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.
Nielsen
H B
HB
The Copenhagen Muscle Research Center, Departments of Infectious Diseases and Anesthesia, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Secher
N H
NH
Kappel
M
M
Pedersen
B K
BK
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