Lymphocyte responses to influenza and tetanus toxoid in vitro following intensive exercise and carbohydrate ingestion on consecutive days

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) 2005-10, Vol.99 (4), p.1327-1335
• Main Authors: Bishop, Nicolette C, Walker, Gary J, Bowley, Lee A, Evans, Kate F, Molyneux, Karen, Wallace, Fiona A, Smith, Alice C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antigens - pharmacology; Beverages; Biological and medical sciences; Carbohydrates; CD3 Complex - analysis; Cell Division - drug effects; Cross-Over Studies; Cytokines - genetics; Dietary Carbohydrates - pharmacology; Double-Blind Method; Exercise; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Humans; Influenza; Influenza, Human - immunology; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Phytohemagglutinins - pharmacology; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Running - physiology; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Tetanus Toxoid - pharmacology
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00038.2005

1 School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire; 2 Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, and John Walls Renal Unit, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester; and 3 GlaxoSmithKline Nutritional Healthcare Research and Development, Slough, Berkshire, United Kingdom Submitted 11 January 2005 ; accepted in final form 24 May 2005 The effect of carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion on antigen- (rather than mitogen-) stimulated T-cell responses to prolonged, intensive exercise may give a more realistic insight into the effect of CHO on T-cell functional capacity and subsequent infection risk. This study investigated the effect of CHO ingestion during prolonged, intensive exercise on influenza- and tetanus toxoid-stimulated T-cell cytokine mRNA expression and proliferation. Mitogen- [phytohemagglutinin (PHA)] stimulated proliferation was assessed for comparison. Responses were assessed following exercise on consecutive mornings to determine any carryover effect. Fifteen male games players performed two exercise trials in a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. Each trial comprised 90 min of intensive, intermittent running on consecutive mornings, with either CHO (6.4% wt/vol) or placebo (PLA) beverage ingestion before, during, and after each bout of exercise. Postexercise CD3 + cell counts were higher in PLA than CHO on both days ( P < 0.05). Antigen-stimulated T-cell cytokine mRNA expression was unaffected by exercise or CHO ingestion. Before exercise on day 2 , T-cell proliferative responses to PHA, influenza, and tetanus toxoid were higher in CHO than PLA by 99, 80, and 58%, respectively ( P < 0.01 for PHA, P < 0.05 for influenza and tetanus toxoid). At 1 h postexercise on day 2 , PHA-induced proliferation was 70% higher in CHO than PLA ( P < 0.05), yet there were no differences between trials for antigen-induced proliferative responses. Therefore, mitogen-induced T-cell proliferation following strenuous exercise and CHO does not necessarily reflect responses to specific antigens and, consequently, may not provide a good model for the situation in vivo. immune; antigen; T cell; cytokine Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: N. C. Bishop, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough Univ., Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK (e-mail: N.C.Bishop{at}lboro.ac.uk )