Open AccessCold acclimation affects immune composition in skeletal muscle of healthy lean subjects
Author(s) -
Lans Anouk A. J. J.,
Boon Mariëtte R.,
Haks Mariëlle C.,
Quinten Edwin,
Schaart Gert,
Ottenhoff Tom H.,
Marken Lichtenbelt Wouter D.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
physiological reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2051-817X
DOI - 10.14814/phy2.12394
Subject(s) - skeletal muscle , immune system , medicine , endocrinology , biology , immunology
Low environmental temperatures have a profound effect on biological processes in the body, including the immune system. Cold exposure coincides with hormonal changes, which may directly or indirectly alter the immune system, even in the skeletal muscle. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of cold acclimation on immune composition in skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle biopsies were obtained from 17 healthy lean subjects before and after 10 days of mild cold exposure (15 ° C, 6 h/day). Nonshivering thermogenesis was calculated by indirect calorimetry. We found that cold acclimation increased nonshivering thermogenesis from 10.8 ± 7.5 before to 17.8 ± 11.1% after cold acclimation ( P < 0.01), but did not affect plasma catecholamine nor cytokine levels. In contrast, cold acclimation affected mRNA expression of several immune cell markers in skeletal muscle. It downregulated expression of the Th17 markers RORC (−28%, P < 0.01) and NEDD 4L (−15%, P < 0.05), as well as the regulatory T‐cell marker FOXP 3 (−13%, P < 0.05). Furthermore, cold acclimation downregulated expression of the M2 macrophage markers CCL 22 (−50%, P < 0.05), CXCL 13 (−17%, P < 0.05) and CD 209 (−15%, P < 0.05), while the M1 macrophage marker IL 12B was upregulated (+141%, P < 0.05). Cold acclimation also enhanced several markers related to interferon ( IFN ) signaling, including TAP 1 (+12%, P < 0.01), IFITM 1/3 (+11%, P < 0.05), CD 274 (+36%, P < 0.05) and STAT 2 (+10%, P < 0.05). In conclusion, 10 days of intermittent cold exposure induces marked changes in the expression of immune cell markers in skeletal muscle of healthy lean subjects. The physiological consequences and therapeutic relevance of these changes remain to be determined.