N-acetylcysteine does not affect the lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer cell activity responses to exercise.
This study evaluated whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) attenuates the reduced lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activity responses to exercise in humans. Fourteen oarsmen were double-blind randomized to either NAC (6 g daily for 3 days) or placebo groups. During 6-min "all-out" ergometer rowing, the concentration of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood increased, with no significant difference between NAC and placebo as reflected in lymphocyte subsets: CD4(+), CD8(+), CD16(+), and CD19(+) cells. The phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation decreased from 9,112 +/- 2,865 to 5,851 +/- 1,588 cpm (P < 0.05), but it was not affected by NAC. During exercise, the NK cell activity was elevated from 17 +/- 3 to 38 +/- 4% and it decreased to 7 +/- 1% below the resting value 2 h into recovery. Yet, when evaluated as lytic units per CD16(+) cell, the NK cell activity decreased during and after exercise without a significant effect of NAC. We conclude that NAC does not attenuate the reduction in lymphocyte proliferation and NK cell activity associated with intense exercise.
The Copenhagen Muscle Research Center, Departments of Infectious Diseases and Anesthesia, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
H B
HB
Nielsen
N H
NH
Secher
M
M
Kappel
B K
BK
Pedersen
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000111:Acetylcysteine