering IgG N-glycosylation

“…Intense physical exercise can also shift IgG N-glycome towards a young-like profile by increasing IgG galactosylation [23]. Although another study reported that prolonged intensive exercise can have the opposite effect and promote pro-inflammatory changes of IgG N-glycome [37], its findings are not surprising since it recruited healthy, normal-weight female participants, subjected to the intense energy deprivation and exercise levels, to induce substantial fat loss in a rather short time period.…”

“…However, studies exploring the possibilities of converting an old-like into a young-like IgG glycome by metabolic intervention in humans are limited. Of note, only one small study indicated that high-intensity interval training can rejuvenate the IgG N-glycome [23].…”