Efeito do exercício aquático agudo na resposta imune humoral contra Dermatophagoides farinae em mulheres pós-menopausadas

Abstract

Exercise is recommended as an effective, non-pharmacological strategy for the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases in individuals of all ages. However, the practice of intense and/or prolonged exercise can result in a temporary suppression of the immune system. The evaluation of this immune impairment often relies on the concentration and secretion of salivary IgA (sIgA), as there is a correlation between the decrease in the levels of this antibody and the increase in the incidence of infections after exercise. However, it is important to note that many of the respiratory symptoms after exercise can be attributed to conditions such as asthma and rhinitis. To date, no study has addressed the analysis of the variation of salivary IgA antibodies specific to allergens triggered by physical exercise. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of interval water exercises on the variation of the levels of salivary specific IgA antibodies to house dust mites in postmenopausal women. For this, postmenopausal women had data on medications used, age, and anthropometric measurements collected. Then, an interval water exercise session was performed, with intensity varying between moderate and vigorous, and a relaxation session (control). Before and after the sessions, saliva samples were collected, in which the presence of anti-Dermatophagoides farinae sIgA was detected by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). The same procedure was applied to detect specific IgA and IgE antibodies in the participants’ blood, collected later, along with a rhinitis control questionnaire. The results indicated that interval water exercise did not cause significant variations in the levels and secretion of anti-D. farinae salivary IgA in postmenopausal women. In addition, these antibodies showed high variability, both when compared between individuals and on different days for the same person. Specific salivary IgA did not correlate with rhinitis symptoms, nor with specific serum IgE and IgA, nor with any demographic, metabolic, or body composition data analyzed. On the other hand, specific serum IgA correlated directly with allergic rhinitis symptoms, while it was inversely related to the body mass index and the percentage of body fat of the volunteers. This suggests that the aquatic environment may allow for more intense exercise, even for people with bone and joint impairment, without affecting the levels of allergen-specific IgA in saliva. Therefore, it is expected that participants will not have respiratory allergic crises after interval water exercise sessions.