scholarly journals Comparative Study of the Effects of Tai Chi and Square Dance on Immune Function, Physical Health, and Life Satisfaction in Urban Empty-Nest Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZhongJun Su ◽  
JieXiu Zhao

Objective: To compare the effects of Tai Chi and Square dance on immune function, physical health, and life satisfaction in urban, empty-nest older adults.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 249 older adults (60–69 years) who were categorized into Tai Chi (n = 81), Square dance (n = 90), and control groups (n = 78). We evaluated immunoglobulin G (IgG) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity by MTT assay, physical health indices by physical fitness levels, and life satisfaction by Life Satisfaction Index A (LSIA) scores.Results: Immune function, physical health, and life satisfaction in older adults in the Tai Chi and Square dance groups were significantly better than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Regarding immune function and physical health, the Tai Chi group exhibited significantly higher levels of IgG (15.41 ± 0.26 g/L vs. 11.99 ± 0.35 g/L, P < 0.05), IL-2 (4.60 ± 0.20 ng/mL vs. 4.45 ± 0.21 ng/mL, P < 0.05), and NK cell cytotoxicity (0.28 ± 0.02 vs. 0.22 ± 0.02, P < 0.05) than the square dance group, significantly lower waist-to-hip ratio (0.87 ± 0.02 vs. 0.89 ± 0.02, P < 0.05), resting pulse (78.4 ± 4.6 beats/min vs. 81.0 ± 3.1 beats/min, P < 0.05), systolic blood pressure (132.0 ± 5.2 mmHg vs. 136.2 ± 3.2 mmHg, P < 0.05), diastolic blood pressure (80.0 ± 2.6 mmHg vs. 83.0 ± 2.7 mmHg, P < 0.05), and significantly higher vital capacity (2978.0 ± 263.0 mL vs. 2628.3 ± 262.8 mL, P < 0.05) and duration of one-leg standing with eyes closed (16.2 ± 1.9 s vs. 12.0 ± 1.7 s). However, there was no significant difference in LSIA scores between the Tai Chi and Square dance groups (12.05 ± 1.96 vs. 13.07 ± 1.51, P > 0.05). Further, there was a significant correlation between LSIA scores and immune function (r = 0.50, P = 0.00) and physical health (r = 0.64, P = 0.00).Conclusion: (1) Both Tai Chi and square dance practitioners had better health outcomes, compared with sedentary individuals; (2) Tai Chi practitioners had better physical health and immune function than Square dance practitioners. (3) Tai Chi and Square dance exercises had similar effects on life satisfaction among urban empty-nest older adults.Suggestions: For urban empty-nest older adults who want to have better physical health and immune function, long-term Tai Chi exercise may be a better choice; however, those who are concerned about life satisfaction can choose either Tai Chi or Square dance exercise.

1999 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 657-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay E. ROBINSON ◽  
Françoise I. BUSSIÈRE ◽  
Jacques LE BOUCHER ◽  
Marie-Chantal FARGES ◽  
Luc A. CYNOBER ◽  
...  

Dietary supplementation with glutamine (Gln), arginine (Arg) or ornithine 2-oxoglutarate (α-ketoglutarate; OKG) has attracted recent attention for the potential to improve anti-cancer immune function. However, since these compounds have not been compared systematically in an internally controlled study, their relative efficacy is difficult to estimate. Buffalo rats were fed on nutritionally complete semi-purified diets supplemented with Gln, Arg or OKG for 14 days after implantation of the Morris hepatoma 7777 (n⩾ 7 per diet). The control diet was made isonitrogenous and isoenergetic by addition of a mixture of non-essential amino acids. After 14 days, peritoneal macrophages and splenocytes were isolated to determine cell phenotypes, macrophage cytostatic activity and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, as well as nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine production. Diet had no effect on tumour weight (1.6±0.2 g; n = 59). However, rats fed OKG had increased macrophage cytostatic activity and NK cell cytotoxicity (P< 0.05). Although enhanced killing ability by NK cells was associated with higher splenocyte NO production (P< 0.04), increased cytotoxicity was not inhibited by a specific inhibitor of inducible NO synthase. The proportion of interleukin-2-receptor-positive T cells after stimulation increased in rats fed OKG (P< 0.05); however, cytokine production was not affected by diet. None of OKG, Gln or Arg altered tumour growth compared with a control mixture of non-essential amino acids. These results suggest no net advantage for anti-cancer immunity, but do not preclude benefits in immune responses to disease recurrence or metastasis, therapy or secondary infection.


2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (2) ◽  
pp. R366-R372 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Davis ◽  
E. A. Murphy ◽  
A. S. Brown ◽  
M. D. Carmichael ◽  
A. Ghaffar ◽  
...  

Both moderate exercise and the soluble oat fiber β-glucan can increase immune function and decrease risk of infection, but no information exists on their possible combined effects. This study tested the effects of moderate exercise and oat β-glucan on respiratory infection, macrophage antiviral resistance, and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. Mice were assigned to four groups: exercise and water, exercise and oat β-glucan, control water, or control oat β-glucan. Oat β-glucan was fed in the drinking water for 10 days before intranasal inoculation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or euthanasia. Exercise consisted of treadmill running (1 h/day) for 6 days. Macrophage resistance to HSV-1 was increased with both exercise and oat β-glucan, whereas NK cell cytotoxicity was only increased with exercise. Exercise was also associated with a 45 and 38% decrease in morbidity and mortality, respectively. Mortality was also decreased with oat β-glucan, but this effect did not reach statistical significance. No additive effects of exercise and oat β-glucan were found. These data confirm a positive effect of both moderate exercise and oat β-glucan on immune function, but only moderate exercise was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of upper respiratory tract infection in this model.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Eaton-Fitch ◽  
Hélène Cabanas ◽  
Stanley du Preez ◽  
Donald Staines ◽  
Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik

Abstract Background Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a serious multifactorial disorder. The origin remains ambiguous, however reduced natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity is a consistent immunological feature of ME/CFS. Impaired transient receptor potential melastatin 3 (TRPM3), a phosphatidylinositol dependent channel, and impaired calcium mobilisation have been implicated in ME/CFS pathology. This investigation aimed to examine the localisation of TRPM3 at the NK cell plasma membrane and co-localisation with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). The effect of IL-2 priming and treatment using pregnenolone sulfate (PregS) and ononetin on TRPM3 co-localisation and NK cell cytotoxicity in ME/CFS patients and healthy controls (HC) was also investigated. Methods NK cells were isolated from 15 ME/CFS patients and 15 age- and sex-matched HC. Immunofluorescent technique was used to determine co-localisation of TRPM3 with the NK cell membrane and with PIP2 of ME/CFS patients and HC. Flow cytometry was used to determine NK cell cytotoxicity. Following IL-2 stimulation and treatment with PregS and ononetin changes in co-localisation and NK cell cytotoxicity were measured. Results Overnight treatment of NK cells with PregS and ononetin resulted in reduced co-localisation of TRPM3 with PIP2 and actin in HC. Co-localisation of TRPM3 with PIP2 in NK cells was significantly reduced in ME/CFS patients compared with HC following priming with IL-2. A significant increase in co-localisation of TRPM3 with PIP2 was reported following overnight treatment with ononetin within ME/CFS patients and between groups. Baseline NK cell cytotoxicity was significantly reduced in ME/CFS patients; however, no changes were observed following overnight incubation with IL-2, PregS and ononetin between HC and ME/CFS patients. IL-2 stimulation significantly enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity in HC and ME/CFS patients. Conclusion Significant changes in co-localisation suggest PIP2-dependent TRPM3 function may be impaired in ME/CFS patients. Stimulation of NK cells with IL-2 significantly enhanced cytotoxic function in ME/CFS patients demonstrating normal function compared with HC. A crosstalk exists between IL-2 and TRPM3 intracellular signalling pathways which are dependent on Ca2+ influx and PIP2. While IL-2R responds to IL-2 binding in vitro, Ca2+ dysregulation and impaired intracellular signalling pathways impede NK cell function in ME/CFS patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 656
Author(s):  
Hantae Jo ◽  
Byungsun Cha ◽  
Haneul Kim ◽  
Sofia Brito ◽  
Byeong Mun Kwak ◽  
...  

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes that can directly destroy cancer cells. When NK cells are activated, CD56 and CD107a markers are able to recognize cancer cells and release perforin and granzyme B proteins that induce apoptosis in the targeted cells. In this study, we focused on the role of phytoncides in activating NK cells and promoting anticancer effects. We tested the effects of several phytoncide compounds on NK-92mi cells and demonstrated that α-pinene treatment exhibited higher anticancer effects, as observed by the increased levels of perforin, granzyme B, CD56 and CD107a. Furthermore, α-pinene treatment in NK-92mi cells increased NK cell cytotoxicity in two different cell lines, and immunoblot assays revealed that the ERK/AKT pathway is involved in NK cell cytotoxicity in response to phytoncides. Furthermore, CT-26 colon cancer cells were allografted subcutaneously into BALB/c mice, and α-pinene treatment then inhibited allografted tumor growth. Our findings demonstrate that α-pinene activates NK cells and increases NK cell cytotoxicity, suggesting it is a potential compound for cancer immunotherapy.


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