AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 271, Issue 1 222-R227, Copyright © 1996 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Lymphocytes and NK cell activity during repeated bouts of maximal exercise

H. B. Nielsen, N. H. Secher, N. J. Christensen and B. K. Pedersen
Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Effects on the immune system of 6-min "all-out" ergometer rowing were investigated over 2 days (2 x 3 bouts) in eight male oarsmen with a maximal oxygen uptake of 5.5 +/- 0.1 l/min (mean +/- SE). Blood samples were obtained before, during, and 2 h after each bout and on the day after the last bout. Compared with levels at rest, the first bout of exercise increased the concentration of leukocytes (2-fold); neutrophilic granulocytes (2-fold); lymphocytes (2-fold); monocytes (2-fold); the blood mononuclear cell (BMNC) subsets CD3+ (2-fold), CD4+ (2-fold), CD8+ (3-fold), CD16+ (8-fold), CD19+ (2-fold), and CD14+ (2-fold); the NK cell activity (2-fold); and plasma interleukin-6 (3-fold) (P < 0.05). During the last bout even higher levels were noted for leukocytes (3-fold); neutrophilic granulocytes (3-fold); lymphocytes (4-fold); the BMNC subsets CD4+ (3-fold), CD8+ (5-fold), CD16+ (13-fold), CD19+ (5-fold), and CD14+ (3-fold); and for the NK cell activity (4-fold) (P < 0.05). During the recovery periods all values were at or above the level at rest, and elevated concentrations of leukocytes (38%), neutrophilic granulocytes (48%), and lymphocytes (46%) reflected in the BMNC subsets and increased NK cell activity (119%) were also noted on the day after the last bout (P < 0.05). The results show that maximal exercise with large muscle groups provokes higher immune responses during repetitive bouts.

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