Exercise Immunology and Cardiometabolic Diseases

The human immune system is implicated in the development and progression of cardiometabolic diseases (including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome). This is typified by altered numbers, phenotypes, and functions of innate and adaptive immune cells, exhibiting a pro-inflammatory phenotype. These pro-inflammatory cells contribute to the aetiology and pathology of cardiometabolic disease through invasion of the vascular wall in atherosclerotic disease (cardiovascular disease) and infiltration into adipose tissue, exacerbating adipose-mediated inflammation (for example, in type 2 diabetes). Regular exercise has many benefits for those with cardiometabolic disease, but whether these effects are mediated by alterations in immunity are unknown. The current evidence suggests that regular exercise, independent of modality (endurance, resistance), can curb monocyte/macrophage inflammatory indices, as well as positively affect lymphocyte phenotypes in both animal and human models. This chapter discusses the involvement of the immune system in cardiometabolic disease, providing key mechanisms, plus evidence concerning the role of regular exercise participation to affect the immune system, and subsequent impact on disease parameters.