Buyukyazi, G2025-04-102025-04-100765-1597http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14701/33792Aim. - This study aimed to examine the association between active vs. inactive lifestyle and cellular and humoral immune system in the elderly. Methods. - Eleven elderly male athletes (mean age +/- S.D.: 67.1 +/- 6.0 year) performing regular aerobic exercise for about 38.8 +/- 18.5 yeasr (4.4 +/- 1.4 d week(-1); 10.0 +/- 8.1 h week(-1)) and eleven male individuals at similar ages (mean age S.D.: 64.9 +/- 4.6 year) leading a sedentary life were taken as control group. Immunological assessments were total leukocyte count, lymphocyte subpopulation, natural killer percentages, and IgA, IgG, and IgM concentrations. Results. - Baseline NK cell percentage, and serum IgA and IgM concentrations of master athletes were significantly higher than those of control group (29.3 +/- 12.8% vs. 20.0 +/- 7.5%; 2.4 +/- 0.66 g/l vs. 1.6 +/- 0.63 g/l; 1.0 +/- 0.47 g/l vs. 0.58 +/- 0.31 g/l, respectively; P < 0.05). No statistical differences were obtained in the total leukocyte counts and neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and the percentages of total T cells, B cells and T cell subsets (CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells), and IgG levels of the two groups. Conclusion. - Habitual exercise training may cause a slow down in the age-related decline in NK cell percentages and serum IgA and IgM levels of the elderly. (C) 2003 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.EnglishArticle