Exercise acutely increases vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in T‐lymphocytes in vitamin D deficient men, independent of age
Hannah Lithgow Experimental Physiology 06 April 2021
New Findings
What is the central question of the study?
Does exercise affect vitamin D receptor expression in T‐lymphocytes in young, middle aged and older adults?
What is the main finding and its importance?
Moderate intensity cycling exercise increases vitamin D receptor expression in vitamin D deficient men, independent of age, presenting a strategy to combat the vitamin D epidemic.
Abstract
Vitamin D plays a key role in the modulation of the immune system, mediated through the intracellular vitamin D receptor (VDR). Exercise has been shown to influence the activity and availability of the VDR. This study aimed to investigate the effect of age on basal immune cell (T‐lymphocytes) VDR expression and the subsequent effect of acute aerobic exercise to modulate VDR expression in peripheral T‐cells. Thirty‐five males were included in the study (means ± SD: age 44 ± 17 y, BMI 25.7 ± 3.1 kg·m−2), separated into three age groups: 18‐30 y (n = 12), 31‐45 y (n = 11), and 60‐75 y (n = 12). Participants completed two trials: control (idiot) and aerobic exercise (AE), with blood samples collected pre‐ and post‐exercise (0 h, 1 h, and 3 h). Peripheral blood T‐cells were isolated and analysed for VDR expression by flow cytometry. The results show that advanced age is associated with lower VDR expression in T‐cells (882 ± 274 vs 796 ± 243 vs 594 ± 174 geomean). Acute AE was successful at acutely increasing VDR expression in T‐cells, irrespective of age. Advanced age corresponds to a lower T cell VDR expression, which may be responsible for age‐associated development of chronic conditions and autoimmunity.
Exercise was successful in increasing VDR expression in T‐cells irrespective of age and independent of exercise‐induced T cell mobilisation.