Ll Smith

Influence of ultra-endurance exercise on immunoglobulin isotypes and subclasses.

Background: Strenuous exercise is associated with tissue damage. This activates the innate immune system and local inflammation. Interaction between innate and adaptive immunity is essential for maintaining health, suggesting that the adaptive immune system may also be altered by exercise. Objectives: To determine exercise induced changes in the adaptive immune system by measuring the immunoglobulin isotype and subclass response to an ultra-marathon. Methods: Venepuncture was performed on 11 experienced volunteers (six men, five women; mean (SD) age 43 (9.8) years) 24 hours before the projected finishing time and immediately after and 3, 24, and 72 hours after an ultra-marathon (90 km). Serum was stored at −80°C. IgM, IgD, IgA, IgG, IgG1, 2, 3, and 4, and total IgE were measured. Results: The following immunoglobulins were significantly (p⩽0.05) altered after the race: IgD, immediately (−51%) and 24 hours (−41%) after; IgM 24 hours after (−23%); total IgG immediately after (+12%). There were no reports of symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections after the ultra-marathon. Conclusions: In experienced ultra-endurance runners, alterations in immunoglobulin concentrations after a race suggest an enhanced immune response, including isotype switching, interactions with the innate immune system, and a secondary antibody response. These alterations may have a role in the maintenance of subject health after an ultra-marathon.

Serum concentrations of C reactive protein, α1 antitrypsin, and complement (C3, C4, C1 esterase inhibitor) before and during the Vuelta a Espańa

Objectives: To determine serum concentrations of proinflammatory (C reactive protein, complement C3 and C4) and anti-inflammatory (α1 antitrypsin, C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH)) acute phase proteins in elite cyclists before and during a three week cycle tour. Methods: Seventeen professional cyclists participating in the Vuelta a Espańa volunteered for the study. Their mean (SD) physical characteristics were: age 28 (1) years; height 1.7 (0.06) m; weight 65 (7) kg; body fat 7.6 (0.8)%; Vo2max 75.3 (2.3) ml/kg/min. Venepuncture was performed on each subject 24 hours before the tour began (T0), on day 11 (the first rest day; T1) and day 21 (the second to last stage of the tour; T2). Samples at T1 and T2 were taken about 17 hours after the previous stage. Analysis of variance was used to determine changes over time. Where significance was found, a Tukey post hoc test was performed. Results: C reactive protein concentrations were consistently within the normal range, although there was a 228%, non-significant increase at T1. C3 concentrations fell within the normal range at all times assessed. C4 concentrations before the race were within the normal range and were significantly increased 10 days (T1) into the race. C1-INH concentrations did not change significantly throughout the race. α1 Antitrypsin concentration before the race was at the lower end of the normal range and was only significantly raised at T2. Conclusions: Although not as pronounced as those reported in marathon/ultramarathon runners, elite cyclists participating in a three week cycle tour experienced increases in selected proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory acute phase proteins, indicating an acute phase/inflammatory response. It is tenable that the increase in α1 antitrypsin and C1-INH (anti-inflammatory mediators) at T2 served to attenuate the acute phase/inflammatory response. The lower than normal resting concentrations of the acute phase proteins supports the notion that chronic aerobic exercise induces an anti-inflammatory state.

Immunoglobulin responses to a repeated bout of downhill running

Objective: To examine the effect of downhill running on immunoglobulin responses. Method: Eleven untrained men performed 2 × 60 minute bouts of downhill running (−13.5% gradient), at a speed eliciting 75% of their V̇o2peak on a level grade. Two runs were spaced 14 days apart. Serum samples were collected before, after, and every hour for 12 hours and every 24 hours for six days. Serum total creatine kinase and immunoglobulin isotypes and subclasses were measured, and results were analysed using a repeated measures analysis of variance (12 hour period, 2 × 14; 24 hour intervals, 2 × 6, p⩽0.05). Results: There was a significant interaction effect for creatine kinase (activity lower after run 2 than after run 1, 6–24 h) and exercise effect, with the serum concentrations of IgG1, IgG2, IgG4, and IgE lower, and IgM higher, after run 2. Conclusion: Lower concentrations of IgG1, IgG2, and IgE after run 2 may reflect a dampened autoimmune inflammatory response to autoantigens and enhanced autoantigen clearance mediated by the upregulation of IgM.