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Physical activity in children is associated with several positive health outcomes such as decreased cardiovascular risk factors, improved lung function, enhanced motor skill development, healthier body composition, and also improved defense against inflammatory diseases. We examined how high physical activity vs a sedentary lifestyle in young children influences the immune response with focus on autoimmunity. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells, collected from 55 5-year-old children with either high physical activity ( n = 14), average physical activity ( n = 27), or low physical activity ( n = 14), from the All Babies In Southeast Sweden ( ABIS) cohort, were stimulated with antigens (tetanus toxoid and beta-lactoglobulin) and autoantigens ( GAD65, insulin, HSP60, and IA-2). Immune markers (cytokines and chemokines), C-peptide and proinsulin were analyzed. Children with high physical activity showed decreased immune activity toward the autoantigens GAD65 ( IL-5, P < 0.05), HSP60 and IA-2 ( IL-10, P < 0.05) and also low spontaneous pro-inflammatory immune activity ( IL-6, IL-13, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and CCL2 ( P < 0.05)) compared with children with an average or low physical activity. High physical activity in young children seems to have positive effects on the immune system by altering autoantigen-induced immune activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 1 diabetes ( T1D) and coeliac disease are both characterized by an autoimmune feature. As T1D and coeliac disease share the same risk genes, patients risk subsequently developing the other disease. This study aimed to investigate the expression of T helper ( Th), T cytotoxic ( Tc) and regulatory T cells ( Treg) in T1D and/or coeliac disease children in comparison to healthy children. Subgroups of T cells ( Th : CD4+ or Tc : CD8+); naive ( CD27+CD28+CD45RA+CCR7+), central memory ( CD27+CD28+CD45RA− CCR7+), effector memory (early differentiated; CD27+CD28+CD45RA− CCR7− and late differentiated; CD27− CD28− CD45RA− CCR7−), terminally differentiated effector cells ( TEMRA; CD27− CD28− CD45RA+CCR7−) and Treg ( CD4+CD25+FOXP3+CD127−) cells, and their expression of CD39, CD45RA, CD101 and CD129, were studied by flow cytometry in T1D and/or coeliac disease children or without any of these diseases (reference group). Children diagnosed with both T1D and coeliac disease showed a higher percentage of TEMRA CD4+ cells ( P < 0·05), but lower percentages of both early and late effector memory CD8+ cells ( P < 0·05) compared to references. Children with exclusively T1D had lower median fluorescence intensity ( MFI) of forkhead box protein 3 ( FoxP3) ( P < 0·05) and also a lower percentage of CD39+ and CD45RA+ within the Treg population ( CD4+CD25+FOXP3+CD127−) ( P < 0·05). Children with exclusively coeliac disease had a higher MFI of CD101 ( P < 0·01), as well as a higher percentage of CD129+ ( P < 0·05), in the CD4+CD25hi lymphocyte population, compared to references. In conclusion, children with combined T1D and coeliac disease have a higher percentage of differentiated CD4+ cells compared to CD8+ cells. T1D children show signs of low CD39+/CD45RA+ Treg cells that may indicate loss of suppressive function. Conversely, children with coeliac disease show signs of CD101+/CD129+ Treg cells that may indicate suppressor activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exact role of T-helper (Th) cells that precede the clinical manifestation of type 1 diabetes remains unclear. The aim of this investigation was to study the Th1- and Th2-like profile in children and adults with high risk of developing the disease. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from high-risk children and adults and from healthy individuals matched for age and gender. Using the sensitive enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) technique to divide Th1- from Th2-like lymphocytes, secretion of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 was analysed from lymphocytes spontaneously and afterin vitrostimulation with different antigens, based on present paradigms regarding the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Compared to the response observed in healthy individuals, we found that individuals with a high risk of developing type 1 diabetes, especially children, responded with less IFN-γ secretion to the three autoantigens glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65), insulin and tyrosinphosphatase (IA-2). Thus, a diminished Th1-like response byin vitroautoantigen stimulation was observed in especially children with a high risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Reduced Th1/Th2 response was related to signs ofβ cell exhaustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]