title: The effects of anabolic steroids and strength training on the human immune response.
abstract: The immune response was assessed in 13 competitive bodybuilders self-administering anabolic-androgenic steroids and ten competitive bodybuilders not administering these drugs. Laboratory assessment included the number and relative distribution of T-cells, T-helper/inducer cells, T-cytotoxic/suppressor cells, activated T-cells, lymphocyte transformation to the mitogens, pokeweed mitogen (PWM), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), Concanavalin-A (CON-A), Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC), serum immunoglobulins, and natural killer (NK) activity. There were no significant differences in T-cell subsets among steroid users and non-users, but lymphocyte transformation studies revealed that the anabolic-androgenic steroid-using group had enhanced proliferative ability to the B-cell mitogen, SAC, in comparison to non-bodybuilding controls. NK activity was significantly (P less than 0.05) augmented in the anabolic-androgenic steroid users but not in the non-using bodybuilders. Serum immunoglobulin levels, in particular IgA, were significantly (P less than 0.017) lower in the steroid-using group. Four of 13 steroid users and three of eight non-steroid-using bodybuilders had detectable antinuclear antibodies. These studies indicate that 1) anabolic-androgenic steroid use as practiced by contemporary athletes is a potent modulator of immune responsiveness and 2) autoantibodies are prevalent in strength-trained men even in the absence of anabolic steroid use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Disease, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195-5028.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kleiner
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Barna
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Skibinski
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Kirkendall
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Lahita
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lombardo
mesh_terms: D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance; D014891:Weight Lifting
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents