Exercise Physiology and Immunology

Prof. Dr. Karsten Krüger

Prof. Karsten Krüger’s research focuses on the molecular and integrative mechanisms underlying acute exercise responses and long-term training adaptations, with particular emphasis on the role of the immune system and inflammation in these processes. His group investigates how physical activity modulates immune function, contributes to inflammation control, and promotes systemic resilience across organ systems.

The research combines molecular biology, exercise physiology, and clinical translational approaches to understand how regular exercise induces protective and anti-inflammatory effects relevant for metabolic health, infection control, and chronic disease prevention.

The working areas of Prof. Krüger’s group can be summarized as follows:

1. Human Physiology: Focus on the molecular and integrative mechanisms underlying acute exercise responses and adaptive processes in skeletal muscle, cardiovascular, and immune systems, including their relevance for health maintenance and disease prevention.
2. Exercise Immunology: Investigation of the adaptation of the innate and adaptive immune system to acute and chronic exercise stimuli. The group studies how exercise-induced immune cell activation, trafficking, and cytokine responses contribute to tissue regeneration, training adaptation, and the restoration of homeostasis following physiological stress.
3. Mechanisms of Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Exercise Training: Exploration of the cellular and molecular pathways by which regular physical activity exerts anti-inflammatory effects. This includes the modulation of monocyte and T-cell function, cytokine balance, and signaling pathways linking skeletal muscle metabolism to immune regulation.

Recent and ongoing studies address key research gaps in the field of exercise-induced inflammation control and immune adaptation, including:

• Characterization of exercise-induced changes in circulating immune cell subsets and inflammatory mediators;
• Identification of molecular signals linking skeletal muscle activity to systemic immune regulation;
• Analysis of how regular endurance and resistance training modulate innate immune sensitivity and resolution of inflammation;
• Investigation of exercise as a preventive and therapeutic strategy in chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic disorders;
• Assessment of the effects of different training modalities on immune cell metabolism and mitochondrial function.

Together, these projects contribute to a mechanistic understanding of how exercise serves as a potent regulator of immune function and inflammation, providing a physiological basis for its health-promoting and disease-modifying potential.

Ten most important publications

1. Gebhardt K, Hebecker A, Honekamp C, Nolte S, Barthkuhn M, Wilhelm J, Klatt S, Weyh C, Sommer N, Krüger K*. Respiratory and metabolic responses of CD4+ T cells to acute exercise and their association with cardiorespiratory fitness. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2024 May 15.
2. Boßlau TK, Wasserfurth P, Reichel T, Weyh C, Palmowski J, Nebl J, Joisten N, Belen S, Schenk A, Hahn A, Zimmer P, Krüger K.* 12-week combined strength and endurance exercise attenuates CD8+ T-cell differentiation and affects the kynurenine pathway in the elderly: a randomized controlled trial. Immun Ageing. 2023 May 9;20(1):19. doi: 10.1186/s12979-023-00347-7.
3. Weiss A, Alack K, Klatt S, Zukunft S, Schermuly R, Frech T, Mooren FC, Krüger K*. Sustained Endurance Training Leads to Metabolomic Adaptation. Metabolites. 2022 Jul 16;12(7):658. doi: 10.3390/metabo12070658.
4. Gebhardt K, Hebecker A, Sommer N, Ringseis R, Eder K, Huber M, Raifer H, Krüger K*, Weyh C. PBMCs Mitochondrial Respiration and Its Relation to Immunity, Fitness, and Metabolic Risk in the Healthy Elderly. J Cell Physiol. 2025 Sep;240(9):e70096. doi: 10.1002/jcp.70096.
5. Boßlau TK, Wasserfurth P, Krüger B, Reichel T, Palmowski J, Nebl J, Weyh C, Schenk A, Joisten N, Stahl F, Thoms S, Gebhardt K, Hahn A, Krüger K. Abdominal Obesity-Related Disturbance of Insulin Sensitivity Is Associated with CD8+ EMRA Cells in the Elderly. Cells. 2021 Apr 23;10(5):998. doi: 10.3390/cells10050998.
6. Krüger K, Alack K, Ringseis R, Mink L, Pfeifer E, Schinle M, Gindler K, Kimmelmann L, Walscheid R, Muders K, Frech T, Eder K, Mooren FC. Apoptosis of T-Cell Subsets after Acute High-Intensity Interval Exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2016 Oct;48(10):2021-9. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000979.
7. Krüger K, Pilat C, Schild M, Lindner N, Frech T, Muders K, Mooren FC. Progenitor cell mobilization after exercise is related to systemic levels of G-CSF and muscle damage. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2015 Jun;25(3):e283-91. doi: 10.1111/sms.12320.
8. Neudorf H, Sandilands RE, Ursel S, Shaba H, Barg D, Tsusaka T, Moya-Garzón MD, Vaz E, Schimweg P, Goldberg EL, Long JZ, Krüger K, Islam H, Little JP. Altered immunometabolic response to fasting in humans living with obesity. iScience. 2025 Jun 11;28(7):112872. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112872.

Contact

Prof. Dr. Karsten Krüger

Professur für Leistungsphysiologie und Sporttherapie
Institut für Sportwissenschaft
Kugelberg 62
35394 Gießen

Tel: +49 (0) 641 985 57218 (office)
Tel: +49 (0) 641 99  36406 (lab)

Email: karsten.krueger@sport.uni-giessen.de
https://www.uni-giessen.de/de/fbz/fb06/sport/arbe/spomed/team/karkru/index