Changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets associated with marathon running.
The percentage of peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes that reacted with monoclonal antibodies specific for T-lymphocytes (CD3 cells), the helper/inducer subsets (CD4 cells), and cytotoxic/suppressor subsets (CD8 cells) of T-lymphocytes, and cells with NK activity (CD16 cells) were enumerated by fluorescence-activated flow cytometry for samples obtained immediately before and after the marathon running. It was found that long-term physical exercise resulted in a significant (P < 0.04 for relative and P < 0.008 for absolute lymphocytes) reduction in CD3 cells. A significant (P < 0.009) percentage change was also observed in B lymphocytes (CD19 cells) right after the marathon. The number of NK (CD16 cells) lymphocyte subsets was significantly (P < 0.05 for relative and P < 0.03 for absolute lymphocytes) changed. No significant changes were recorded for CD4, CD8, or CD4/CD8 ratios after the marathon run. A marked leukocytosis was noticed after the endurance exercise and the mean white blood cell (WBC number was increased from 7.8 +/- 2.6 to 22.9 +/- 2.8 x 10(9) cells x 1-1) count was changed by a factor of 2.9. The mean serum cortisol was significantly (P < 0.0001) increased. No hematocrit change was recorded in subjects pre- to post-run. The results of this study demonstrated that long-term physical exercise (marathon running) influenced the T-cell subsets remarkably and produced leukocytosis that was stress dependent and correlated with the increased serum cortisol levels and not the hemoconcentration.
Haq
A
A
Department of Biological and Medical Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
al-Hussein
K
K
Lee
J
J
al-Sedairy
S
S
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002452:Cell Count; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000276:immunology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D006854:Hydrocortisone