title: A competitive marathon race decreases neutrophil functions in athletes.
abstract: A full marathon is the longest running race in official track events and is a form of acute exercise. However, no studies have examined the acute neutrophil function response to a competitive marathon race. Thirty-six male athletes who had just completed the 42.195 km course of the 50th Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon were enrolled in this study. Neutrophil oxidative burst activity, phagocytic activity and expression of CD11b and CD16 per cell were measured by flow cytometry immediately before and after the marathon. Total leukocyte/neutrophil counts increased significantly (p < 0.001), whereas total oxidative burst activity per neutrophil cell decreased significantly after the race (p < 0.001). Furthermore, total phagocytic activity per neutrophil cell also decreased after the race, although it was not significant (p = 0.08). Although CD11b expression per cell did not change, the expression of CD16 per cell significantly decreased (p < 0.001) after the race. In conclusion, a competitive marathon race decreased neutrophil functions (oxidative burst activity and phagocytic activity), which may be partly due to a decrease in CD16 expression. The increase in total neutrophil counts might reflect a compensatory response to counteract the decrease in neutrophil functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 0368562, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chinda
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakaji
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umeda
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimoyama
authors.forename: Shigeyoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurakake
authors.forename: Noriyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumae
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugawara
mesh_terms: D020410:Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D016897:Respiratory Burst; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020410:Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule; D039481:CD11b Antigen