Effect of high- versus moderate-intensity exercise on lymphocyte subpopulations and proliferative response.
The effect of 45 min of high- (80% VO2max) versus moderate- (50% VO2max) intensity treadmill exercise on circulating leukocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations, catecholamine and cortisol concentrations, and the mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferative response was investigated in 10 well-conditioned (mean VO2max 66.0 +/- 1.9 ml/kg/min), young males (mean age 22.1 +/- 1.3 yrs). Blood samples were taken before and immediately after exercise, with three more samples taken during 3.5 h of recovery. Treatment order on the treadmill (graded walking at 7.3 +/- 0.1 km/h, 6.5 +/- 0.6% grade, versus level running at 16.1 +/- 0.3 km/h) was counterbalanced, with subjects acting as their own controls and results analyzed using a 2 x 5 repeated measures ANOVA. The concanavalin A- (Con A) stimulated lymphocyte proliferative response was decreased at 1 h and 2 h post-exercise relative to baseline levels following both exercise-intensity conditions. However, when adjusted on a per-T cell (CD3+) basis to account for the change in number of T cells in the in vivo assay, only the high-intensity exercise condition was associated with a 1-h post-exercise decrease (21%, p = 0.05) in the proliferative response relative to baseline. Exercise at 80% versus 50% VO2max resulted in significantly greater increases in cortisol and epinephrine concentrations, providing a physiological rationale for the immediate-post-exercise lymphocytosis, 1- to 3.5-h lymphocytopenia, and the decrease in Con A-stimulated lymphocyte proliferative response (per CD3+ cell) that occurred in greater measure following high-intensity exercise.
Nieman
D C
DC
Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608.
Miller
A R
AR
Henson
D A
DA
Warren
B J
BJ
Gusewitch
G
G
Johnson
R L
RL
Davis
J M
JM
Butterworth
D E
DE
Herring
J L
JL
Nehlsen-Cannarella
S L
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology
D002395:Catecholamines; D007773:Lactates; D006854:Hydrocortisone