The natural killer cell response to exercise in spinal cord injured individuals.
In order to evaluate exercise-induced changes in natural killer (NK) and other immunocompetent cells in spinal cord injured individuals, immunological competent blood cells and stress hormones were followed in five paraplegic and six quadriplegic subjects in relation to 30 min electrically stimulated cycling exercise. The leukocyte and lymphocyte concentrations increased during exercise. In the recovery period, the concentration of neutrophils increased, whereas the lymphocytes decreased. The percentage and concentration of NK cells increased during exercise in the paraplegic group and returned to pre-exercise level 2 h after, whereas no changes were seen in these measures for the quadriplegic group. No changes in activated CD38+ NK cells appeared. Unstimulated and interferon-alpha or interleukin-2 stimulated NK cell activity increased during exercise and returned to pre-exercise level 2 h after with no distinction between paraplegics and quadriplegics. The concentrations of plasma growth hormone and catecholamines increased during exercise, with the rise in epinephrine being more pronounced in paraplegic than in quadriplegic subjects, indicating a difference between the groups in sympathetic nervous system integrity. The sympathoadrenal activity is concluded to be responsible for recruitment of NK cells to the blood during exercise.
The Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre, Department of Infectious Diseases M 7641, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
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Klokker
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Mohr
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Kjaer
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Galbo
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Pedersen
D000328:Adult; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology
D002395:Catecholamines; D019382:Human Growth Hormone