title: Immune parameters, symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, and training-load indicators in volleyball athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The control of immunological alterations becomes important during in-season training, as a result of increased incidence of infectious diseases, and may assist in avoiding interruptions to training due to illness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate 28 weeks of chronic immune modulations in female volleyball athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample was composed of twelve athletes aged 19.47 ± 2.49 years, height 1.78 ± 0.08 cm, and body mass 66.77 ± 7.8 kg. Leukocytes, individual immune cell count, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α plasma cytokines were measured during the competitive period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results revealed that immune variables were correlated with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections and training-load indicators, indicating a possible marker of immune status. There was a statistically significant increase in total leukocytes, neutrophils, and monocyte count, a decrease in lymphocytes, and an increase in upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, with no change in IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α. Correlations between subjective levels of tiredness, total leukocyte count, and neutrophils with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, these correlations can represent important tools to access the immune status of an athlete during long training periods, preventing a possible immunosuppressive status.
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Performance Humana, Mestrado em Educação Física, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Anelena Bueno
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Frollini
authors.forename: Diego Trevisan
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Brunelli
authors.forename: André Katayama
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Richard Diego
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Ricardo Adamoli
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: Guilherme Souza Lobo
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Salles
authors.forename: Débora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.forename: Idico Luiz
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Pellegrinotti
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Castro César
authors.forename: Silvia Cristina Crepaldi
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Rozangela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verlengia
authors.forename: João Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Borin
authors.forename: Jonato
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prestes
authors.forename: Claudia Regina
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cavaglieri