Review Article

The Effects of Exercise on Aging-Induced Exaggerated Cytokine Responses: An Interdisciplinary Discussion

Table 2

Observational studies of the beneficial effects of exercise on cardiovascular disease and hypertension in different age populations.

Age (years)Aging effectsExercise/physical activityBeneficial of exercise/Physical activityReferences

Cardiovascular disease
64 ± 7.1 (coronary heart disease patient)↑ CRP
↑HDL cholesterol
↑ LDL cholesterol
↑ Triglycerides
12-week aerobic exercise training program at 70–80% of individual maximal heart rate
(continuous exercise on treadmill, stationary bicycle, arm bicycle, rowing machine, or a combination of these activities for 40 min/time)
↓ CRP
↓ HDL cholesterol
↓ LDL cholesterol
↓ Triglycerides
E. Goldhammer et al. 2005 [89]
45.44 ± 11.26 (heart failure patient)↑ IL-6
↑ sTNFR1
3–7-day interval with
(1) moderate-intensity walk, with 60% of the peak heart rate achieved at the CPET in 30 min (M30)
(2) low-intensity walk, with 40% of the peak heart rate achieved at the CPET heart rate corresponding to 40% of VO2 peak in 30 min (L30)
↓ IL-6 (1 h after exercise for L30)
↓ sTNFR1 (1 h after exercise for M30)
G. A. Ribeiro-Samona et al. 2017 [90]
>18 years old (cardiovascular disease)↔ IL-1β
↑ IL-6
↑ TNF-α
↔ IL-8
↑ IL-25
↑ Adam17
Five daily sessions of cycling for 3 weeks
Each session was performed at 70% HRmax for at least 30 minutes (the sessions duration increased by ten minutes every three days, up to 50 minutes twice a day)
↔ IL-1β
↓ IL-6
↓ TNF-α
↔ IL-8
↓ IL-25
↓ ADAM17
V. Racca et al. 2020 [91]

Hypertension
67.8 ± 4.3 (aerobic group, AG)
67.8 ± 5.2 (resistance and aerobic group, RAG) 69.9 ± 5.5 (control group, CG) (hypertension)
↑ IL-6
↑ TNF-α
Training lasted 10 weeks, with sessions held three times a week
(AG: treadmill test with 50–70% VO2max)

(RAG: trained with intensities of 50–60% 1RM;
(1) leg press 45°,
(2) chest press,
(3) leg extension,
(4) lat pull down,
(5) leg curl,
(6) pulley upright row,
(7) seated calf raise,
(8) machine seated row,
(9) abdominal crunches)
↓ IL-6 (AG, RAG)
↓ TNF-α (RAG)
L. G. Lima et al. 2015 [92]
76.8 ± 4.7↑ GDF-156-minute walk distance over 12 months↓ GDF-15M. Barma et al. 2017 [93]
52.3 ± 7.1 (no hypertension) 55.2 ± 8.5 (hypertension)↑ NO
↑ IL-6
↑ TNF
Exercise intensity was measured by a heart rate monitor and maintained in a low-intensity range (50% and 70% of HRmax) for 40 min (upper + lower limbs)↓ NO
↓ IL-6
↓ TNF
L. A. Da silva et al. 2018 [94]
22–70 years old (hypertension)↑ SBP
↑ DBP
↔ TNF
↔ ICAM1
↑ EDN1
↑ NOS2
4 physical activity training sessions of 40 min a week (bike or jogging)↓ SBP
↓ DBP
↔ TNF
↔ ICAM1
↓ EDN1
↓ NOS2
L. Ferrari et al. 2019 [95]

Notes: ↓ refers to significant decreased; ↑ refers to significant increased; ↔ refers to no change. CRP, C-reactive protein (CRP); HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; IL-6, interleukin 6; sTNFR1, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1; IL-1β, interleukin 1 beta; TNFα, tumor necrosis factor alpha; IL-8, interleukin 8; IL-25, interleukin 25; Adam17, A disintegrin and metalloprotease 17; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; ICAM1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1; EDN1, endothelin 1; NOS2, nitric oxide synthase 2; NO, nitric oxide; GDF-15, growth/differentiation factor-15.