Immune-derived cardiac autonomic signatures: predicting autonomic responses to exercise from B-cell phenotypes

TL;DR

This study shows that specific B-cell types in older adults are linked to how the heart's autonomic system responds to exercise, suggesting a connection between immune aging and heart function.

Contribution

The study identifies distinct B-cell phenotypes as potential biomarkers for autonomic responses to exercise in aging individuals.

Findings

CD21+CD11c+ B cells correlate with higher resting vagal tone and incomplete post-exercise recovery.

CD21−CD11c− B cells are linked to faster sympathetic response during exercise and better vagal reactivation.

These findings suggest immunosenescence influences autonomic modulation during exercise in older adults.

Abstract

Aging affects both immune and autonomic regulation, yet their interaction remains poorly characterized. This study investigated how aging B-cell subpopulations, defined by CD21/CD11c expression, are associated with autonomic nervous system (ANS) dynamics, as measured by heart rate variability (HRV) during exercise in older adults.

In this cross-sectional study, 81 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 70.7 ± 5.8 years) underwent immune flow cytometry profiling of total B cells and four CD21/CD11c phenotypes. Continuous R–R interval (RRi) data were recorded at rest, during a standardized Two-Minute Step Test (TMST), and over a 5-min recovery period. A coupled-logistic RRi-vs-time model capturing each participant’s cardiac autonomic signature (CAS) was obtained. Individual parameter estimates were regressed on standardized immune predictors using multivariate Bayesian models adjusted for age, sex and body composition.

Higher counts of CD21+CD11c+ B cells were associated with elevated baseline RRi (resting vagal tone), an increased exercise-induced RRi drop, and an incomplete post-exercise recovery. Conversely, greater CD21−CD11c− B-cell counts were associated with lower resting RRi, a faster sympathetic-driven RRi decrease during exercise, and more complete vagal reactivation during recovery. High posterior probability (>90%) was observed for the aforementioned posterior estimates.

CD21+CD11c+ and CD21−CD11c− aging B-cell subsets display opposite associations with ANS responsiveness to acute exercise, suggesting immunosenescence-linked autonomic modulation on the neuro-immune axis. Distinct B-cell phenotypes may serve as biomarkers of resilience or fragility in aging, supporting personalized interventions to optimize cardiovascular health in aging individuals.

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