title: Lymphocyte function and cytokine production during incremental exercise in active and sedentary males and females.
abstract: This study examined the effects of acute continuous incremental exercise on lymphocyte mitogenic function and cytokine production in physically active and sedentary males and females. Physically active (n = 32) and sedentary (N = 32) male and female subjects were randomly assigned to an exercise or control condition. Exercise involved a continuous incremental protocol consisting of cycling for 3 periods of 6 min at workrates corresponding to 55%, 70% and 85% VO2peak. Blood samples were drawn from a venous catheter at baseline, 6 min, 12 min and 18 min, and 2 h following completion of exercise. Relative to baseline and control condition the percentage of T (CD3+) and B cells (CD19+) significantly decreased, and the percentage of NK cells (CD3-CD16+CD56+) increased (p < 0.001) during each stage of the incremental exercise test. The proliferative response to ConA was suppressed, enhanced, or unchanged using 1.25 micrograms/ml, 2.5 micrograms/ml and 5.0 micrograms/ml ConA, respectively. The in-vitro production of IL-1 and IFN-gamma increased during each workload. In contrast IL-4 production did not change during exercise. The resting and exercise induced alterations in lymphocyte function and cytokine production were independent of gender and fitness level, and returned to baseline 2 h into recovery. The in-vitro production of IFN-gamma and IL-4 suggests that physical activity may alter the balance of TH1 and TH2 lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Brain, Behavior and Immunity Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA, USA.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Moyna
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Acker
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Goss
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Tollerud
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Rabin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008934:Mitogens; D010940:Plant Proteins; C006882:canavalin protein, Canavalia ensiformis