Recruitment and Recirculation of Leukocytes after an Ultramarathon Run: Preferential Homing of Cells Expressing High Levels of the Adhesion Molecule LFA-1

• Published in: International journal of sports medicine 1994-10, Vol.15 (S 3), p.S148-S153
• Main Authors: Gabriel, H., Brechtel, L., Urhausen, A., Kindermann, W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; AIDS/HIV; B-Lymphocytes - cytology; B-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Female; Humans; Killer Cells, Natural - cytology; Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism; Leukocyte Count; Leukocytes - cytology; Leukocytes - metabolism; Lymphocyte Count; Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 - metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; Monocytes - cytology; Monocytes - metabolism; Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing - metabolism; Running - physiology; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - cytology; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - metabolism; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - cytology; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - metabolism
• ISSN: 0172-4622; 1439-3964
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1021130

Abstract The α L β 2 (CD11a/CD18) integrin LFA-1 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1) mainly contributes to the firm arrest of leucocytes on the endothelium. Its cell surface density is thought to be important for the exercise-induced homing of leucocytes. 9 athletes (7 males, 2 females, age 36-68 years, body mass 64±10 kg, height: 175±10 cm) absolved a competitive 100 km run in 8:07 hours (range: 7:29-9:50 hours). Immunophenotyping of circulating leucocytes and data aquisition by three colour flow cytometry before and up to 3 hours after the race showed that post exercise lymphocyte subpopulations with a higher expression of CD11a like CD3 + CD8 + CD45RO + T-cells, natural killer cells (CD3 - CD16/CD56 + ) and cytotoxic, not MHC-restricted T-cells (CD3 + CD16/CD56 + ) decreased significantly more than CD45RO + and CD45RO - helper-T-cells (CD3 + CD4 + ), CD3 + CD8 + CD45RO - T-cells and B-cells (CD19 + ), which have lower levels for CD11a. Cell concentrations of regular monocytes (Fcγ receptor 3 negative, LFA-1 low positive) increased, whereas mature monocytes (Fcγ receptor 3 low or high positive respectively, LFA-1 high positive) decreased. In conclusion the surface density of the adhesion molecule LFA-1 on leucocytes is likely to contribute significantly to the extent of leucocyte's homing after long endurance exercise.