title: Activation of leukocytes during prolonged physical exercise.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated an increment of circulating leukocytes and enhanced secretion of interleukin-1 by monocytes and macrophages during physical exercise. In the present study the effect of physical exertion on the activity of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes was investigated. Following both short-term (running 2,000 meters) and long-term (running 10,000 meters) exertion, phorbol-stimulated chemiluminescence, as an indicator of leukocytic oxygen radical formation and release of leukocytic elastase, as a parameter of degranulation, were determined immediately after running. The number of circulating leukocytes increased both after short-term (+21%) and long-term (+61%) exercise. There was a minor release of PMN elastase following short-term activity causing plasma levels of this compound to rise from 100 +/- 4.0 ng/ml to 116 +/- 12.3 ng/ml. Long-term exercise, on the other hand, induced a significant increase of elastase plasma levels from 107 +/- 9.1 ng/ml to 300 +/- 23.4 ng/ml, suggesting a remarkable release of this proteinase from neutrophils. Based on these findings we conclude that during physical exercise degranulation of PMN leukocytes occurs. Moreover, the fact that phorbol-stimulated chemiluminescence is decreased after running demonstrates an impaired capability of white cells to generate oxygen radicals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Wuerzburg, FRG.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kokot
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teschner
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gilge
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Plass
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heidland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D010100:Oxygen