Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

The effect of different levels of physical activity on the regulation of chromogranin A and immunoglobulin A and the effect of these indicators on the immune system of adolescents

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Kowsar University of Bojnourd, Bojnourd, Iran
10.48305/jims.v44.i851.0165
Abstract
Introduction: The immune system of adolescents is vulnerable due to changes associated with age and the influence of environmental factors. It has been determined that physical activity is one of the key factors in maintaining the physical and mental health of individuals in all age groups. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different levels of physical activity on the regulation of chromogranin A and immunoglobulin A and the effect of these indicators on the immune system of adolescents.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 60 boys aged 14 to 16 years old from Yazd Region 1 who participated voluntarily and were selected by simple sampling method. Participants were divided into three groups: inactive, active, and athlete (20 people in each group). The Baecke questionnaire was used to determine physical activity levels. Saliva samples were collected and analyzed using ELISA for biomarkers. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 16, ANOVA test, and Bonferroni and James-Howell post hoc tests, considering a significance level of p ≤ 0.05.

Findings: The results of statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the groups in the chromogranin A index (p<0.001) and it was significantly lower in the athletic and active groups than in the inactive group, and the greatest decrease was observed in the athletic group (p<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the groups for salivary immunoglobulin A (p=0.096).

Conclusion: Regular physical activity can reduce CgA levels and modulate physiological stress in adolescents, but

Highlights

Marzieh Sadat Azarniveh: Google Scholar, PubMed

Mitra Khademosharie: Google Scholar

Keywords

Subjects


1.     Nieman DC, Wentz LM. The compelling link between physical activity and the body's defense system. J Sport Health Sci 2019; 8(3): 201-17.
2.     Walsh NP, Gleeson M, Shephard RJ, Woods JA, Bishop NC, Fleshner M, et al. Position statement. Part one: Immune function and exercise. Exerc Immunol Rev 2011; 17: 6-63.
3.     Simpson RJ, Campbell JP, Gleeson M, Krüger K, Nieman DC, Pyne DB, et al. Can exercise affect immune function to increase susceptibility to infection? Exerc Immunol Rev 2020; 26: 8-22.
4.     Hackney AC, Lane AR. Exercise and the regulation of endocrine hormones. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci 2015; 135: 293-311.
5.     Usui T, Yoshikawa T, Ueda SY, Katsura Y, Orita K, Fujimoto S. Effects of acute prolonged exercise on serum and salivary chromogranin A. J Sports Sci Med 2011; 10(4): 675-80.
6.     Cryer PE, Wortsman JA, Shah SD, Nowak RM, Deftos LJ. Plasma chromogranin A as a marker of sympathochromaffin activity in humans. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism. 1991 Feb 1;260(2): E243-6. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.1991.260.2.e243
7.     Bishop NC, Gleeson M. Acute and chronic effects of exercise on markers of mucosal immunity. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) 2009; 14(12): 4444-56.
8.     Gleeson M, Pyne DB. Exercise effects on mucosal immunity. Immunology and cell biology. 2000 Oct;78(5):536-44.
9.     Castilho T, da Silva Guimarães L, Póvoa HC, Antunes LS, Antunes LA. Influence of physical exercises on salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA) concentration in athletes: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Sport Sciences for Health. 2022;18(3):621-39.
10.  Mohamed AA, Alawna M. The effect of aerobic exercise on immune biomarkers and symptoms severity in patients with COVID-19: a randomized controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther 2021; 28: 425-32.
11.  Neves RS, da Silva MA, de Rezende MA, Caldo-Silva A, Pinheiro J, Santos AM. Salivary markers responses in the post-exercise and recovery period: a systematic review. Sports (Basel) 2023; 11(7): 137.
12.  Campbell JP, Turner JE. Debunking the myth of exercise-induced immune suppression: redefining the impact of exercise on immunological health across the lifespan. Front Immunol 2018; 9: 648.
13.  Pedersen BK, Saltin B. Exercise as medicine - evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2015; 25(Suppl 3): 1-72.
14.  Donnelly JE, Hillman CH, Castelli D, Etnier JL, Lee S, Tomporowski P, et al. Physical activity, fitness, cognitive function, and academic achievement in children: a systematic review. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2016; 48(6): 1197-222.
15.  Bocanegra OL, Diaz MM, Teixeira RR, Soares SS, Espindola FS. Determination of the lactate threshold by means of salivary biomarkers: chromogranin A as novel marker of exercise intensity. Eur J Appl Physiol 2012; 112(9): 3195-203.
16.  Gallina S, Di Mauro M, D’Amico MA, D’Angelo E, Sablone A, Di Fonso A, et al. Salivary Chromogranin A, but not α‐amylase, correlates with cardiovascular parameters during high‐intensity exercise. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2011; 75(6): 747-52.
17.  Neville V, Gleeson M, Folland JP. Salivary IgA as a risk factor for upper respiratory infections in elite professional athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008; 40(7): 1228-36.
18.  Uchino T, Uchida M, Ito R, Fujie S, Iemitsu K, Kojima C, et al. Effects of different exercise intensities or durations on salivary IgA secretion. Eur J Appl Physiol 2024; 124(9): 2687-96.
19.  Bandyopadhyay GK, Mahata SK. Chromogranin A regulation of obesity and peripheral insulin sensitivity. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2017; 8: 20.
20.  Radom-Aizik S, Zaldivar F, Leu SY, Cooper DM. Brief bout of exercise alters gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of early-and late-pubertal males. Pediatr Res 2009; 65(4): 447-52.
21.  Filaire E, Bonis J, Lac G. Relationships between physiological and psychological stress and salivary immunoglobulin A among young female gymnasts. Percept Mot Skills 2004; 99(2): 605-17.
22.  Laing SJ, Gwynne D, Blackwell J, Williams M, Walters R, Walsh NP. Salivary IgA response to prolonged exercise in a hot environment in trained cyclists. Eur J Appl Physiol 2005; 93(5): 665-71.
23.  Contrepois K, Wu S, Moneghetti KJ, Hornburg D, Ahadi S, Tsai MS, et al. Molecular choreography of acute exercise. Cell 2020; 181(5): 1112-30.
24.  Zaldivar F, Wang-Rodriguez J, Nemet D, Schwindt C, Galassetti P, Mills PJ, Wilson LD, Cooper DM. Constitutive pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokine and growth factor response to exercise in leukocytes. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2006; 100(4): 1124-33.
Volume 44, Issue 851
3rd Week, April
March and April 2026
Pages 165-171

  • Receive Date 07 June 2025
  • Accept Date 13 May 2026