title: Intense physical exercise increases systemic 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity in healthy adult subjects.
abstract: Intense physical exercise activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis but little is known about changes in glucocorticoid sensitivity at the target cell level. No data are available on the acute effects of exercise on 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) type 1 activity, which generates biologically active cortisol from inactive cortisone and is expressed also in skeletal muscle. Fifteen healthy, trained males (age mean +/- SE 28 +/- 1) were assessed on three non-consecutive days: at rest, during an endurance and strength sessions. During each session, between 1000 and 1600 hours, 6-h urine and four salivary samples were collected. Urinary total tetrahydrocortisol (THF) + alloTHF, tetrahydrocortisone (THE), cortisol (F) and cortisone (E) were measured with HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry; urinary-unconjugated F and E were measured by HPLC-UV. Salivary cortisol and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured by RIA and ELISA, respectively. Both endurance and strength exercises caused an increase in (THF + alloTHF)/THE ratio (mean +/- SE 1.90 +/- 0.07 and 1.82 +/- 0.05 vs. 1.63 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively), consistent with increased systemic 11beta-HSD type 1 activity. No relationship was found with age, BMI, VO(2max) maximal power load or perceived exertion. No significant change was apparent in F/E ratio, an index of 11beta-HSD type 2 activity. No effect of exercise on salivary cortisol and IL-6 was observed, whereas a significant effect of sampling time was found. Intense physical exercise acutely increases systemic 11beta-HSD type 1 activity in humans. Such an increase may lead to higher cortisol concentration in target tissues, notably in skeletal muscle where it could contribute to limit exercise-induced muscle inflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Reg. Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dovio
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roveda
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sciolla
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montaruli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raffaelli
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saba
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calogiuri
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Francia
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borrione
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salvadori
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carandente
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angeli
mesh_terms: D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D003348:Cortisone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training; D013760:Tetrahydrocortisol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D013761:Tetrahydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D013761:Tetrahydrocortisone; D013760:Tetrahydrocortisol; D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1; D003348:Cortisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone