Fig. 6 | Scientific Reports

Fig. 6

From: Natural killer cells from endurance-trained older adults show improved functional and metabolic responses to adrenergic blockade and mTOR inhibition

Fig. 6The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Enhanced oxidative metabolism in NK cells from trained versus untrained older adults. (A) Frequency of isolated NK cells (CD3⁻CD56+) in peripheral blood. (B,C) Representative Seahorse metabolic flux traces showing OCR and ECAR for NK cells from untrained (blue circles) and endurance-trained (green squares) donors. (D) Basal OCR. (E) Maximal OCR, measured after FCCP injection. (F) Spare respiratory capacity (maximal OCR – basal OCR). (G) Maximal ECAR. (H) OCR/ECAR ratio, indicating relative reliance on oxidative versus glycolytic metabolism. (I) ATP-linked OCR (basal OCR – oligomycin-inhibited OCR). (J) Proton leak (oligomycin‐inhibited OCR – non-mitochondrial respiration). Data are presented as mean ± SEM from n = 4 untrained and n = 5 endurance-trained donors. * P < 0.05 versus untreated control (Mann-Whitney U test). OCR, oxygen‐consumption rate; ECAR, extracellular acidification rate; FCCP, carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone.

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