Anaerobic exercise induces moderate acute phase response

• Published in: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2001-04, Vol.33 (4), p.549-555
• Main Authors: MEYER, Tim, GABRIEL, Holger H. W, RÄTZ, Marianne, MÜLLER, Hans J, KINDERMANN, Wilfried
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute-Phase Reaction; Adult; Anaerobic Threshold - physiology; Bicycling - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Physiological Phenomena; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Exercise Test; Flow Cytometry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Immunobiology; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Immunophenotyping; Interleukin-6 - blood; Interleukin-8 - blood; Male; Modulation of the immune response (stimulation, suppression); Plasma Volume; Space life sciences; Statistics, Nonparametric
• ISSN: 0195-9131; 1530-0315
• DOI: 10.1097/00005768-200104000-00007

It was intended to compare the immune reaction after single and repeated short bouts of anaerobic exercise. Twelve unspecifically trained male subjects (27 +/- 2 yr, 75 +/- 2 kg, VO(2peak) 52 +/- 2 mL x min(-1) x kg(-1)) performed one 60-s all-out test (SMT) on a cycling ergometer and the same test followed by eight 10-s all-out tests every 5 min (AN-TS). These tests and one control day (Co-Day) were applied in randomized order. At rest and 15 min, 2 h, and 24 h after cessation of exercise the following venous blood parameters were determined: concentration of neutrophils and (CD16(+ -)) premacrophages (both flow-cytometrically), interleukin 6 and 8 (IL-6, IL-8), C-reactive protein (CRP) and cortisol. Two hours after cessation of exercise the neutrophils increased stronger after AN-TS than after SMT (P < 0.01). The peak in the number of premacrophages occurred earlier after SMT (15 min post; P < 0.01 to Co-Day) than after AN-TS (2 h post; P < 0.05 to Co-Day). IL-6 was elevated at 15 min and 2 h after AN-TS (P < 0.01 to SMT and Co-Day) but only slightly 2 h after SMT (P < 0.01 to Co-Day). There were no significant changes in IL-8. CRP was the only elevated parameter 24 h postexercise exclusively after AN-TS (P < 0.05 to Co-Day). CONCLUSIONS Repeated short anaerobic bouts of cycling lead to an acute phase response, which is more pronounced than after a single bout. Athletes should take care in performing such training sessions several times a week because signs of inflammation are detectable even 24 h after cessation of exercise.